The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/maccabiah-games/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:01:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Maccabiah Games | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/maccabiah-games/ 32 32 In the shadow of another Iran war, Maccabiah Games in Israel set to go ahead in July https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-shadow-of-another-iran-war-maccabiah-games-in-israel-set-to-go-ahead-in-july/ Sat, 16 May 2026 11:43:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3821090 After last year's international competition of 8,000 Jewish athletes from around was canceled, organizers cautiously hope the 2026 redo will meet expectations

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]]> Postponing Maccabiah due to war, organizers want 2026 games to be ‘bigger than Olympics’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/postponing-maccabiah-due-to-war-organizers-want-2026-games-to-be-bigger-than-olympics/ Sat, 21 Jun 2025 05:30:45 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3578651 Delay of 'Jewish Olympics' that brings 8,000 competitors from 55 countries to Israel prompts sadness and pragmatic optimism: 'We just hope the war is over quickly'

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]]> Maccabiah Games delayed from next month until 2026 due to Israel-Iran war https://www.timesofisrael.com/maccabiah-games-delayed-from-next-month-until-2026-due-to-israel-iran-war/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:39:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3576809 Chairman of Jewish sports tournament says 'several alternatives' were considered but 'the most prudent step... is to postpone the event by a year to a quieter and safer time'

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]]> Alan Sherman, champion of Jewish sports and US-Israel relations, dies at 87 https://www.timesofisrael.com/alan-sherman-champion-of-jewish-sports-and-us-israel-relations-dies-at-87/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:50:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3062916 'Visionary' enthusiast had a lifetime commitment to strengthening opportunities for Jewish athletes, including decades of involvement with the global Maccabiah movement

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]]> ‘Build bridges of understanding with fellow Jews,’ Herzog tells young JCC athletes https://www.timesofisrael.com/build-bridges-of-understanding-with-fellow-jews-herzog-tells-young-jcc-athletes/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 08:39:49 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3049105 1,000 participants from around the world are competing in the 41st annual JCC Maccabi Games, this year in Israel

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]]> ESPN’s Chris Berman among 11 International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame 2023 inductees https://www.timesofisrael.com/espns-chris-berman-among-11-international-jewish-sports-hall-of-fame-2023-inductees/ Sat, 07 Jan 2023 02:11:46 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2918924 The list includes athletes and sports figures from across sports and around the world — from water polo to fencing, and from the United States to Hungary

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]]> Israeli team takes gold in Maccabiah wheelchair basketball tournament https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-team-takes-gold-in-maccabiah-wheelchair-basketball-tournament/ Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:02:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2812199 Athletes lament poor turnout at this year's games but are optimistic about the future; US captain says organizers did a good job respecting wheelchair basketball as a sport

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]]> The Maccabiah Games are dead; long live the Maccabiah Games https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-maccabiah-games-are-dead-long-live-the-maccabiah-games/ Thu, 04 Aug 2022 22:21:33 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2797744 The sporting festivities were once about Muscular Judaism; now they're more about fun, friends and maybe 'aliyah'

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]]> How the Maccabiah Games supported a Jewish family in the face of tragedy https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-the-maccabiah-games-supported-a-jewish-family-in-the-face-of-tragedy/ Wed, 27 Jul 2022 03:13:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2804379 A gold medal from a 2017 competition that soccer player Adam Henry was unable to compete in reminds the athlete of the communal support he received after suddenly losing his mom

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]]> Once homeless, para athlete Freya Levy finds a home at the Maccabiah Games https://www.timesofisrael.com/once-homeless-para-athlete-freya-levy-finds-a-home-at-the-maccabiah-games/ Sun, 24 Jul 2022 15:50:35 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2803065 Levy, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a teenager, has beaten the odds to compete globally in wheelchair basketball: 'I try to do as much as I can, while I can'

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]]> Orthodox wrestler from Teaneck takes to mat in Beersheba for 21st Maccabiah Games https://www.timesofisrael.com/orthodox-wrestler-from-teaneck-takes-to-mat-in-beersheba-for-21st-maccabiah-games/ Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:00:39 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2801200 Moshe ‘MB’ Klyman was the only Sabbath observant athlete in his hotel when he last wrestled for Canada at the 'Jewish Olympics'; this year he’s aiming to take gold for Team USA

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]]> Rainbow of flags as largest-ever Maccabiah kicks off in Jerusalem with Biden on hand https://www.timesofisrael.com/rainbow-of-flags-as-largest-ever-maccabiah-kicks-off-in-jerusalem-with-biden-on-hand/ Thu, 14 Jul 2022 20:21:08 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2799215 US president, first ever to attend 'Jewish Olympics' held every four years, tells American athletes he is 'damn proud of them,' validating one of world's largest competitions

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]]> 25 years later, today’s Australian delegation remembers the Maccabiah Bridge tragedy https://www.timesofisrael.com/25-years-later-todays-australian-delegation-remembers-the-maccabiah-bridge-tragedy/ Thu, 14 Jul 2022 13:14:54 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2798895 Few will forget the awful images of people plunging into the Yarkon River on July 14, 1997. Survivors remember in vivid detail the crackling of the bridge as it began to collapse

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]]> As 21st ‘Jewish Olympics’ kick off in Israel, organizers set sights on wooing sabras https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-21st-jewish-olympics-kick-off-in-israel-organizers-set-sights-on-wooing-sabras/ Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:47:05 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2797817 Quadrennial games officially begin Thursday and will see 30,000 individual competitions across 42 sports over the next two weeks, while a team of 'olim' makes its debut appearance

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]]> Ahead of the 21st Maccabiah Games, photos from the archives of the ‘Jewish Olympics’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/ahead-of-the-21st-maccabiah-games-photos-from-the-archives-of-the-jewish-olympics/ Thu, 07 Jul 2022 05:31:13 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2794051 Since 1932, every four years 10,000 or so athletes converge in Israel for the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition; here is a trip down the Jewish sports memory lane

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