Off Sides for Ulpanat Dolev

Located in Israel’s Binyamin region near Modiin, Ulpanat Dolev was established in 1988 as a residential facility for girls at risk. Today it serves over 100 troubled girls who have been referred to the Ulpana by social workers.

In addition to a basic high school education of religious and general studies, Ulpanat Dolev students are offered courses such as early childhood, care giving, computer repair and programming, cosmetology, nutrition, catering and hotel studies. The school also uses videography, music, dance and horseback riding as therapeutic tools to enhance each girl’s self-esteem and help them build a successful life.

Also truly unique for Israel, Ulpanat Dolev has a hosting families program, which integrates the 200 family Dolev community, providing  each girl with a positive and nurturing family experience on a weekly basis. This is achieved through mishpachtons or family units where girls in the school live with community families and essentially become one of their kids, with loving siblings and parents.

While my family was in Israel last year celebrating my brother Hymie’s bar mitzvah, we had the privilege of visiting the school. After returning home, Mimi Tzadok, the school’s director of development, asked us to try and put together a fundraiser here in New York. We decided to have a girls soccer tournament.

The tournament took place at Deal School. We had an overwhelming turnout of 100 girls who showed up early, eager and ready to play. The tournament consisted of 12 teams with 3 divisions. The weather was perfect and the games were intense. After the girls battled throughout the afternoon, with many close games and even a few shootouts, the tournament made it to the quarters at about 2 pm. The semis and finals were truly amazing. Every player gave her all.

The blue team was the winner of the tournament, and included Jen Weitzman, Helen Esses, Rebecca Tawil, Renee Cohen, Chantal Accad, Michelle Anzaroot and Nina Esses. Not far behind in second place was the orange team, which included Rosie Kubie, Sheri Tourgaman, Alison Tawil, Pauline Maleh, Julie Mizrahi, Ellen Haddad and Frances Mamiye.

Everyone had an amazing day. The atmosphere was great and the games were fun. No one can wait until next year for a bigger, better and more exciting tournament. Hopefully we will have a boys tournament as well.

A big thank you goes out to an incredible event committee that worked tirelessly to make this tournament a tremendous success. Each member spent countless hours helping raise money, pack bags and perfect each team. Thanks go to Esther Wortman, Caroll Dweck, Barbara Dayan, Danielle Zalta, Rossete Shamah, Norma Sutton, Hannah Horowitz, Frieda Shalam and Hymie Anteby.

Thank you to Miriam Zami for the great pictures and to Norman Greenberg, Emile Somekh, Buddy Shalom, and Hymie Anteby for refereeing the games. Finally, many thanks go to the generous sponsors whose donations made this event possible.

To learn more about the Ulpana please visit www.udlv.org.il, and stay tuned for details about next year.
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Jack Anteby is a 16-year-old junior at the Yeshivah of Flatbush.