The Israeli branch of global law firm DLA Piper hosted its fourth annual charity basketball tournament at the Shalva National Center in Jerusalem, raising 157,500 shekels for Shalva’s “Rising in Rank” project.
The project helps integrate young people with disabilities into the IDF.
The event, held for the second consecutive year at Shalva’s state-of-the-art facility, brought together senior partners, attorneys, and interns from Israel’s leading law firms, turning friendly competition on the court into meaningful support off it.
Over the past four years, the initiative, spearheaded by Jeremy Lustman, head of DLA Piper Israel, has raised more than half a million shekels for Shalva programs.
This year’s proceeds will directly fund “Rising in Rank,” which gives young adults with disabilities the opportunity to serve in the IDF while receiving comprehensive support, including housing, studies at the Jerusalem College of Technology, leisure activities, and professional guidance.
The tournament featured spirited matchups between teams representing Israel’s top firms, including Arnon, Tadmor-Levy, Goldfarb Gross Seligman, Gornitzky, Herzog, Shibolet, Naschitz, Fischer (FBC), FWMK, and S. Horowitz.
In the final, S. Horowitz defeated Naschitz to claim the title, with Barak Orion of S. Horowitz named Most Valuable Player.
A tradition in Israel's legal community
Jeremy Lustman described the event as both a celebration and a statement of values.
“For four consecutive years, we have had the privilege of leading this special initiative, which has become a tradition in Israel’s legal community,” he said.
“We see this as an opportunity to prove that our commitment to equality and inclusion is not just words. Through this blessed project, we enable young people with disabilities who wish to contribute to the State of Israel to fulfill their dream and serve proudly. At a time when the burden on regular service members and reservists is particularly heavy, we see special importance in supporting those who choose to volunteer and strengthen Israel’s social cohesion.”
Kalman Samuels, founder and president of Shalva, emphasized the impact of military service as a key to integration.
“We witness that military service serves as a key to integration into Israeli society. Therefore, we are pleased to emphasize the organization’s vision of inclusion and equality, and to provide young people with disabilities an equal opportunity to contribute to the State and integrate into society. We thank Jeremy Lustman and DLA Piper’s Israeli branch, and of course, the leading law firms in Israel, for their contribution to the program.”
The evening highlighted not only teamwork and camaraderie among Israel’s legal community but also the broader vision of creating equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
The partnership between DLA Piper and Shalva once again showed how sport can serve as a bridge to social impact, channeling competition into a cause that helps young Israelis realize their dreams of service and belonging.