The Clippers will host Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv in a preseason game at Staples Center on Oct. 20, a benefit for the Israeli organization, Migdal Ohr, the world’s largest orphanage, officials said.
Maccabi Tel Aviv drew 18,000 at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks in its last appearance in the United States in 2007.
Migdal Ohr means Tower of Light in Hebrew, and according to its website, it is named such "for our ability to illuminate a path to a better life for orphaned, abused, underpriviledged, and new immigant children in Israel."
The orphange houses nearly 7,000 children and is said to admit about 700 newcomers each year. The Clippers held a news conference Wednesday afternoon to announce the event.
"It is good to be here today, especially because today is Israel's 61st year of independence, to announce such a beautiful project," said the Honorable Jacob Dayan, the Consul General of Israel for Los Angeles. "I would like to thank the Clippers for hosting us for this wonderful project promoting the kids in Israel. I think there is no better way to promote such a wonderful project with a basketball game."
Said Clippers GM and Coach Mike Dunleavy: "We are humbled by the great, extraordinary works of Rabbi Grossman and the whole Migdal Ohr organization. We are honored to participate in the games and bring light to this great organization and the great work they do, hopefully not only in the city of Los Angeles but throughout the world."
- Lisa Dillman
For tickets visit Www.MigdalOhrUSA.Org
