Public activity report
Our first year in Ashdod
14 July 2025 to 13 July 2026
In our first year in Ashdod we opened a football school, set up chess boards at Duna and invited readers to meet writer Rubén Gallego. We also took residents’ concerns to City Hall and the Knesset.
- 15–20 children and teenagers trained regularly with the football school
- ≈70 guests at the opening of our chess club
- ≈80 people joined the philosophy club’s opening evening
Football training in the first year
Our pre-season sessions took place on 20, 21 and 27 August 2025. From September the main group trained twice a week. By the end of our first reporting year on 13 July 2026, the group had spent about 80 days training, including the extra session on 17 April and the first six days of our summer programme.
Football school equipment
In September 2025, Super Papa contributed ₪10,000 towards setting up the football school and buying sports equipment. In October the association bought children’s match and training kits, clothing for coaches, goals, balls, cones, agility ladders and hurdles.
From Ashdod to the Knesset
- Meeting with Tatiana Mazarsky in Ashdod
We met Knesset member Tatiana Mazarsky to introduce Tsameret Hashivyon. We discussed sports for children and teenagers, and how people with disabilities can take part in community life in Ashdod.
- Civic Initiatives Forum at the Knesset
The following day our delegation travelled to the Knesset. Alongside associations from across Israel, we presented the work of our community in Ashdod.
- Tsameret Hashivyon opens its doors
We invited Ashdod families to meet our football school and discover the chess and philosophy programmes we were preparing at Duna. Our young footballers took to the stage, and Knesset member Tatiana Mazarsky greeted the guests. Writer Rubén Gallego joined us, and his daughter Sofia performed for the audience.
- Meeting Yair Lapid in Ashdod
At a public gathering in Ashdod, Nikita Bezman met former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in person and told him about the association’s work. Knesset member Tatiana Mazarsky also attended.
- Health and social support in Ashdod
At Duna Community Centre, we met Tatiana Mazarsky to discuss health, social support and the needs of residents with disabilities. We handed over materials that informed subsequent parliamentary inquiries.
- Working session at Ashdod City Hall
The city presented its call for community projects. We discussed eligibility and how to apply, then began preparing proposals for future activities.
Readers, families and the philosophy club
- Rubén Gallego’s philosophy club opens
About 80 people came to Duna for the opening of our philosophy club. Writer Rubén Gallego welcomed readers to a series of conversations about books and cinema. We met again in January and February. The three evenings gave readers in Ashdod a chance to get to know the author and ask him questions in person.
- Hanukkah painting workshop with Irina Polevaya
Grandmothers came with their grandchildren, and families worked side by side at Irina Polevaya’s Hanukkah workshop at Duna. Irina showed everyone how to build a pattern out of tiny dots of paint. Children and adults painted spinning tops and decorated Hanukkah lamps. The room rang with children’s laughter as the patterns took shape.
- An evening with Rubén Gallego at Duna
Rubén Gallego welcomed readers to Duna’s small hall. Following Freaks, we chose Red Torpedo for the January programme. In this Italian documentary by Mara Chiaretti, Rubén tells his own story. Readers could talk to him in person, bring a favourite book for him to sign or buy one at the meeting and take it home with his autograph. The club’s photo report
- The philosophy club meets again
Rubén Gallego hosted our February club meeting at Duna. Ashdod residents and members of the association gathered for the third evening in the series that began in December. We served tea and refreshments so guests could stay and talk together.
- Tsameret Media interviews Rubén Gallego
Irina Pospelova interviewed writer Rubén Gallego at his home for Tsameret Media. They talked about education and culture, about inclusion and the part people with disabilities play in community projects. After the meetings he had led at Duna, the recording gave readers outside Ashdod a chance to hear him for themselves. Watch Irina Pospelova’s interview from 35:23
- Around one table in Ashdod
In February we brought members of the association together for a meal. On 9 May we set the table again in Ashdod. Older residents and people with disabilities joined members of the association for our second community meal. The association’s account of 9 May
The chess club’s first season
We invested about NIS 17,000 in chess equipment bought directly from the manufacturer. We used it for lessons and tournaments, and took boards out to the Ashdod promenade and to residents of the City housing complex.
- Open chess on the promenade
The association set up chessboards on the promenade and invited passers-by to try the game and meet the club.
- Opening of the Tsameret–Duna chess club
About 70 people joined us at Duna. International master Boris Maryasin and national master Anton Rakhmilevich moved from board to board, playing children and adults in simultaneous exhibitions. Our guests included deputy mayor Shimon Katznelson, city culture portfolio holder Ofir Lasri, Duna director Marina Wexler and Ashdod Chess Club director Arkady Ryabukhin. Oren Tavil, chief executive of the municipal culture and leisure company, joined the players at a board. Kan Darom’s report on the opening
- Shavuot for young players
About 70 children came to Duna for the Shavuot tournament we organised with Ashdod’s municipal chess club. Schoolchildren played five rounds in age groups, with a separate section for beginners rated up to 1350. The children also tried the giant chessboard. Results · under 1350
- Shavuot rated tournament
We organised the rated rapid tournament with Ashdod’s municipal chess club. Arkady Ryabukhin was the chief arbiter. Each player had fifteen minutes plus five seconds per move. Boris Maryasin scored 4½ points in six rounds, with four wins, one draw and one loss. Federation record for Boris Maryasin
- A tournament for kindergarten players
Mikhail Tsygankov organised and refereed an unrated tournament for children finishing kindergarten. Around forty children sat down to play. At the end, Shabtai Ishmailov presented their medals.
- FIDE teacher education course
From 12 to 14 June, Nikita Bezman, Shabtai Ishmailov and Mikhail Tsygankov took part in the FIDE EDU Preparation of Teachers Course.
- Chess with residents of the City housing complex
At the City residence, 39 HaTsiyonut Street in Ashdod, residents and visitors from Tsameret sat together for chess and conversation.
- Summer series · event 1
11 players took part in the under-1500 group and played five rounds. We ran this first event with the city chess club. Cups and medals were presented after the games. Results and standings
How the season continued
Our first reporting year closed on 13 July. Here is how the work continued through 24 October 2026.
By 24 October 2026, Tsameret-Duna had held 10 tournaments. With Ashdod’s municipal chess club, we organised the Shavuot events on 21 and 22 May and the 6 summer tournaments. The season also included separate tournaments for children finishing kindergarten and for residents of the City housing complex. Both were played without a rating calculation.
- Preparing for the City chess tournament
The club returned to the residence with chess sets and a demonstration board. Residents played together ahead of the August tournament.
- Tournament and awards at the City residence
The residents’ hall hosted the last event in our series, an unrated chess tournament. The players recorded their moves and gathered for the presentation of cups and medals. Duna Community Centre helped us buy the awards.
- City and Knesset guests at the Ashdod Open
Deputy Mayor Shimon Katznelson and Knesset member Evgeny Sova visited our chess tournament. Sova spoke to the players and joined them at the board. Final standings · Chess-Results
Arkady Ryabukhin, director of Ashdod’s municipal chess club, helped with tournament planning and administration. He was chief arbiter at the Shavuot rapid tournament on 22 May. We submitted the results of rated competitions to the Israel Chess Federation.