Joe Teplow and Netanel Shafier, two teenagers from Teaneck, don’t know anyone who lives in the southern Israel town of Sderot. Nonetheless, the town is much on their minds these days. “It’s really important to show the people of Sderot that we care,” says Netanel.

Sderot has been struck by thousands of Qassam rockets, killing and injuring many people. That’s why Joe, 16, and Netanel, 17, and their friend, Zev Hait, have chosen it as the beneficiary of the charity roller hockey tournament they’re organizing at Joe’s school, SAR High School in Riverdale. Netanel attends Torah Academy of Bergen County, and Zev also attends SAR.

The Skate for Sderot 3-on-3 Roller Hockey Tournament is scheduled for March 30.

“The way the tournament works, the teams go out and raise money themselves,” says Joe. It costs each three-person team $200 to enter, and then they can also raise more money from parents, grandparents, and friends. All proceeds from the tournament will go to Connections Israel, a non-profit organization that sponsors multiple programs to aid Sderot’s citizens financially and psychologically. In September, the group gave out holiday gift baskets donated by communities from around the world to 10,000 families in Sderot in a show of solidarity, care, and support.

What do they hope to accomplish? “We want to raise awareness of Sderot,” says Netanel. “We also want to show that kids can start their own thing that can grow into something big.”

For more info contact Josh - jaytee181818@gmail.com or info@connectionsisrael.com

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Taken from http://www.jstandard.com/articles/3411/1/Teens-use-roller-hockey-to-raise-money-for-Sderot