As Hapoel Jerusalem Football Club (HJFC) approaches its 100th anniversary in 2026, the club proves that soccer can be so much more than a game. Founded and owned by its fans, Hapoel has become a model of inclusion and resilience in Jerusalem—bringing together communities that rarely cross paths, and offering children and adults alike a place to belong.
Over the years, the club has launched groundbreaking initiatives that touch every corner of society: the Neighborhood League, where Jewish and Arab kids learn teamwork on and off the field; Girls’ Soccer, the only organized league for young women in Jerusalem; an LGBTQ+ Soccer team, one of the first of its kind in Israel; Special Needs and Spectrum Soccer, where children with developmental and cognitive challenges play alongside their peers; and Trauma Soccer, which gives veterans and survivors a safe space to heal through sport. Later this month, a new program for homeless women will begin as they continue to serve those in need.
“Football for all isn’t just a slogan,” says Lior Huga, Head of Social Initiatives at Hapoel Jerusalem, “It’s a lifeline.”
For the Hapoel community, this work is deeply personal. Hersh Goldberg Polin—whose story has moved people across the globe—was one of the leaders of the club’s fan movement. In tribute, Hapoel’s 100th anniversary logo is based on Hersh, ensuring that his spirit of hope and resilience will inspire generations to come.
Stories That Inspire
The outcomes of these programs are often extraordinary. One 12-year-old girl, who joined the Girls’ Soccer league after years of being told “soccer isn’t for girls,” now dreams of becoming a coach herself. Her mother shared, “For the first time, my daughter comes home glowing after practice. She feels proud, strong, and seen.”
And it’s not just children whose lives are transformed. A participant in the Trauma Soccer program, an IDF veteran coping with PTSD, described the experience: “For ninety minutes, I am not my diagnosis. I’m just a teammate. That has saved me.”
Trauma Soccer for IDF Soldiers
Hapoel Jerusalem FC harnesses the power of soccer as a therapeutic tool to support IDF soldiers living with PTSD. On the pitch, the game becomes far more than competition—it is a structured and safe space where trust can be rebuilt, confidence restored, and emotional balance rediscovered.
The discipline of training and the teamwork required in every match counteract the isolation that trauma so often imposes, while the bonds formed with teammates create a sense of belonging and solidarity. Beyond the game itself, the program weaves sport together with community, reminding soldiers that recovery is not a solitary journey but one strengthened by connection, purpose, and shared resilience.
Inclusion Through Diversity
One of Israel’s first openly LGBTQ+ soccer teams calls Hapoel home. For many participants, it is the first time they’ve felt safe stepping onto a field. The program is a beacon of acceptance in a city where LGBTQ+ individuals often struggle for space to be seen. A player in the LGBTQ+ team remarked “Soccer is considered very much a boys’ thing. I know that some of the boys on the team say that, as gay kids, they didn’t have a space to play. For me it was, ‘You can’t play with us because you’re a girl,’ or, ‘What a lesbian, you play soccer.’ Part of the power of this project is that here there’s a club saying – you are welcome here.”
Breaking Barriers for Special Needs
Children with autism and developmental disabilities are often excluded from traditional sports. At Hapoel, they play side by side with neurotypical peers in unified teams. Parents describe it as life-changing, a place where their children are finally accepted and celebrated.
Naor, playing in one of the unified teams: “From the day I joined, I felt a sense of belonging, a genuine connection between people, and an experience unlike anything else. We are a diverse team – some of us live with disabilities, some don’t – but on the field we are all equal, supporting one another and enjoying the game and the friendship. The bond with the players and our regular practices have become an important part of my life. I am very proud to be part of such a meaningful social project, one that shows how sports can bring people together, break down barriers, and create real change in the community.”
Building Bridges: The Neighborhood League
The Neighborhood League brings together 350 Jewish and Arab children on 22 mixed teams, combining weekly practices with academic support and conflict resolution workshops. Kids who once might never have spoken to each other now laugh, compete, and learn side by side.
After October 7: A Home for Displaced Israelis
In the painful aftermath of October 7, Hapoel expanded its reach. The club created emergency programs for displaced families and provided trauma-informed activities for children directly impacted by the attacks. Coaches worked with small groups to ease fear and restore a sense of routine. One parent wrote afterward: “My son laughed again for the first time in weeks. On that playing field, he remembered what joy feels like.” After two years of war that have created such damage and despair, Hapoel Jerusalem embodies the best that Israel can be.”
Sixty days into the October 7th war, Hapoel Jerusalem invited the youth team of Hapoel Eshkol, from the Gaza Envelope, who were evacuated from their homes, to play a friendly tournament. Their head coach Tom, told us: “To truly understand what this tournament means; you only need to hear the children’s words afterward. They were overjoyed to join and play with the Hapoel Jerusalem family, and their smiles made it clear beyond any doubt how deeply soccer serves as a source of strength and stability for them.”
Looking Ahead
As Hapoel enters its centennial year, the vision is bold: to grow the Neighborhood League into even more communities, expand inclusive soccer across Israel, and bring the message of coexistence to international tournaments.
“Our dream,” says Uri Sheradsky, the club’s CEO, “is that when people see Hapoel Jerusalem, they don’t just see a team. They see a city—and a future—where everyone has a place on the field.”