July 16, 2009

1932 — First Maccabiah
(14 countries, 390 athletes)

The First Maccabiah Games heralds the development of Jewish sports in Eretz Yisrael. On the eve of the Games, the country’s first stadium is completed in northern Tel Aviv. Mayor Meir Dizengoff, riding a white horse, leads the opening parade through the streets of the city.

1935 — Second Maccabiah
(28 countries, 1,350 athletes)

The Games take place during strict restrictions on Jewish immigration. The United States team travels for two weeks on an Italian ship to reach Palestine. Despite the rise of the Nazi Party, a large contingent of Germans participates in the Games. The event will be the last one held for 15 years.

1950 — Third Maccabiah
(19 countries, 800 athletes)

President Chaim Weizman opens the first Games to be played in the State of Israel, held in Ramat Gan Stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000. Especially poignant is the participation of a team from West Germany, which is composed entirely of Holocaust survivors.

1961 — Sixth Maccabiah
(27 countries, 1,000 athletes)

During Israel’s “bar mitzva” year, a memorial ceremony is held for such nations as Poland, Germany, Yugoslavia, and Hungary, whose Jewish populations have been eradicated by the Holocaust.

1969 — Eighth Maccabiah
(27 countries, 1,500 athletes)

In the aftermath of the Six-Day War, the athletes make a pilgrimage to reunited Jerusalem and the Western Wall.

1973 — Ninth Maccabiah
(23 countries, 1,499 athletes)

The games are dedicated to the 11 Israeli athletes murdered at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Eleven torches are lit in their memory, including one for wrestler David Berger, a Maccabiah gold medalist who had made aliya and competed for Israel at those ill-fated Olympics. The first Youth Jamboree is held, where participants mix with their Israeli peers.

1989 — 13th Maccabiah
(45 countries, 4,500 athletes)

Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Lithuania return to the Games for the first time since the end of World War II. The first American pre-camp is held in an effort to form lasting bonds between U.S. athletes and the State of Israel. A tribute is held for handicapped athletes.

1997 — 15th Maccabiah
(53 countries, 5,000 athletes)

Tragedy strikes when a bridge collapses at the opening ceremony, killing four Australians and injuring many others. The Games resume after a day of mourning. A new program, Nosanu (“we travel”), gives athletes the opportunity to participate in post-competition touring.

2001 — 16th Maccabiah
(41 countries, 3,000 athletes)

Facing an increased threat of terrorism, the Games are almost canceled: two Palestinians are killed when the bomb they were trying to plant near the stadium blows up. Nevertheless, the Games open to a sellout crowd in Jerusalem’s Teddy Kollek Stadium.

2005 — 18th Maccabiah
(55 countries, 7,700 athletes)

The largest games in terms of participants and spectators saw Israel on top of the gold medal count with 228. The United States was a distant second with 71 gold medals, while Russia came in third with 15.

(Sources: Internationalgames.com; Maccabiusa.com; Maccabiah17.com)

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