The basketball courts at the sports club in Kfar Maccabiah underwent a colorful makeover in a special project continuing the path of Liam Shrem, who was murdered on October 7. As part of the initiative, two outdoor basketball courts in Kfar Maccabiah transformed from ordinary surfaces into vibrant, living works of art, recently serving as canvases for bold and warm colors.

The courts were painted in honor of the Maccabiah Games 2026, currently underway, through The Splash Project. This unique initiative was founded by Shrem in 2021 to link sports, art, and community by partnering with local artists to paint sports courts nationwide. He viewed an empty court as an invitation to draw children away from screens, connect neighbors, and build community. He even painted several courts himself within the project he launched.

On October 7, 2023, Liam was murdered near the Gavim junction alongside friends Johnny Zaidman and Eli Baram while attempting to flee the Nova festival. Following the tragedy, his mother Simona Shrem pledged to sustain and expand the initiative, which now continues its positive impact after his passing.

The Kfar Maccabiah courts were painted by artist Typoe Gran from Miami, a Jewish-Cuban visual artist specializing in color, sculpture, murals, and large-scale installations. His works appear in leading museums across the United States, South America, and Europe.

The renovated courts were inaugurated this evening (Sunday, July 5) during a special event at Kfar Maccabiah attended by Simona Shrem, CEO of Maccabi World Union and the Maccabiah Roi Hessing, Maccabiah Chairman Asaf Goren, Israel Chair of The Splash Project Tali Dvir Levnat, abroad Chair Prof. Anat Lechner, Kfar Maccabiah CEO Galil Yitzhaki, and additional guests.

The basketball courts now form an official part of the project, converted into communal artistic creations benefiting club subscribers and hotel guests at Kfar Maccabiah. They join the club's advanced facilities, which include a modern gym, professional studio classes, an outdoor pool, and more.

Simona Shrem stated: "Thank you for bringing Liam into the village so he remains part of you forever through these two courts." Roi Hessing added: "When this story reached us we immediately said yes. Throughout the current Maccabiah and beyond we strive to connect memory with hope. Here we dedicate the two courts so everyone entering the village will see and hear Liam's story." Galil Yitzhaki noted: "I appreciate Liam through what I encountered. It was hard to believe we would succeed, yet Simona can accomplish anything. It began with one court but Simona decided to complete both. I saw the project in Paris and Brooklyn and already wanted it at Kfar Maccabiah. When Simona arrived she said she is not commemorating but continuing. I am glad we stand here during the Maccabiah."