After every horrific attack that takes place in Israel - comes the regular ritual: the media drips initial information with military and political commentary, and then the most difficult moment - the names of those killed, those who deprived their lives of murderers, are revealed.
Every face has their story.
At the beginning of last month, in the days following the severe attack on Ilka Bar in Dizengoff, the stories surrounding the name of the late Tomer Mored were first and foremost related to the football team that one - Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Social networks were flooded with his pictures with a red scarf, with which he used to be photographed in every corner he traveled around the world, pictures of a young man at Bloomfield Stadium.
His family's request to the team's fans to accompany him on his final journey, three days after the attack (a few hours before the team's away game against Hapoel B'Shlosha), gave an explanation of how much Hapoel Tel Aviv had in the life of Tomer, who was murdered at the age of 28. He left He is followed by parents, a brother, a sister, and Ariel, his partner for the past seven years.
Tomer Morad - You will never walk alone ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zVrwmZTuFc
- HapoelTelAviv (@HapoelTelAvivFC) April 10, 2022
The club, which has lost quite a few fans over the years in wars and hostilities, made a tribute in the game against Maccabi Netanya when Morad's family went up to the lawn and then sat at Gate 5, where Tomer has sat in recent seasons.
The team players came to comfort the family during the shiva, this after waving a shirt in his memory after the conquest of Freddie Flomein's goal at Turner Stadium.
Fans also waved signs with his portrait and name.
"Hapoel was something that held a very big place in Tomer's heart, and it's also something he would always talk about," says his friend Ido Polak, who has been with him since 2009, when they met through a mutual friend. "He would arrange the schedule especially to come and see the verb. It was a significant part of his life, and the people around him knew it."
Hapoel Tel Aviv fans with a memorial sign down, Photo: Alan Shiver
Is there a special moment you remember with him?
"The most memorable story I had was in the game against Benfica Lisbon in the home stage of the Champions League. Towards the end of the game, when we were led 0: 3, a ball was kicked towards goal 5, which came to us. "Perhaps with the purest joy he experienced as a fan."
Rebel in the game against Benfica, Photo: Screenshot
"Part of the refuge I experienced"
Keren Golan, who has accompanied the Reds since childhood and sat in the same game two rows below Tomer, says: "I have known him for more than 15 years. In every game he would sit above me, until the renovation in Bloomfield. He was always smiling, victories and losses. Hapoel was for me A refuge, and it is a big part of the refuge I experienced. "
Professionally, Hapoel Tel Aviv has not experienced many happy moments in recent years, which strengthens the community and sense of belonging. Moments, good or bad.
The late rebel with the Golan Foundation, Photo: Kobi Greenberg
Hundreds of people came to the funeral and sang for Tomer the anthem of the group ("You will never walk alone"), in a picture that will be remembered for many years to come, you could say forever.
For one moment football was forgotten and given the opportunity to look at sympathy from a slightly different angle.
One that makes it clear that being a fan of a football team does not just start and end in sports, but it is much more than that.
The red fans, who experienced a very painful loss in a derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv about a week ago, can draw hope from Morad's view of less good moments related to the team they love. Maor Ben Haim, another member of Tomer and currently works at the club He says excitedly: "Even in the most difficult days of Hapoel, even when we were relegated to the national league, he wanted to go to every game.
He always looked ahead and remained optimistic.
Even if the situation was not good, he would tell us 'it will be okay'.
Since the attack, every time I enter Bloomfield, it immediately comes to mind.
I have chills and I try to direct the difficulty to good places, as Tomer would do. "
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us
