Bondi survivor’s spirited return to Maccabi team

Maccabi NSW Basketball Club was incredibly proud and grateful to welcome back Bondi Chanukah terror attack survivor Elon Zizer to his Maccabi men’s team last week for the first time.

There were bold and beautiful cheers, and some joyous tears, as Zizer – who had been shot six times, been in a coma for 10 days, and had gone through multiple surgeries – was presented with his Maccabi playing shirt pre-game by the team’s captain and longtime club committee member Brad Nissen.

What’s more, the particular team – in his honour – officially changed its name to the Maccabi Zizers – a gesture that brought a beaming smile to his face.

In February this year – when he’d met returned Israeli hostage Emily Damari during her visit to Sydney – Zizer was still wearing an arm sling, and it has taken many months since to be able to be in the condition to play competition basketball again.

It happened to be round one of the City of Sydney Basketball Association’s open men’s division 4A spring season, when the moment was right, and he was ready.