Table Tennis Event Opening Season 2024/25 in Memory of Shay Michaeli – 10/20/2024

The highlight of the event to open the 2024-2025 table tennis season in Israel in memory of the late Shay Michaeli was the memorial ceremony held in the evening at the Gan Nachum Municipal Sports Hall in Rishon LeZion.

Many dignitaries attended the ceremony, including:

• Mayor of Rishon LeZion, Mr.Raz Kinstlich
• The Chairperson of the Olympic Committee, Mrs.Yael Arad
• CEO of the Municipality of Rishon LeZion, Mr.Doron Milberg
• CEO of the Rishon LeZion Municipal Society for Culture and Sports, Mr.Eli Pollak
• Deputy Mayor of Rishon LeZion, Mr. Ity Matityahu
• Officers and commandersBattalion 5114And many officers from the Communications and Information Technology Corps
• CEO of the Israel Table Tennis Association, Mrs.Karin Peleg-Neumann
• Chairman of the Betar Micha Association Rishon LeZion, Mr.Marian Grisaro
• Company representativesTaboola, the main visible sponsor
• Israeli Champion in Table Tennis for Adults and Youth for 2024,Nathaniel Abramov
• Tokyo Olympics medalist,Avisag Samberg
• Mr.Zvi Sussman,The father of the late Maj. Gen. (res.) Ben Zussman, who fell like a trophy in the Iron Swords War, and was a player for the Hapoel Jerusalem table tennis team.
• The master of ceremonies, Mr.Lichi Greenstein

Before the ceremony speeches, a short exhibition match was held between the Mayor of Rishon LeZion, Mr. Raz Kinstlich, and the Israeli champion in table tennis for adults and youth, Netanel Abramov. The judges were the CEO of the Municipality of Rishon LeZion, Mr. Doron Milberg, and the mayor's son.
In the audience were many invited guests, relatives and friends of the Michaeli family, Shay's friends from Battalion 5114, Shay's close friends, and many table tennis players and enthusiasts.
The speeches at the ceremony were in memory of Sergeant Shay Michaeli, with most of them containing references to the impressive and honorable event, and especially the fact that this is the first and defining event that will have a commitment from all parties (especially the Municipality of Rishon LeZion, the Table Tennis Association and the army) to make the event an annual tradition was noted.
Shay's commander, Lt. Col. A., spoke of Shay as an outstanding soldier in the battalion.
Shir Michaeli, Shay's sister, spoke about the special bond they had and was very moved.
Yoram Michaeli, Shay's father, closed the speech section with a speech titled 'We will be worthy of you.'.
The ceremony was conducted, with great grace and sensitivity, by Mr. Lichi Greenstein.