Maccabiah

Editor's Notes: Countries didn't ban athletes from flying to Israel, they let the paperwork do it

A movement that began because Jews were shut out of a gym in Constantinople built games so Jews could always get in. This year, Jews who wanted in were kept out by paperwork of friendly governments.

Israeli participants at the 2026 Maccabiah games, Jerusalem, July 1, 2026.
Israeli participants at the 2026 Maccabiah games, Jerusalem, July 1, 2026.

WATCH: Maccabiah opening ceremony kicks off in Jerusalem, thousands of athletes in attendance

Montana Tucker in front of an artistic rendering of the stage at the 2026 Maccabiah Games.

Social media star Montana Tucker to host Maccabiah Games delegation parade - interview

 Maccabiah 2026 logo

Maccabiah 2026 launched in Tel Aviv under theme 'More Than Ever'


Maccabi World, LEAP to find Jewish athletes in new deal

The Web 3.0-based sports gaming platform, available through a collaboration with Maccabi World an LEAP aims to find, expose and boost Jewish athletes worldwide.

 (L-R) Omri Lachman, CEO and parter of LEAP and Amir Gissin, deputy CEO of Maccabi World Union.

Grapevine: Busy city

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

 TRAFFIC SLOWS on Begin Road.

Ian Kinsler switches from Team Israel star player to coach for 2023 World Baseball Classic

The Jewish 14-year MLB veteran played for Team Israel in the 2020 Olympics that were held last year, telling the JTA at the time that his goal was to raise the sport’s profile in Israel.

 Ian Kinsler played for Team Israel at the Olympics in Tokyo after 14 MLB seasons.

Grapevine June 26, 2022: It takes a village

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

DELEGATIONS FROM 85 countries gather at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem for the opening ceremony of the 2017 Maccabiah Games

Ukraine expands its Maccabiah delegation - comment

If battling through the fear and horror of Russian bombing raids wasn’t promising enough, two Maccabi leaders from Ukraine revealed that Maccabi Ukraine will expand from 25 team members to 40.

 THE UKRAINE delegation attends the Maccabiah opening ceremony in Jerusalem, 2013. After the 2017 games, last year’s event was postponed due to COVID. Ukraine’s team of 40 will be part of 10,000 athletes in Israel next month.

Makkabi Germany Winter Games to be held in Bavaria in January 2023

The announcement was made at a Makkabi Germany press conference in Munich last week,

Announcement of Makkabi Germany Winter Games in Munich.

Maccabi World to turn museum exhibits into NFTs

Poster of the first Maccabiah from 1930, two years before the opening date of the games in 1932. A copy by Yosef Yekutieli

Maccabiah Games: Running, kicking, riding & jumping back to Israel

This summer’s Maccabiah Games promise rewards for incoming athletes, global Jewry and local tourism professionals alike.

 GYMNASTICS ARE a permanent fixture of the Maccabiah Games.

Maccabi World Union rescues 500 members from Ukraine

Maccabi World Union has set up a special task group led by Maccabi Europe, to rescue members of its movement from Ukraine.

 Daria Garn a Ukranian refugee from Kyiv waits to board a flight at Iasi International Airport in Romania, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on rout to Israel, March 8, 2022

Record 4 Jewish baseball players in World Series

A record four Jewish baseball players played in this year's World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros.

Max Fried pitches in a game for the Atlanta Braves against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Aug. 9, 2020