What is the Maccabiah and its relevance in international sports
The historical origin of the Maccabees and the strengthening of Jewish identity
Competition categories and its cultural and historical legacy
This July, major airlines have resumed their flights to Israel, which had been suspended due to Israel’s war against Iran and its terrorist proxies in Gaza and Lebanon.
There was a major reason for restoring normalcy to air connections: the staging of the Maccabiah Games, also known as the Maccabiah, across numerous stadiums and sports complexes in Israel.
What is the Maccabiah and its relevance in international sports
It is the primary international sporting event for Jewish athletes worldwide, a practical and vivid demonstration of their presence across much of the globe. The Maccabiah Games are held every four years, always in Israel, and generally the year following the Summer Olympic Games.
On this occasion, the Maccabiah has brought together more than 10,000 athletes, representing 80 countries and competing in 45 different sports disciplines. The Spanish delegation consists of 20 athletes participating in the football and tennis competitions.
The first edition of these Games was held in 1932, just one year before Adolf Hitler won the elections in Germany in 1933.
Following the tragedies caused by World War II and the attempts to wipe the Jewish people off the face of the Earth, a regular four-year cycle for these Games was established from 1953 onwards. However, there have been exceptions due to extraordinary circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the terrorist massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Maccabiah Games Israel 1969 – PHOTO/Israel Press and Photo Agency (I.P.P.A.) / Dan Hadani collection, National Library of Israel
The historical origin of the Maccabees and the strengthening of Jewish identity
Naming these Games after the Maccabees underscores the resistance of those who stood against Hellenistic culture between 167 and 160 BCE. More specifically, it was an armed rebellion of the Jewish people, led by the Hasmonean priestly family consisting of Mattathias and his sons, against the Seleucid Empire.
The trigger was the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem and the subsequent imposition of Hellenistic cults. It is therefore considered the first ideological-religious war in history. No one in the ancient world had died for their gods. Only the Jews believed it was worth dying for their religion, which was the only monotheistic faith at that time.
While Hellenistic culture is associated, among other things, with the cult of the body and athletic competitions, the Maccabiah Games seek a re-signification of its legacy. They have transformed a sporting meeting into something much deeper: a space for identity, education, and culture where Jews from all over the world embark on their journey to Israel—not only to compete but also to reaffirm identity, strengthen bonds, sense of belonging, and community.
Beyond being a competitive arena characterized by the highest sporting standards and founded on the principles of excellence, mutual respect, and fair play, the Maccabiah Games carry a profound mission based on values. One of the main objectives of this gathering is to facilitate encounters among young Jews from all over the world, cultivate national identity, and strengthen their connection to the State of Israel.
Competition categories and its cultural and historical legacy
From a technical-sporting perspective, the Maccabiah Games are divided into four categories: Open, intended for the elite athletes of each delegation; Junior, where young athletes between 15 and 18 years old compete; Master, a category designed for veteran and mature athletes wishing to actively participate in the Games; and the Paralympic category, exclusive to athletes with disabilities.
In many cases, the stories do not end on the competition court; they continue and are perpetuated in photographs, community archives, and testimonies that are already part of the collections of the National Library of Israel and the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People.
In addition to the sporting experience of each athlete, their participation in the parallel cultural activities completes their immersion in a country that, in many instances, they are visiting for the first time despite it being a part of their personal identity.