Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/10/23
From Press Release and Staff Report
One of the casualties of the attack in Israel was Israeli men’s lacrosse player Mor Cohen, a Tel Aviv native who competed in the JCC Maccabi (Youth) Games held in Cherry Hill in 2014, according to the Israel Lacrosse Association (ILA).
The Israeli National Training Center is in the south of Israel, surrounding the city of Ashkelon. This is at the epicenter of where most of the violence has occurred over the past 4 days.
“It has truly been a brutal time for our ILA families located in that region,” according to a statement from the ILA. “While we are hoping and praying for the best, we anticipate the situation will remain volatile as Operation Swords of Iron goes into full effect.
“The outpouring of support from our community has truly exceeded all expectations,” the statement read. “Please know that your messages go farther than you can imagine and mean a great deal to our ILA family in Israel. We’ve been working hard to identify needs throughout our network and I write today with a handful of updates.”
Mor Cohen’s body was discovered today. Mor was one of our first Israeli lacrosse players, having helped start the team in Tel Aviv and the coexistence program. He also represented Israel on its first-ever U19 National Team in the 2016 World Championships.
“A remarkable young man, Mor touched the lives of everyone he encountered,” the ILA said. “He was a caring teammate and immensely committed to our lacrosse community. We extend our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time and know that he will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. May Mor’s memory be a blessing to all who knew him.”
The JCC Maccabi Games offers Olympic-style sports competitions, including opening and closing ceremonies; travel; community service; social and cultural events.
Phillylacrosse.com reported on Mor’s experience at the Maccabi Games in 2014 through an article by the ILA. In the article, Mor said, “It was a great opportunity to play in America with Jewish lacrosse players.” He finished the Maccabi Games with two goals and five assists for South Jersey. “It was tough, but it was really fun, and I want to come back next year,” he said.
Israeli HS players enjoy competing in JCC Maccabi Games in Cherry Hill
