History: The 2000s
- 41 Countries, more than 3,000 Athletes, 44 Sports
On the verge of cancellation, the 16th Maccabiah turns out to be an amazing experience for everyone involved. The 2001 games open with a sellout crowd of more than 25,000 spectators in Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium, and a nationally televised audience. Spectators include Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, President Moshe Katsav and Jerusalem's Mayor Ehud Olmert. The Games see the addition of juniors futsal and Girls' soccer, as well as the return of women's basketball. Kfar Maccabiah again served as the home base for Pre Camp.
Sports Highlights
- US Olympic swimming gold medallist and former world record holder, Lenny Krayzelburg earns gold and gets a new Maccabiah record in the 100 Backstroke
"Many people tried to stop you from being here tonight - but you came, we all came. We are in the midst of a difficult battle and your presence here this evening means much more than an assembly of sporting events, but rather a reconfirmation of our unity as one people and coming home to our historic and eternal city of Jerusalem. "One People, One Dream" - still united since the Maccabee victory over 2,100 years ago!" -Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (in his welcoming remarks).
- The United States sends a delegation of 56 to the Australia Maccabi Carnival.
- A total of 650 Americans including 350 athletes attends the 10th Pan American Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile where 2000 athletes from 15 countries participate. The entire Jewish community of Chile, consisting of 12,000 strong, gets behind the Games. The positive impact of the games with its unifying feel will have an effect for years to come.
- The visiting delegation of 800 Americans from 36 states join 7300 athletes from 54 countries, in the 17th Maccabiah Games. U.S. Olympian Scott Goldblatt serves as flagbearer, flanked by Lenny Krayzelberg and Mark Spitz who attend as honored guests. Since our first Maccabiah in 1932 over 5000 Americans have participated- and over 45,000 Jewish athletes overall.
- New sports include Women's Softball and Youth Baseball.
- The U.S. garners 222 medals including 72 Gold, 82 Silver and 68 Bronze.
- The U.S. squad has its strongest showing in soccer in years with Juniors Girls and Open Women winning gold and silver for Open and Masters Men.
- 125 athletes become B'nai Mitzvah during Precamp under the guidance of USA Team Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon.
- Through Lev L'lev (Heart to Heart), many athletes embraced Tzedakah by visiting children at an Israeli orphanage, a facility for therapeutic horseback riding, and a hospital. The U.S. Swim Team connects with recent victims of terrorism in Netanya.
- Precamp grows so large that we need to use Kfar Hamaccabiah and Maale Hachamisha to house our athletes. Visiting the Western Wall, Yad Vashem and Masada are part of an action packed 4 days.
- The quadrennial event in Australia becomes the Maccabi Australia International Games and the inaugural event sees a U.S. Team of 150 joined by over 100 supporters. While housed downtown Sydney, the Olympic facilities are a wonderful venue for the competitions.
- JCC Maccabi Games celebrates its 25th anniversary.
- Over 100 supporters join 84 Americans who compete with 37 countries in the European Maccabi Games in Rome. A grand total of 1700 athletes participate.
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Later in the year 485 Americans from 30 states, plus the District of Columbia participate in the 11th Pan Am Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina- along with 3000 sportsmen from 20 countries. The American athletes are joined by over 450 supporters bringing the USA Delegation to over 900 strong.
- The largest-ever visiting delegation of 903 Americans from 37 states are part of 7,500 athletes from 51 countries, in the 18th Maccabiah Games. U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist, Jason Lezak was given the honor of lighting the torch at the Opening Ceremonies. Lindsey Durlacher served as flagbearer, and followed by David Sender, Jillian Schwartz and Aaron Cohen as banner bearers. Since our first Maccabiah in 1932 almost 6000 Americans have participated- and over 53,000 Jewish athletes overall.
- The U.S. garners 255 medals including 84 Gold, 92 Silver and 79 Bronze.
- Jason Lezak captured 4 gold medals, was named the most outstanding male athlete of the Games while setting 4 Maccabiah records. Judit Polgar from Hungary was named the Maccabiah's most outstanding female athlete of the Games.
- Scotland and Palau send a delegation for the first time.
- The USA Pre-Camp, chaired by Bob Spivak and Jodi Reff was expanded from four days to six to enhance the experience of being in Israel.
- 750 Open and Juniors athletes participated while 600 become B'nai Mitzvah on Mount Scopus at the Amphitheater of Hebrew University during the Pre-Camp under the guidance of USA Team Rabbi Irwin Kula.
- New sports include Cycling, Futsal, Juniors Table Tennis and 80+ Grand Masters Tennis.
- For the first time ever, the Opening Ceremony and a number of competitions were broadcast not only live in Israel, but were streamed on the internet around the world by JLTV.
- Special awards were given to our Open Men's Soccer team for sportsmanship within the Maccabiah.
- The USA Baseball team came from behind to win the Gold medal. The field at the Baseball complex was built with the help and support of the Los Angeles Dodgers and its CEO, Jamie McCourt.
- Dan Grunfeld led the USA Open Men's Basketball team to an exciting overtime win over Israel to win the Gold.
- US Maccabiah Chairman, Ron Carner led a committee of 125 volunteers in putting together all aspects of the US Delegation.
- The USA Mission, chaired by Phyllis Magerman and Claudia Fiks consisted of 225 family members and supporters.
- The success of Team USA was a fitting conclusion to the 8-year term of office for President, Toni Wortman.
Apply Online
Maccabi USA will be accepting online applications shortly, but the mail in application for the Maccabi Austrailia and European Maccabi Games are now available below.
European Maccabi Games 2011 ApplicationHistory
Testimonials
The Maccabi Games in Rome was one of the best experiences of my life. I met Jewish teenagers from around the country and will stay in contact with many of them for years to come. Also, meeting kids from around the world and living in two countries has really opened me up to how Jews live around the world. This trip had an enormous effect on me as a Jew because I now want to continue learning about and studying my religion so I can pass these stories on to my children.
Jesse Reich
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