The world of sports mourns and remembers: the bullet-riddled bike of Lior Weitzman, who was murdered on the morning of October 7 while out for a ride, and the soccer cleats of Lior Asulin, killed at the Nova music festival, are just two of the haunting items that will be on display at the "Unbreakable" exhibition. Opening during the Sukkot holiday at the Jewish Sports Museum in Kfar Maccabiah, the exhibition is dedicated to Israeli athletes who were killed on October 7 and throughout the war.
A special section will pay tribute to the Kutz family from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. The two Kutz boys, who dreamed of becoming basketball players and were part of Hapoel Tel Aviv’s youth basketball team, were murdered along with their parents, Aviv and Livnat, and their sister, Rotem. They were found lying together on one bed, embracing in death.
The exhibition will also honor Maccabi Haifa fan, Inbar Haiman, known as "Pink," who was kidnapped from the Nova festival and murdered in Gaza. Her body is still being held by Hamas.
Other rare items related to Israeli athletes and the war will also be displayed, including the gloves worn by Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz on Israel’s Memorial Day, which featured the word "Yizkor" (Remember) written in Hebrew.
NBA player Deni Avdija, who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers, contributed a pair of shoes he dedicated to the recovery of singer Idan Amedi. Olympic gold medalist Artem Dolgopyat also donated the gold medal he won at the World Championships, held on October 7.
“On the surface, sports and war seem like opposites, yet during the darkest hours of the war, the State of Israel found strength in sports, which gave back unforgettable moments of grace and pride,” says Osnat Tzur, director of the Jewish Sports Museum. “Sports unify, heal, and empower, and we are honored to share these powerful stories of resilience and spirit as part of our commitment to preserving Jewish sports history.”