Opinion: More Than Sports, More Than Ever

The Maccabiah is the ultimate representation of Jewish sports, with over 10,000 athletes from more than seventy countries coming together to compete under the banner of our global Maccabi Movement. Originally conceived of by Yosef Yekutieli to demonstrate Jewish strength to the world in the spirit of Nordeau’s Muskeljudentum (muscular Jew), the Maccabiah and the athletic accomplishments of its participants have been a source of pride and inspiration to Jews everywhere.

Though centered around sports, the Games have always been about so much more! As a part of the World Zionist Movement, Maccabi World Union, the official organizing body of the Maccabiah, has played an integral part in building the Jewish community for over a Century. The Maccabiah builds a connection to Israel, the historic and modern homeland of the Jewish People. It is about solidarity and celebrating our shared values, history, and culture as One People. It is an authentic and powerful cultural-educational experience that unites Diaspora Jewry with our Israeli brothers and sisters and strengthens us all.
This Maccabiah (M25) will be held July 2025, in the wake of the horrors of October 7th, the resulting war against Hamas and efforts to free our hostages, and the rise of antisemitic rhetoric and attacks around the world. Undeterred, the Maccabi torch will illuminate the darkness and eradicate the shadows of hate to show the world once again the light of the Jewish People. This time, gathering our global Jewish community takes on new meaning as a tangible expression of the solidarity of our People. We must again show the world our strength and that Israel and the Jewish People are not afraid!
Our Zionist Maccabi Movement must redouble efforts to accomplish its most imperative tasks – to bring young men and women to Israel to understand their history, the reality of the present situation, and their critical role in building our Jewish future. To accomplish this, Maccabi World Union and the Maccabiah have taken the unprecedented step of modifying the regulations to allow countries to bring a second team of athletes to compete in the U18 and U16 Boys and Girls categories of nine-team sports.

At this moment, we must put aside our competitive spirit as athletic rivals – this is not about medals or winning and losing on the field of play – and come together as a Maccabi family. We are obligated to prepare as many of our future leaders for the challenges they face at home. There is no better way than bringing them to Israel to be a part of the largest show of Jewish strength and solidarity - the Maccabiah. This is about the strength and unity of the Jewish People. Creating this opportunity for more young Jewish teens to experience and connect to Israel is not just an expression of the original spirit of the Games as envisioned by Yekutieli but a moral imperative to ensure the future of our People. This Maccabiah is about more than sports…More Than Ever!

יאללה מכבי - חזק ואמץ! Yallah Maccabi - Chazak Ve’ematz! Go Maccabi - Be Strong and Courageous!