Rehovot Handball Team's 1956 European Tour

Maccabi Rehovot won the first three Israeli Handball League championships after the league was established in 1954. After they won the second title, they embarked on a trip to Europe. The trip was a month long, from August 31st to September 30th, 1956.

My father, Uriel (Uri) Cohen, standing sixth from the left, took his camera on the trip and kept photos in an album. I'd like to share the pictures here in this blog, try to figure out where exactly the pictures were taken, and add any interesting information I can find.

Maccabi Rehovot's first tour to Europe was in 1954. The 1956 tour team was composed of members from two prominent local clubs: Maccabi and Hapoel Rehovot. The Maccabi Rehovot handball club was founded in 1951, and Hapoel in 1954.

The team members' names and their affiliations are written below, first in Hebrew and then in English. Many thanks to Yaakov Sendler for sharing his memories and helping identify the team members.

Left to right, standing: Moti Mokasai (Hapoel, coach and player), Shaya Yarimi (Hapoel), Imri Tov (Hapoel), Fledman (Maccabi), Gideon (Gigi) Cohen (Maccabi, goal keeper), Uriel (Uri) Cohen (Maccabi, coach and player), Tuvia Cherni (Maccabi), Yaakov Sendler (Hapoel), Shlomi Kishinyevski (Hapoel), Tzurik Ben-Ari (Hapoel) Amihud Shani (Maccabi).

Left to right, sitting: Malchem, Hagai Lahover (Hapoel), Boaz Latvinovski (Maccabi), Avi Barzily (Head of delegation), Unknown, Yuval Shkolnik (Administration manager), Uzi Bashist (Maccabi), Eli Kapra (Hapoel), Reich.

Left to right, kneeling: Moshe Nutman (Maccabi), Mottale Rozenshtein (Maccabi), Hanan Shiebe (Maccabi, captain).