Europe, The Americas, Australia, USA and Israel are homes to world class sports events bringing the best Jewish athletes from all over the world to meet with and compete against other triumphant Jewish athletes.

To some, this will be a stage in a long, successful athletic career. To others, this will be the highlight of their athletic journey. To all, this will be a life-changing point in their personal Jewish journeys, a journey to reinforcing their Jewish pride, to cultivating support for Israel and to becoming our future leaders.

The Maccabiah Games, a prominent international sports competition, are held every four years in their respective regions with Israel being the largest and the point of pride for the organization. It is one of the top three gatherings of athletes in the world. Over 9,000 athletes proudly represent over 78 countries and compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

The superior values and standards of the Maccabiah competitions lead to the Maccabi World Union being recognized by the International Olympic Committee as “an international sports federation of Olympic standing” in 1960. The only other worlds sports body so honoured was the International Students’ Sports Organization.

The late David Ben-Gurion once summarized the value of the games as follows: “Maccabi is without a doubt one of the most important offshoots of the Zionist movement. Its importance is indicated in its infusion of life by bolstering the physical state of the Jewish people, weakened by centuries of exile and dispersion. Jews returning to their homeland and those born there must possess physical stamina, just as they must possess spiritual and intellectual vigour in science and technology; our existence in our ancestral home requires physical might no less than intellectual excellence.”

Past Maccabiah athletes include Fred Oberlander, international wrestling champion and founder of Maccabi Canada, and Olympic champions; Mark Spitz, Kerri Strug, Lenny Krayzelburg, Mitch Gaylord and Jason Lezak, Josh Binstock and paralympians, Joel Dembe.

We invite you to become part of the Maccabi movement and participate in our games, as an athlete, coach, supporter, sponsor or volunteer. Come and become one with the Maccabi Canada family and help realize the Canadian Jewish Athlete’s dream.