Swimming with dolphins

Tomer, being a very sick child 8.5 y/o, visited The Dolphin Reef in Eilat and fell in love with the dolphins from the first sight. He wasn’t afraid of these huge size and powerful mammals, but rather noticed that the dolphins are very friendly and playful, reacted intelligently and were happy to include him in their swimming games. Onlookers noticed that the dolphins would swim towards and around him every time he entered the waters, and that they welcome his company in a unique and extraordinary way.

Tomer’s encounter with the dolphins happened after a very hard and painful period of fighting cancer for two long years with surgery, chemotherapy and endless medical treatments. Seldom could he play with his schoolmates. The dolphins became his preferable and unique friends. He continued to visit the Dolphin Reef in Eilat regularly and often for a few years. The dolphin trainers from the Dolphin Reef, Inbal Melamed-Tamir, Sophie Donio and Maya Zilber, instructed Tomer on how to behave and communicate with his new aquatic friends.

Special bond had occurred between Tomer and the female dolphin named Domino. She permitted Tomer to sit on her soft belly, or to ride on her back, or to hold her fin and surf upon the water while she competed with the other dolphins. Tomer, most certainly, was exposed to a very special adventure and experienced incredible friendship.

In July 22nd.1994 Channel 1 of the Israeli Television screened a short film called “Pashosh”, a story about the special friendship between Tomer Shechori and Pashosh the dolphin. This film was screened a few times on Channel 1 in the years that followed.
Tomer’s story aroused public interest and as a child he participated in various TV interview programs.

Refernces:

שחיה עם דולפינים
Swimming with dolphins
hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WryixCvcRS0
https://youtu.be/LlmhituDHTU

ראיון לטלויזיה ספרדית 1994
Interview on Spanish Television
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdc9lzFeuFQ

בשידור חי עם דן שילון , ערוץ 2,  2.7.1995
Live with Dan Shilon, Channel 2, TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8517m6DrDA

ענקים קטנים, עם חני נחמיאס, זאפ, ערוץ 1,  8.1.1995
Little Giants, with Hani Nachmias, Zap, Channel 1, TV
https://youtu.be/Luj_cbn57Po

ערב חדש, ערוץ 1 , 12.1.1996
Erev Hadash, Channel 1, TV

גדול מהחיים עם דליק, ערוץ הילדים,  12.3.1999
Bigger Than Life, with Dalik , Children’s Channel, TV
https://youtu.be/fkq60XBqhWc

כדור פורח עם טל מוסרי, ערוץ הילדים,  19.7.1999
Balloon with Tal Mosseri, Children’s Channel, TV
https://youtu.be/VN9uK-E4H5w

 זאפ לראשון, ערוץ 1, 14.2.2000
 Zap LeRishon, Channel 1, TV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE9-xHEILCE

תומר שחורי ילד אמיץ, מאמר של עשי וינשטיין, צ’יופר-מעריב, עמ’ 4,  13.10.1994
Tomer Shechori a Brave Child. Article by Ashi Weinstein. Bonus-Maariv, page 4

From early childhood to maturity