Shared Moments of Unity, Resilience, and Hope

After launching at the World Jewish Sports Museum in Kfar Maccabiah by MWU, World Jewish Congress, and Israel's Ministry of Culture & Sports - and following its success in New York - the UNBROKEN exhibition, curated by Adi Rubinstein, continues its global journey. 

This one-of-a-kind exhibition explores the aftermath of the October 7 attacks through the lens of sports, highlighting the stories of athletes and fans affected by the war and emphasizing the role of sports as a force for connection, healing, and renewal. 

This month, as part of Gemany's October 7 commemoration events, the exhibition reached Berlin and Munich, attracting thousands of local visitors. The first stop was the Bayer Berlin headquarters, where UNBROKEN was displayed in a central area of the campus. Featuring personal items, multimedia displays, and intimate interviews, it offered nearly 5,000 employees a unique and moving perspective on this pivotal moment in history – generating significant coverage in the German media.

The next stop was Munich city center, where the official opening brought together 350 local district leaders and city officials, alongside representatives from Israel, including MWU and Maccabiah CEO Roy Hessing, Ministry of Culture & Sports CEO Kfir Cohen, curator Adi Rubinstein, WJC-Israel CEO Sara Friedman, and family members of October 7 heroes, among them Shlomit Levinson, mother of Shay z"l, 19 year-old Israeli-Geman tank commander who was murdered and kidnapped to Gaza. "I'm sure that Shai is looking down on us now and saying: 'As long as someone remembers me, it means I'm alive'", she said during the ceremony.  

"While we are giving people the opportunity to come and learn more about what happened on October 7, they feel much more connected to the state of Israel - and it give all of us some hope", explained Roy Hessing, CEO of Maccabi World Union and the Maccabiah. “As we prepare for Maccabiah 2026 – the largest Jewish gathering since those dark days, set to take place this coming summer in Israel – we carry forward the same spirit of unity and resilience, strengthened by a shared hope for a brighter future”.

Photos credit: Shahar Azran, WJC

"Through this exhibition, we were able to present and explain Israel to the world", added curator Adi Rubinstein. "Although it was displayed mainly in Jewish centers, most of the visitors were actually not Jewish - and that was exactly our goal".

As part of the city's White Night festival, UNBROKEN opened to the public free of charge, along with many of Munich’s museums. That night, more than 1,000 visitors waited in line for hours to experience the exhibition. 

At the Pittsburgh JCC, community Shaliach Dean Aseef introduced UNBROKEN as part of the October 7 commemoration events and led an impactful discussion about the effect of the attack and the war on Israeli sports. The event concluded with a 60-minute spin class in memory of Lior Weizman z”l - a cyclist murdered on October 7- and in solidarity with the fallen, survivors, and those still in captivity. 

 

 

Building on its worldwide impact, UNBROKEN is now scheduled to travel to Chicago, the Caribbean, and additional communities across the United States – bringing its inspiring messages to both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences as a powerful response to rising global antisemitism. 

We are deeply proud and grateful to see this meaningful project - born in Israel - touching hearts around the world and strengthening Jewish communities everywhere.

 For more information about bringing UNBROKEN to your community, please contact Osnat Zur at: [email protected]