“What the sport center does best is to give hope. Hope to kids and adults with disabilities and their families to find new friends, to find their way… and most importantly to believe in themselves again.” – Asael Shabo, Center Coach, Athlete, and Terror Survivor
Over the past 65 years, The Israel ParaSport Center has been helping thousands of Israelis with disabilities reclaim their lives. In response to the October 7th attacks, The Center launched the Shesek Program to meet the urgent needs of those displaced or injured by the war. Supported by the Hope in Motion Campaign and Israel’s Social Security Development Fund, Shesek provides rehabilitation and mental health services for displaced individuals, wounded soldiers, Nova Festival survivors, and other affected communities across Israel.
participants displaced by war engaged weekly across multiple satellite locations throughout Israel.
families and individuals impacted by war welcomed at our Ramat Gan campus.
Nova Festival survivors receiving tailored rehabilitation services at The Center
Rehabilitation | Sport | Community
Holistic Care
Providing physical rehabilitation integrated with support for emotional well-being
Specialized Support
Delivering tailored care for Nova Festival survivors and those injured during the war
Collaborative Partnerships
Fostering collaboration with rehabilitation hospitals, the IDF, and social services
Community Integration
Assisting participants in rebuilding their lives and reintegrating into their communities
All Shesek services are provided at no cost to participants.
Over 14,000 Israelis with disabilities have been displaced by the war.
They are seeking vital rehabilitation services. Your support can help them rebuild their lives.
Healing Through Sport
Stories from Shesek
From Survivor to Coach
Yehonaton, a Nova Festival survivor, first joined Shesek’s Nova basketball team as a player, seeking recovery after the October 7th attacks. His passion for physical education and rehabilitation soon became evident. Today, Yehonaton works in our children’s program, coaching young athletes in the weight room and inspiring others to rebuild their lives through sport.
The Power of Connection
Dekkel Bachar, Shesek’s Program Manager, met a Nova Festival survivor at a healing event. The survivor, who had been shot during the attack, was struggling to find a rehabilitation program that suited her needs. Upon learning about Shesek, she told Dekkel, “It feels like you fell from the sky.” With Shesek’s help, she has started rebuilding her strength and reconnecting with a supportive community.
A Former Triathlete Reclaims His Strength
A displaced triathlete with a spinal cord injury, now living in Tiberias, received one-on-one support from Shesek. “Dekkel was the first person to check in on me,” he shared. Through Shesek’s personalized outreach, he found renewed confidence and is actively resuming physical activity.
Restoring a Sense of Belonging
A Nova survivor living with fibromyalgia attempted to return to exercise at a conventional gym but felt disconnected and discouraged. After learning about Shesek’s tailored programs, she joined a rehabilitation group and found her place. “For the first time, I feel like I’m not out of place,” she shared.
Reconnecting as a Community
At Kibbutz Lavi, Shesek staff held an exercise session for evacuees who had been inactive for months. Many participants had not joined any previous activities, but showed up eager to get moving. “It feels so good to do something after doing nothing all day,” one attendee shared. The heartfelt hugs and gratitude at the end of the session highlighted the profound impact of Shesek’s work.
Rebuilding in the North
At a Shesek session in Tiberias, evacuees displaced for months experienced their first sense of normalcy. Participants expressed appreciation for the tailored activities and personal support provided by Shesek’s dedicated coaches. “This has been our first moment of peace since the war began,” one participant shared.