Without a ceremony and without informing or inviting the family, the Tel Aviv Municipality marked "V" on the commemoration of the legendary basketball coach Ralph Klein, when it named a side alley in the Kfar Shalem neighborhood after him • The Klein family heard about it from one of the fans

• Ralph Klein

• The sign placed by the Tel Aviv municipality in Kfar Shalem

About two and a half weeks ago, Ruthi Klein, the widow of the late Ralph Klein, received a text message on WhatsApp from family friend Ilan Serf ("The Fox"), one of Maccabi Tel Aviv's devoted fans. "Did you know that the Tel Aviv municipality designated a street after Ralph in an entire village?" Read the message. Ruthi did not understand what it was about, since no one would inform the family about naming a street after the late Klein. To verify things, Klein also received a picture of a sign on a stone fence.

Indeed, quietly and covertly, if you will only to get out by duty, the Tel Aviv Municipality has named a side alley in the Kfar Shalem neighborhood after Klein. Without ceremony and without informing the family about the placement of the sign.

"The city council decided to commemorate the late Ralph Klein as early as 2013," the Tel Aviv municipality said, "and his family was not only updated, but also confirmed the commemoration."

Shouldn't a street named after Klein be in the area of ​​the Yad Eliyahu Sports Hall?

Regarding the location of the street, we are outraged at the question. The Kfar Shalem neighborhood is an integral and important part of the city like any other neighborhood. The late Klein received the Sports Hall of Fame award in Tel Aviv-Yafo. "

The Klein family, who last Friday marked 12 years since Ralph's death, were quite embarrassed by the municipality's underground move. His daughter Rinat Klein said yesterday: "As we read in the newspaper about the decision to commemorate him almost ten years ago, so we were not updated on the choice of place to commemorate him. It is especially important for us to remember the values ​​that led him - love of sports and education. 

Championships, trophies and the Israel Prize

The late Klein, a Holocaust survivor, is considered by many to be one of Israel's greatest coaches of all time. He marched Maccabi Tel Aviv to a historic European Cup win in 1977 and led the Israeli team to its pinnacle in 1979 - a silver medal at the European Championships in Turin. 

He was called up to coach the German national team in 1984, in a move that provoked much criticism, and qualified with it for the Olympic tournament in Los Angeles. He also coached Hapoel Tel Aviv and led it to its final title - the State Cup in 1933. 

In 2006 he received the Israel Prize for Sports, and two years later he died at the age of 77 of cancer. The Elitzur Elkana basketball team, which he coached at the end of his life, was named after him, and a Torah scroll was written in the community to lift his spirits. 

The group of veterans of Maccabi Tel Aviv has also been called Maccabi Ralph Klein Tel Aviv since his death. Basketball halls named after him were built in Even Yehuda, where he lived, and in Yavne. In 2011, the play "Playoff" by director Eran Riklis was released, based on the story of Klein's life. His character in the film was played by actor Danny Houston.