Majdal Shams, Golan, Israel — West Asia (the Levant in the Middle East)
The "Football" Memorial
Photographed by Sam Philipe
1. The "Football" Memorial
Logos of Majdal Shams, the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation and the Golan Regional Council are on the bottom of the marker.
"If tears could build a highway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again."
Donated by the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. 27 July 2024
Erected 2026 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
Topics and series. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Wars, Non-US. In addition, it is included in the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 24, 2024.
Location. 33° 15.891′ N, 35° 45.84′ E. Marker is in Majdal Shams, Golan. It is on County Route 98, in the median. Memorial is located on the roundabout of the new Majadal Shams, Ain Kiniya exhange on Rt. 98. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Majdal Shams, Golan 1243800, Israel. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Asia, specifically in West Asia, in the Middle East, in The Levant, on the Red Sea, in a coastal Mediterranean country, and in the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, a British Mandate, and the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Tomb Temple of the Sacred Goats (approx. 6.7 kilometers away in Northern District); The Temple of Pan and The Dancing Goats (approx. 6.7 kilometers away in Northern District); The Court of Nemesis (approx. 6.7 kilometers away in Northern District); The Temple of Zeus (approx. 6.7 kilometers away in Northern District); The Sanctuary of Pan (approx. 6.7 kilometers away in Northern District); The Grotto of the God Pan (approx. 6.7 kilometers away in Northern District); The Court of Pan & the Nymphs (approx. 6.7 kilometers away in Northern District);
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Regarding The "Football" Memorial. On July 27, 2024, Hezbollah Islamic terrorists, firing from Lebanon, sent a missile into Majdal Shams. The missile was deliberately targeted at a soccer field where children from the surrounding villages were playing. The Hezbollah missile killed 12 children and wounded 42 others. The children were 10-16 years old.
The Football Memorial was designed and fabricated by noted Jewish Jerusalem artist Sam Philipe. The Memorial was funded by Jerry Klinger, President of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
The Druze Children's Memorial is the third Druze memorial donated by Klinger and fabricated by Philipe. They forever honor and recognize the blood brotherhood of the Druze and Jewish people.
Also see . . .
1. Moment the Hezbolah missile struck the Soccer Pitch. (Submitted on June 22, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
2. After losing 12 children, Majdal Shams families seek justice on Hezbollah - interview.
Hezbollah, which began firing at Israel on October 8, 2023,(Submitted on June 22, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)launched an Iranian-made Falaq-1 missile loaded with 53 kg. of explosives at the soccer field, killing 12 children who were playing football and wounding dozens of locals.Photographed by Sam Philipe2. The "Football" Memorial MarkerMayor Dolan Abu Saleh stands next to the "Football" Memorial.
3. A cratered field, a mangled fence. Clues emerge from strike that killed 12 children in Golan Heights.
The strike left a crater about 2 meters (yards) wide, breaking through the carpet of artificial grass where the children were playing. Around it were scattered burned-out bicycles and scooters, some electric bikes with their batteries melted. Walls of a nearby tent and shelter were pockmarked from shrapnel.(Submitted on June 22, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
The Israeli militarys Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said an Iranian-made Falaq rocket with a 53-kilogram (117-pound) warhead belonging to Hezbollah was used in the attack that landed in the town of over 11,000 inhabitants.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 27 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
