MACCABI WORLD UNION & MACCABIAH

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.

Rooted in the values of fair play, mutual respect, and the pursuit of excellence, the Maccabiah is much more than a sporting competition. It also serves as a unique opportunity to unite young Jewish athletes from across the globe, strengthening their Jewish identity and fostering a lasting connection to Israel. 

Open - The highest level of competition, open to athletes of all ages, subject to the regulations of each sport.
Junior - For qualifying athletes aged 15–18.
Masters - Competition divided into age groups for older athletes.
Paralympic - Dedicated competitions for athletes with disabilities.
To participate in the Maccabiah Games, athletes must compete as part of an official delegation. Each Territorial Organization (such as France, Brazil, Germany, the United States, Canada, Hungary, and Australia) forms its own team.

Over the years, the Maccabiah Games have welcomed many outstanding athletes, including Olympic gold medalists, world champions, and world record holders. Among them are Mark Spitz, Lenny Krayzelburg, Jason Lezak, Marilyn Ramenofsky, Mitch Gaylord, Abie Grossfeld, Ágnes Keleti, Valery Belenky, Kerri Strug, Ernie Grunfeld, Danny Schayes, Larry Brown, Jordan Freed, Nat Holman, Dolph Schayes, Carina Benninga, Lillian Copeland, Gerry Ashworth, Gary Gubner, Angela Buxton, Brad Gilbert, Julie Heldman, Allen Fox, Nicolás Massú, Dick Savitt, Dave Blackburn, Angelica Rozeanu, Sergei Charikov, Vadim Gutzeit, Mariya Mazina, Isaac Berger, Frank Spellman, Fred Oberlander, Henry Wittenberg, Madison Gordon-Lavaee, Bruce Fleisher, Adam Bacher, Boris Gelfand, Judit Polgár, Elizabeth Foody, Aaron R. Schwid, Irwin Cotler, Jonathan Bornstein, Steve March Tormé, and Shawn Lipman.

Alongside the sporting competitions, the Maccabiah offers a variety of social events, seminars on Jewish heritage and traditions, and educational tours to key sites across Israel.

Athletes who have not celebrated a Bar or Bat Mitzvah are also invited to take part in a special and memorable ceremony at the Western Wall.

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 mission is to strengthen the connection between Jews around the world and Israel through the transformative power of sports, education, and well-being. 

Anchored by the Maccabiah Games, MWU creates lifelong connections, strengthens ties with Israel, and fosters a shared sense of purpose among Jewish communities worldwide. By providing leadership, sharing resources, and promoting best practices, MWU empowers local Maccabi organizations to grow and thrive.

• Jewish Continuity, Zionism & Solidarity (Arvut Hadadit)
• Sport & Wellbeing 
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Responsibility & Accountability

The first Maccabi Jewish sports club was founded in 1895 in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey), after a group of Jewish gymnasts were denied membership in a local sports club because of antisemitic discrimination. Rather than giving up, they established their own Jewish sports club, which quickly flourished and inspired the creation of similar clubs across Europe, including Hakoah Vienna, Bar Kochba Berlin, Hagibor Prague, and many others. 

The movement later expanded to Latin America, North America, Australia, South Africa, and, of course, Israel. In 1921, Maccabi World Union was officially founded during the 12th Zionist Congress in Czechoslovakia. 

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, and Maccabi South Africa (SA).

The MWU Congress is held annually in Israel, and every four years new members of the Executive Board are elected.

Beyond its official leadership, MWU is a movement of people - thousands of dedicated volunteers and members around the world who work to connect, unite, and strengthen Jewish pride.