By Mike May – March 20, 2026
With all the current upheaval in the Middle East, which is negatively impacting and disrupting daily life in Israel, there remains a unique safe haven for children in that part of the world. It’s called the Israel Tennis and Education Centers (ITEC). There are currently 25 ITEC facilities scattered around Israel. And a 26th ITEC center will open soon in Sderot, which is about a mile from the Israel-Gaza border.
The purpose of each ITEC facility is to provide a place for area children to visit on a daily basis in order to relax in a safe environment, spend time with friends, complete schoolwork, eat a hot meal and learn how to play tennis.
Another big-picture goal of ITEC is to teach children of different backgrounds how to get along with one another, both on and off the tennis court. Why? Because Israel is a “melting pot” with a population that features Jews, Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs, Bedouins, Druze, and refugees from many countries around the world, such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Kenya, Ukraine and Russia.
To generate funding for ITEC and its many programs, the organization solicits support from donors and supporters, many of whom are in the United States.
On Thursday, March 12, a delegation of young ambassadors from ITEC once again visited the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club with their tennis racquets in hand. It was the ninth visit to Wycliffe’s tennis center by an ITEC group in as many years.
The ITEC delegation was led by Yoni Yair, the group’s U.S.-based senior vice president of development. Working out of Deerfield Beach, Yair is a qualified representative of ITEC since he spent much time as a youngster in Israel at the Larry Greenspon Israel Tennis & Education Center in Ramat Hasharon, back in the mid-1970s. Yair was a young student enrolled at ITEC back in 1976 when the centers were first opened.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of ITEC being founded,” said Yair, who noted that ITEC is the largest social service program in Israel. “These days, many children in Israel are spending as many as six to eight hours a day at an ITEC center. The ITEC program is positively transforming individual lives and transforming the future of Israel.”
During the 75-minute outdoor tennis-themed demonstration at Wycliffe, Yair introduced each member of the delegation, and each explained the positive impact on their lives by having access to their local ITEC center.
While those introductions were attention-getters, the most entertaining part of the program was watching the group of talented Israeli youth hit sharp forehands, smooth backhands, crisp volleys, delicate drop shots and powerful overheads. Each well-executed shot generated applause from the more than 350 people in attendance.
One of those ITEC ambassadors was Avigail Alexandrovsky. She is an 11-year-old Jewish girl whose parents moved to Israel from Ukraine. Alexandrovsky said that her life is better because of the existence of ITEC’s tennis initiative.
“I have been playing tennis at ITEC since I was seven years old,” said Alexandrovsky, who swings a Yonex racquet and dreams of playing at Wimbledon one day. “At ITEC, I get physically fit. It’s one big family, I get my homework done, and I have fun.”
She also happens to be a very talented and promising tennis player, with a powerful forehand.
Other members of the tennis troupe were 14-year-old Adi Korol and 18-year-old Yotam Shnider. Both are great examples of the influence of the ITEC experience.
“At ITEC, I have learned life skills, gained confidence and had fun,” Korol said.
“ITEC has been my second home, and I have a feeling of belonging at ITEC,” Shnider added. “It has helped shape me into who I am today, both on and off the court. I’m so grateful to be part of this community.”
Two additional ITEC representatives at Wycliffe used to visit an ITEC center when they were younger. They are a pair of 29-year-olds, Ellie Arar and Stephanie Hamaty.
When they were enrolled in school in Israel, they attended the Nussdorf & Mark Families Israel Tennis & Education Center in Jaffa, which is located just outside Tel Aviv. Arar and Hamaty are proud graduates of ITEC. The lessons they learned there remain a part of their daily lives.
As teenagers, both Arar and Hamaty participated in ITEC’s Living Together program, where they learned how to coexist and thrive in the presence of Jews, Arab Muslims and Christian Arabs, all of whom attended ITEC years ago and still do today.
“The Living Together program was a great bridge to connect people of all backgrounds, both on and off the tennis court,” Arar said. “Through ITEC, I learned how to set goals and build internal confidence.”
“We are better humans because of the Living Together experience at ITEC,” Hamaty added. “Tennis was accessible to everybody, regardless of your background and means.”
Back in Israel, Arar is currently pursuing a master’s degree in generative artificial intelligence, while Hamaty is a jewelry designer.
Following the conclusion of the tennis expo, a reception was held inside the Wycliffe clubhouse, where the ITEC ambassadors met the many Wycliffe residents in attendance that afternoon.
The Wycliffe-based coordinators of this year’s ITEC visit were Marty and Harriet Ross, Steve and Ellen Wechsler, and Shirley Schwartz.
For more information about what ITEC is doing in Israel, visit www.itecenters.org.