A Celebration of Sports, Community, and Jewish Pride

Just weeks before the Maccabiah Games kick off this summer in Israel, 120 Maccabiah athletes, representatives, and staff members joined the vibrant annual Israel Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Marching alongside the M25 float, they brought the spirit of sports, community, and Jewish pride to life.

Among those marching were Maccabiah ambassadors- Jewish mega-influencer Montana Tucker and Paralympic taekwondo champion Asaf Yasur, Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar, Maccabiah Chair Asaf Goren, CEO Roy Hessing, and an incredible crew from Maccabi USA - which will send around 1,100 athletes to the Games.

Roy Hessing, CEO of the Maccabiah, expressed his excitement: "The New York City Israel Day Parade is a powerful reminder that wherever we are—in Israel, the US, or anywhere else—we stand together as one people. It's only fitting that the Maccabiah, the greatest celebration of Jewish strength and unity, takes part in this tradition. We can't wait to welcome all our brothers and sisters this July in Israel for the Maccabiah Games".

Leading the Maccabiah float – created in collaboration with Maccabi USA – shone the iconic M25 torch. The torch began its six-month international journey in December, lit by IDF officer Evyatar Zeituini, who was wounded while defending the country on October 7. As a symbol of courage and resilience, the torch will also travel through Europe before returning to Jerusalem for the grand opening ceremony of M25 this July.