The Boys Town Jerusalem Robotics Team brought tremendous pride to Israel by finishing 8th place at the prestigious 2026 Canada Cup of Robotics, one of the world’s leading international robotics competitions.
Over two intense days of competition, the seven-member team and their custom-built robot competed in ten challenging matches against some of the best robotics teams from around the globe. Their outstanding performance also earned them 3rd Place in the Innovate Award, recognizing exceptional creativity, engineering, and problem-solving.
Thousands of Hours of Dedication
“Our team put in thousands of hours over the past seven months, including during wartime, to design, build, and program our robot,” said 15-year-old team captain Amichai Romain. “Our key to success is keeping things as simple as possible.”
Their success reflects months of perseverance, teamwork, and determination under extraordinary circumstances.
A Young Team with Remarkable Talent
Remarkably, six of the nine members of the Boys Town Jerusalem Robotics Team are ninth graders who joined the program only this year.
“Every member understands that his efforts are critical to the team’s success,” said mentor Shay Neuhaus.
Shay, along with former BTJ Robotics teammate Yehonatan Reuvenes, now a student at the Technion, dedicated countless hours to mentoring the students and accompanied the team to Canada for the competition.
Innovation Begins in the Robotics Lab
Amichai credits the Follender family, whose generous support makes the Boys Town Jerusalem Robotics program possible.
Their sponsorship provides students with access to a state-of-the-art robotics lab and advanced engineering components. The team’s two 3D printers also enable students to manufacture nearly 40% of the precision-engineered parts used to build their competition robot.
This hands-on experience gives students valuable technical skills while preparing them for future careers in engineering, technology, and innovation.
Competing with Pride for Israel
Before the competition, the team enjoyed the warm hospitality of members of Canadian Friends of Boys Town Jerusalem in Toronto before traveling to the Niagara region.
Throughout the competition, the students proudly wore Israeli flags across their backs, representing both their country and their school on the international stage.
One of the tournament’s most memorable moments came during a match against teams from France and Sudan. According to the team, the opposing teams declined to shake hands with the Israeli students before the match, contrary to the competition’s expectations for sportsmanship. During the decisive round, the opposing alliance’s robot unexpectedly malfunctioned, giving the Boys Town Jerusalem Robotics Team a dramatic 100-point advantage and securing an unforgettable victory.
Building Israel’s Next Generation of Innovators
The Boys Town Jerusalem Robotics Team’s success is about more than trophies. It reflects the determination, resilience, and ingenuity of young people who continue to dream big, innovate, and excel even during challenging times.
Every competition, every robot, and every achievement helps prepare these students to become the engineers, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow.