History

The Maccabi Movement and the JCC Maccabi Games®

  1. The Maccabi Movement began in 1895 when the first all-Jewish sports club was formed in Constantinople (now Istanbul), Turkey.
  2. The first world Maccabiah Games were held in Israel in 1932. This two-week international competition takes place every four years and has featured many world-class athletes over the years, most notably: Mark Spitz and Lenny Krayzelburg (swimming), Mitch Gaylord (gymnastics), Ernie Grunfeld and Danny Schayes (basketball), Deena Drossin (track), Ethan Zohn (soccer), Jay Feidler (football), Brad Gilbert and Dick Savitt (tennis).
  3. The first North American JCC Maccabi Games® were held in 1982. Due to overwhelming interest, Regional Games were added in 1985 to augment the biennial Continental Games.
  4. In 2007, the JCC Maccabi Games® celebrated 25 years of gold medal summers. Over 120,000 athletes from around the world have participated throughout the past 25 years, making the Games the largest gathering of Jewish teens in North America.
  5. In 2000, Hang Time was introduced. Hang Time provides an informal setting for athletes to get to know each other while learning about Israel, experiencing Israeli culture, and creating Judaica.
  6. Anouk Spitzer, daughter of Andre Spitzer, the Israeli fencing coach killed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, participated in the tribute for the Munich 11 at the Games in Boston and Greater Washington.
  7. Host communities vary, highlighted by Akron, OH, the smallest Jewish community ever to host the JCC Maccabi Games®, and Detroit, MI, host of the largest set of JCC Maccabi Games®, with over 3,200 athletes participating.