November 27, 2008 / 29 Chesvan 5769

"Today I am Israel's national long jump champion, and I feel that I am worth something. But I don't know where I would have been if I hadn't been part of the sport program at the Hadassah Neurim Youth Aliyah Village."

Gadi Ohayon, 19, grew up in Acre, one of four children. Life was not filled with promising opportunity until Gadi exhibited exceptional sport ability in long jumping in ninth grade. At the age of 15, he was suddenly Israel's national long jump champion. But there was no way to move forward in his hometown. His coach recommended that he continue his training at Hadassah Neurim's outstanding National Athletics program.

Gadi arrived to the Jewish Agency's Hadassah Neurim Youth Aliyah Village when he was 16. At the beginning, he missed his family, his friends and his life in Acre. "Everything was so different," remembers Gadi, "including the food."

After a few months Gadi settled into the training routine at the Village, and began to make friends with the other athletes. The sport training transcended all social and cultural boundaries. "I made friends with new immigrants from Ethiopia, Romania, Russia, Canada and Australia, and with the Arab kids that were in the program. We all supported and encouraged each other."

Gadi thrived at Hadassah Neurim, competing in national and international competitions, including the European and World Championship games. He was drafted to the army, but still lives at Hadassah Neurim, and still trains. He is now gearing up for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"The coaches, the teachers, everyone at Hadassah Neurim are pushing for us to succeed. It is an amazing feeling. I would never have been able to afford the training, and receive the support I get here," says Gadi. Students in Hadassah Neurim’s National Athletics program comprise a large number of Israel's young athletic champions. They have won dozens of medals over the years in major Israeli and international competitions. 

The Hadassah Neurim Youth Aliyah Village is a joint partnership of the Jewish Agency and the Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America. Jewish Agency Youth Aliyah Villages, founded in 1933, have impacted the lives of more than 300,000 young people and their approach to educational and social intervention has become a model for similar programs throughout the world. To learn more about the program, click here. To join us in our efforts, click here.