Israel Maccabiah Sports Games Bring Smiles To Jewish Nation

Fireworks over Jerusalem.
For a few hours Thursday evening, there was no talk of Gaza, disengagement or orange vs. blue ribbons.
Just smiles, song and fireworks as the Jewish nation became one people. Photo: Reuters

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem ----July 21......"This was by far the best, most organized and successful Maccabiah Games held in Israel," said Israel sports hero and Maccabiah World Union committee member Tal Brody. Sitting on a bus next to his wife on his way home to Tel Aviv, the 60-year-old American basketball star turned Israel sports legend only had praise for the Maccabiah International Jewish Olympics.

As the air-conditioned carriage filled with Americans, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Finland rolled down the winding roads of Jerusalem this United Nations of Jewish athletes wore relaxed and satisfied smiles. Wearing their Maccabiah white, red, green and blue uniforms with the traded and colorful pins of other nations glued to their security passes these Jewish athletes had just enjoyed a spectacular Maccabiah closing ceremony. A gift from the people of Israel to those who had come to show solidarity.

For a few hours there was no talk about Gaza, the disengagement process or who was wearing orange or blue ribbons. Only the talk of sport and how wonderful their visit to Israel had been.

The 17th Maccabiah Games otherwise known as the Jewish Olympics, came to a close at Jerusalem’s “Sultan’s Pool” below the city's ancient walls. Earlier, the Jewish athletes and their coaches gathered at the Western Wall and then marched to the final event filled with songs, dance and fireworks.

Over 2,000 Jewish athletes from 64 countries participated in the Israel Maccabiah sports festival. Thousands of police and Israel Defense Forces soldiers were deployed to guard the festive ceremony, closing roads around the 500-year-old Sultan's Pool for fear of violence by Palestinian terrorists or attacks on Israeli VIPs by Jewish extremists opposed to the government's planned removal of Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank. The police, when not profiling and guarding the area, were seen smiling as they gave directions to these sports tourists and handed out glowing green and blue light night sticks to children.

Maccabiah Israel organizers said the participation of 7,700 athletes in the 17th Maccabiah Games made it the biggest yet in the series, begun in 1932 in what was then British-ruled Palestine. The last games, in 2001, held at the height of Israeli-Palestinian violence, were cut short, and only some 2,000 athletes braved the trip then. During this year's 12-day event, athletes competed in 34 different sports. Israel, which fielded the largest contingent, romped home at the head of the winners' table with 227 gold medals. The United States was a distant second with 71 gold medals, while Russia came third with 15. One fringe event was canceled due to security concerns. Olympic gold medalist Mark Spitz had been scheduled to give swimming lessons Sunday to 100 children in Sderot in an act of solidarity with the southern Israeli city that has been targeted by Palestinian rockets and mortars during nearly five years of fighting.

Israel Education Minister Limor Livnat thanked the Jewish athletes and called on them to make aliyah to strengthen Israel. Prime Minster Ariel Sharon made a similar plea in the opening ceremony. Olympic judo medalist Arik Zeevi walked on stage with a young female judoka; the two expressed their hope for achievement in sports and peace in our time. Divas Ronni Duani and Ninet Tayeb belted out two of the country’s hottest hit songs, while the Israel Air Force band reminded us that no official ceremony in Israel is complete without representation from those who secure our borders.

The ceremony was hosted by top model-actress and former MTV Europe VJ Becky Griffin, who spoke of her parent’s immigration to Israel, and by TV star Rodrigo Goldberg, who gave a personal account of the hardships involved in making aliyah.

Invited guests and global Jewish sports stars bounced super large beach balls through the crowd and made several standing waves before the ceremonies got underway. Athletes from around the world blended together, trading shirts, caps and flags as a reminder of the experience that many will treasure forever. Hardly a negative thought could be found among the participants, with several in awe of being around so many Jews.

Indian cricket player Abner Jhirad, 20, screamed "we love it man," during the event. Jhirad, who noted that India's Jewish community totals some 5,000 members, said he enjoyed fraternizing with Jews from places he'd never thought Jews lived. "I didn't know there were Jews in Chile or Uruguay or places like that."

The ceremony featured some of Israel's best ambassadors, including Olympic medalist in judo, Arik Ze'evi, and Miss Israel Yelena Ralph. Naturally the politicians were on hand as well. Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski and Minister of Education, Culture and Sport Limor Livnat were among those invited to address the participants. Speaking in Hebrew, which few of the visiting athletes were able to understand, Lupolianski echoed Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's message from the opening ceremonies some 10 days earlier and called upon the visitors to make aliya. "Come home to Jerusalem," he said. "Bring your parents and families... We need you all."

Although the words of the Jerusalem mayor may not have been the catalyst, the Maccabiah has caused several athletes to consider moving to Israel. South African table tennis player Shane Solomon, 18, said that he had always thought about making aliya to Israel, but now he wants to come as soon as possible. Australian rugby player Benjy Levy, 19, also plans to make aliya. Jhirad, Solomon and Levy were among many athletes that praised the level of competition, too. "I've never played at this level," Jhirad said. Solomon added that "the standard was very high," noting that he faced several Olympians in his event. Perhaps the only complaint that was raised was actually a lack of "Judaism."

Solomon said that "as a religious participant, it was difficult." Levy agreed that the games should "be more Jewish," explaining that teams training on Shabbat was upsetting.

The head of the Argentine delegation, Juan Balanofsky, said he does not inspect the religious background of each competitor. "We have 70,000 members at 47 Maccabi clubs across the country, and we think one of the best ways to keep young people and their families involved in the [Jewish] community and connected to Israel is through sports," he says.

Perhaps the most defining moment of the Israel Maccabiah closing ceremony was that of a special tribute to Oren Almog, the young child sports star, who lost his sight in the Palestinian terror attack at Israel Haifa’s Maxim restaurant two years ago. Almog, who lost his brother in the attack, said, “You can see me, but I cannot see you; yet still, I can feel the special Maccabiah atmosphere.” “After all that I have been through, I know that even if they hurt you, they can’t beat you,” he said. “On this evening I say that if we remain united and maintain the Beyachad (togetherness), no one will be able to defeat us.”