A New Maccabi Tradition

Earlier this month, Johannesburg came alive with the energy of young athletes, families, and the Maccabi spirit as the first-ever Maccabi SA National Junior Games took place from September 22–25.

Created to bring Jewish youth together from across South Africa, the Games offered four days of sport, friendship, teamwork, and community - giving young athletes the chance to compete, connect, and proudly represent their schools, clubs, and communities.

The Games were born from an unexpected change of plans. After the 2025 Maccabiah was postponed and South Africa was ultimately unable to send a junior delegation to the rescheduled Games in Israel, Maccabi South Africa turned the disappointment into an opportunity - creating a new Maccabi experience for young Jewish athletes closer to home.

“While nothing replaces the experience of competing on the international stage, we wanted to ensure our young athletes still had something truly special to look forward to,” said Darryn Edinburg, Tournament Director. “The Games are about so much more than competition. They’re about bringing our youth together, representing something bigger than themselves, and experiencing the incredible spirit that makes Maccabi so special.”

For Cliff Garrun, Chairperson of Maccabi South Africa, the Games are also about the future: “It's about creating opportunities for young people to grow, lead, compete, and build lasting connections through shared experiences.”

And this is only the beginning. Maccabi South Africa hopes the Junior Games will continue to grow, bringing even more young Jewish athletes together in the years ahead.