Full Breakdown
Hapoel HaShisha: A Jerusalem Basketball Club Born from Tragedy and Hope
By Drooid · · How we work
Founding and Purpose
The “Beautiful Six” basketball club, officially named Hapoel HaShisha, was launched two years after the hostages taken during the October 7 attacks were killed in Gaza. Founded by 21-year-old Jerusalem natives Nadav Haas and Amitai Weltman, the team was created to honor the six hostages—Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Carmel Gat—as well as other Jerusalem sports fans lost since the attacks. The founders say the club is meant to turn the court into a place of community, remembrance, and hope.
Mission and Community Activities
According to the Jerusalem Post, HaShisha’s vision emphasizes the values associated with the “Beautiful Six”: life, strength, love, unity, light, and hope. Each home game is dedicated to a sports fan killed after October 7, and the locker room is intended as a living memorial. The club plans community-focused events, such as a “Community Yoga Day” honoring Carmel Gat and Eden Yerushalmi, both former yoga instructors.
Competitive Structure and Partnerships
HaShisha competes in the Israeli Basketball Association’s Liga Aleph, the fourth division, with a roster of leading players aged 18-30. The team aims to rise through the divisions and eventually serve as a development pipeline for Jerusalem’s first-division professional club. A key partnership with Hapoel Jerusalem Youth Basketball provides long-term professional and financial support, while home games will be held at the Cosell Sports Center on the Hebrew University campus in Mount Scopus, which also supplies a dedicated locker room.
Future Aspirations and Impact
The club’s long-term goal is to build a strong, sustainable foundation that can become a feeder team for the city’s top-tier club. The article notes that the families of the “Beautiful Six” have given their blessing and support, signaling a hope that HaShisha will become a lasting fixture in Jerusalem’s sports community, influencing both on-court performance and off-court social cohesion.
