Who we are

Maccabi World Union

Who We Are

The Maccabiah, the flagship event of Maccabi World Union (MWU), is the largest Jewish sporting competition in the world and the second-largest sports event globally, often called the “Jewish Olympics". Every four years, over 10,000 athletes from 80+ countries gather in Israel to compete in more than 45 sports, cheered on by tens of thousands of passionate spectators. More than just a competition, the Maccabiah celebrates Jewish unity, athletic excellence, and a deep connection to Israel. The Maccabiah aims to bring together young Jewish athletes from across the globe, fostering sportsmanship and a lifelong bond with Israel and the Jewish people. In addition to its high-level competition, the Maccabiah Games emphasize the values of fair play, mutual respect, and the pursuit of excellence - both physically and intellectually.

The Maccabiah features four divisions:

Open: No age limit, subject to international sports regulations in each discipline. This category is for the best athletes from each delegation. Junior: For qualifying athletes aged 15-18. Masters: Divided into different age groups to accommodate older competitors. Paralympics: Dedicated competitions for athletes with disabilities. To participate in the Maccabiah Games, athletes must represent a delegation. Each Territorial Organization (e.g., France, Brazil, Germany, United States, Canada, Hungary, Australia) forms its own team.

A Legacy of Excellence

Many legendary athletes have competed in the Maccabiah, including Olympic gold medalists, world champions, and record holders, such as Mark Spitz, Lenny Krayzelburg, Jason Lezak and Marilyn Ramenofsky (swimming); Mitch Gaylord, Abie Grossfeld, Ágnes Keleti, Valery Belenky and Kerri Strug (gymnastics); Ernie Grunfeld and Danny Schayes, (coaches); Larry Brown, Jordan Freed, Nat Holman and Dolph Schayes (basketball); Carina Benninga (field hockey); Lillian Copeland, Gerry Ashworth, and Gary Gubner (track and field); Angela Buxton, Brad Gilbert, Julie Heldman, Allen Fox, Nicolás Massú, and Dick Savitt (tennis); Dave Blackburn (softball); Angelica Rozeanu (table tennis); Sergei Charikov, Vadim Gutzeit and Mariya Mazina (fencing); Isaac Berger and Frank Spellman (weightlifting); and Fred Oberlander and Henry Wittenberg (wrestling); Madison Gordon-Lavaee (volleyball); Bruce Fleisher (golf); and Adam Bacher (cricket); Boris Gelfand and Judith Polgar (chess); Elizabeth Foody (interpretive dance); Aaron R. Schwid (bowling); Irwin Cotler (table tennis); Jonathan Bornstein (football), and Steve March Tormé (fast-pitch softball). Shawn Lipman, who played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, also competed multiple times in the Maccabiah.

But the Maccabiah is more than just sports. It’s an unforgettable journey, blending high-level competition with cultural events, immersive tours of Israel, and deep engagement with Israeli communities. Whether on the field or off, every participant becomes part of something bigger— a celebration of Jewish pride, heritage, and lifelong friendships. Maccabi World Union (MWU) is one of the largest Jewish and Zionist movements in the world, operating in 60 countries, with 450 clubs and a community of 450,000 members. Its main mission is to foster unity and connection between Jews around the world and Israel, using the transformative power of sports, education, and well-being. Anchored by the Maccabiah Games, MWU strives to create lifelong connections, building stronger links with Israel, and inspire a shared sense of purpose among Jews worldwide. By providing leadership, sharing resources, and promoting best practices, MWU empower local Maccabi organizations to flourish.

MWU’s Values

Jewish Continuity, Zionism & Solidarity (Arvut Hadadit) Development of Sports & Wellbeing Collaboration & Teamwork Responsibility & Accountability

MWU's History

The first-ever Maccabi Jewish sports club was founded in 1895 in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey), after a group of Jewish gymnasts were barred from joining the local sports club due to antisemitism. Instead of giving up, they created their own Jewish sports club, which quickly flourished and inspired the establishment of Jewish sports clubs across Europe, including Hakoah Vienna, Bar Kochba Berlin, Hagibor Prague, and many more. The movement later expanded to Latin America, North America, Australia, South Africa, and, of course, Israel. In 1921, MWU was officially founded at the 12th Zionist Congress in Czechoslovakia.

MWU Today

MWU’s global headquarters is located at Kfar Maccabiah in Ramat Gan, Israel. The movement’s leadership includes 92 representatives from six international confederations: Maccabi Australia (APA) | European Maccabi Confederation (EMC) | Maccabi Israel | Maccabi Latin America (CLAM) | Maccabi North America | Maccabi South Africa (SA). MWU Congress is held annually in Israel, and every four years, new executive board members are elected. Beyond its official leadership, MWU is a movement of people—thousands of dedicated volunteers and members worldwide who work to connect, unite, and strengthen Jewish pride.