With confined space defining the landscape of Israel and the game of squash, Arab and Jewish kids come together to see where they can go together through sport.

By Max Moss

*All photos of children are published with the kind permission of parents granted to SquashBond.

This week, in the Haifa area there will be well over 100 kids participating in various SquashBond activities – on and off the squash courts. Who would have thought that, when a group of ex-pat South Africans, led by Hillel Bloomberg and a ‘squash crazy’ native Israeli – Nitzan Moree, started this initiative 10 years ago, we would see such a diverse group of youngsters braving repeated rocket barrages from Lebanon, in order to play, meet and simply be together within the framework of their squash related community. 

So, let’s just back up a bit for the sake of history. When Hillel immigrated from South Africa, he brought with him to Israel amongst his most invaluable belongings – a passion for the game of squash. This led him to the building in 1978 of two squash courts in a deserted warehouse in the industrial area of Ra’anana. These were the first courts to be built in Israel since the time of the British mandate, which when the British forces departed during the dying days of Palestine, they left five courts in Airforce bases around the country. Although the true genesis of the return of squash to Israel began with Hillel, the seed was planted not with his Aliyah (immigration) but his prior  “look see” visit in 1975 when, while sitting on the beach in Tel Aviv, was captivated and “I must say irritated by the loud noise of all these guys lobbing hard this small black ball, which people had to dodge to avoid being hit, to say nothing of the loud clunking noise.” Hillel, who would later be known as Israel’s “Father of Squash”, didn’t know at the time he was watching Matkot – Israel’s unique variation of beach bats. “And then, when a ball nearly connected with me and I picked it up to throw back at the guys, I was taken up how similar it was to a squash ball, my sport in South Africa. I thought, nu, why not take the noise and danger off the sand and relocate to the safety of courts,” and so the seed of squash to Israel was born.

Hillel’s co-partner in this ‘squash saga’ had been a young lad growing up and learning the game in Ra’anana and playing in 1980 at the then  newly built Herzliya Squash Center – a center that had  8 squash courts built by the South African industrialist, philanthropist and lover of sports – Mendel Kaplan. Then in 2014 – with Hillel and Nitzan well ensconced as players, coaches, managers as well as entrepreneurs of squash in Israel – the question arose:

 “Why not add a new dimension to the game – a social initiative that would bring kids in Israel – from all walks of life and all segments of society – to get to know one another, to break down those social barriers that are such divisive elements in our society and have them meet on the squash court”

And so it was that SquashBond evolved into what it is today – an organization dedicated to creating social change by integrating children and youth from diverse communities, some marginalized and at risk, promote equal opportunities, provide value-based education, self-empowerment and leadership through a combination of unique sports and informal education activities. The founders recognized the growing need to establish programs that would promote inclusion, equality, social mobility and a shared society.

As one young Arab player interviewed explained:

“Squash is special because it is played in a small place; it’s like Israel, we’re in a small place, we have to share it. Just like squash, it’s a small court you have to figure out how you move, how you don’t hit the other person.”

The first program was established in collaboration with the municipality and the local schools in Ra’anana and the Arab city of Tira in central Israel. In the course of time, SquashBond opened its second center in Haifa. The challenges of recent times – at first Corona and more recently October 7  – did not obstruct the vision nor impede activities and the organization adjusted to changing realities and the needs of Israeli society. SquashBond is the only organization in Israel that implements an in-depth and unique and long-term model that combines a squash training program, with a multicultural social program. SquashBond recruits and guides children at a young and critical age, when their identities as individuals and as members of a group are still developing and provides tools and content for personal growth.

With Israel at war, SquashBond had to adapt to the current crisis and currently conducts weekly sessions directly on school grounds, using the existing facilities of a school hall to introduce squash basics and build relationships with the kids. In an educational and social program partnership with the University of Haifa, student scholarship recipients provide mentoring and guidance to each group throughout the year. In parallel,  extra-curricular squash training at the Haifa University squash courts involves  groups of our older kids.

What is so astounding, rewarding and enriching is the children’s motivation and enthusiasm. It is unstoppable – even when interrupted by sirens warning of incoming deadly missiles. When the siren sounds, rackets are quickly leant against the glass walls, balls roll to the floor, and together, everyone – children and staff – rushes to the shelter. After 15 minutes, as if nothing has happened, sprints, drives, and lobs fill the courts once again. It’s nothing short of remarkable! If there is anything to be learnt from the events of this past year, it’s been the value of being a member of a community – especially a sporting community. We’ve seen how our kids feel a sense of security in their SquashBond environment. Studies have shown that belonging to a sporting community provides its participants with an inner strength that allows them to cope with adverse situations and having to successfully deal with trauma.

To mention some examples of key successes – two Arab girls – residents of Tira – were the first Israeli Arabs to become part of the Israel National Squash Team. A SquashBonder was one of five kids worldwide, chosen to be part of a UN program to mentor and train leaders of the future. Elisha, who came to SquashBond at the age of 10 from a challenging socio-economic background has flourished within the Israel squash community competing in both local and international tournaments and now serves as a coach for the younger groups. Over the years, SquashBond’s players have won over 20 trophies – including 3 gold – in national tournaments and sent four representatives to national junior teams to represent Israel.

What’s in store for the future?  SquashBond is planning on building a Multi-cultural Community Squash Centre in Israel’s third most populous city, Haifa where its greater metropolitan area includes Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze – the religious and non-religious. Expansion planning includes  the addition of a new racket sport – Padel. For those unfamiliar, Padel is a racket sport typically played in doubles on an enclosed court in a similar way as squash in that the balls can be played off the walls.

Planning in process, Padel will be first introduced in Jerusalem for young girls that will include both Arab and Jews.  We are also looking at setting up a Community Squash Center in the Arab-Israeli town of Abu Gosh near Jerusalem in collaboration with the local authority for residents of Abu-Gosh and the surrounding communities.  

In a world often divided by differences, sport has the extraordinary power to bring people together, break barriers, and transform lives. Squashbond is living proof that the squash court can be more than just a place of competition – it can be a platform of unity, resilience, and hope.

Investing in initiatives like Squashbond is not just an investment in sports but in the fabric of our society. It’s a commitment to building a generation that values equality, community, and leadership whether you are Muslim, Jew or Christian, Tsabar (Sabra) or new immigrant.

Squashbond is not just changing lives – it is shaping a brighter future.

About the writer:

At age 17, Max Moss immigrated to Israel from Cape Town, South Africa, served in the IDF and then studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Max’s journey has traversed from the world of hi-tech where he helped establish an Israeli software company that went international and ultimately merged into Oracle, to the world of social activism, where he participated in peace initiatives such as  Forum Tzora, the Geneva Initiative and “All its Citizens”. Max was part of a group in Israel that started the first Tali school dedicated to Jewish Pluralistic education. Max has been a member of SquashBond for the past 6 years and currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).