ByGASTON FRATESI

Five years ago, I boarded a plane from Buenos Aires thinking I was coming to Israel for just six months. I had enrolled in a Masa program called Discover, together with 90 other young people from around the world, expecting an adventure — not a new life. What was supposed to be a temporary experience quickly became something much deeper.

Today, I find myself still here, building a future in what my friends jokingly call “paradise”: Tel Aviv. And honestly, most days, it does feel like paradise — not because it's perfect, but because something in me knew I had found a place where I truly belong.

After the program ended, Israel had already become more than just a destination. One after another, many of the friends I made decided to stay—and together, we chose to make Aliyah. Without really planning it, we built a small community of new immigrants who supported each other through every step of beginning a life here.

For a long time, that community was defined by excitement, discovery, and a feeling of belonging. But after October 7, everything shifted. What had felt joyful suddenly became heavy with fear, uncertainty, and grief—reminding us just how much we needed one another.

Those weeks were especially difficult for new immigrants. Many were suddenly afraid to stay in Israel; some left the country, others went away “just until things calmed down,” and the community we had built began to scatter. For those of us who remained, it became clear that without a sense of community, many olim would not feel able to stay at all.

We stayed close, checked on each other, and held on to whatever sense of belonging we still had—because in that moment, community was not only important; it was the only thing keeping many of us here.

In the midst of that uncertainty, my friend and partner Gianni Conti and I began asking ourselves what we could do—not just to help individuals get through a difficult moment, but to hold our community together. That question led us to combine two things we loved most: Israel and football.

What began as an idea quickly became AYRES TLV—the only football club for new immigrants in Tel Aviv and today the largest olim football community in Israel. What started with a few friends has turned into a vibrant team of over 200 players, men and women from more than 20 countries across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania—all finding belonging through the most universal language we share: the game.

We’re also fortunate to welcome Israeli players who help us feel even more connected to the country. They bring their culture, humor, and worldview into the team—often quite different from what we grew up with. Many share their experiences from the army, from the challenges of the recent war to the reality of serving in miluim throughout the year.

Their perspective has taught us something essential: football may be our passion, but Israelis remind us that it’s not a matter of life and death. It’s a game—one meant to bring joy, resilience, and a bit of perspective. That balance has become part of the soul of our club.

Over time, AYRES TLV became something far greater than a football club. What started on the pitch has grown into shared dinners, holiday celebrations, mutual support, and a real sense of belonging. Today, the football is almost secondary to the community that has formed around it.

For many olim living alone—and especially for lone soldiers far from their families—this community is often a lifeline. One soldier told me that the hours he spends with us are the only moments he truly feels at home in Israel. That stayed with me, because it captured exactly why this matters.

Most of our players don’t have family here, which is why we don’t only train together—we live life together. On Pesach and Rosh Hashanah we celebrate as one family, and during the war, players who didn’t have safe places to stay were hosted by others. What happens off the field is the heart of our story: friendship, support, and the understanding that none of us has to go through this journey alone.

Our vision now is simple: to keep building this family. We dream of opening a clubhouse— a home where newcomers can gather, celebrate, learn, rest, and find support. But more than buildings or trophies, our goal is to create belonging.

Because for anyone who leaves their country, even out of love for Israel, passion alone is never enough. What truly keeps a person here is community—people who see you, stand with you, and make a foreign place feel like home.

Even after the horrors of October 7, many olim chose to remain in Israel despite fear and uncertainty. They stayed because they had a family here. AYRES TLV didn’t just give them a team—it gave them a place to belong. And that, more than anything, is what we hope to keep building for every new oleh who arrives.

The writer is one of Masa's changemakers, supporting the Olim community in Tel Aviv through football and creating a space for connection, integration, and belonging. Read more  about the changemakers of Masa.