It’s too hot today to be out on the Jerusalem streets during this heat wave.
There are fewer tourists on the Jerusalem streets this summer,
not due to the sun blazing down, but to the rain of ballistic missiles last month.
In July 2013, the Maccabiah opening was held in Teddy Stadium.
What a night it was!
Before July 2017, the Jerusalem streets were ready for the 20th Maccabiah.
Long-planned and Covid-postponed, the 21st Maccabiah opening event was held at Teddy Stadium in the Malha neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel, in July 2022.
For the 2022 opening event, 30,000 people attended. What a light show and fireworks display.
What proud smiles as the Maccabiah teams marched in. In all the chaos, finding a familiar face – priceless.
Officially, Maccabiah 2022 had 74 delegations with 10,274 participants, and thousands of supporters.
In addition to the Israeli President and Prime Minister making an appearance, US President Joe Biden was there in 2022, waving his USA Maccabiah hat to the crowd and TV audience.
But this year, Maccabiah had to postpone its July international mega sports events in Israel until 2026.
The Jerusalem streets are quiet this July, as many tourists and groups have changed their plans due to canceled flights and fear. What is in the headlines is too often not really what’s happening here.
However, last week, the theme was “Better together – Stronger than ever,” 180 educators, principals, and Jewish community leaders from 22 countries arrived in Israel to participate in Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund’s (KKL-JNF) annual educational seminar.
“The presence of these educators in Israel at such a time is a powerful declaration of commitment and moral courage,” said Sar-Shalom Jerbi, head of KKL-JNF’s Education and Community Division.
There was music and food served on the patio of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center for the closing.
Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chair of the KKL-JNF Board of Directors, posed and smiled, surrounded by participants.
“Better Together, Stronger” than ever as the World Education Conference concluded with the walls of the Old City across the way in the distance on the pleasant Monday evening.
For some attendees, the seminar marked their first visit to Israel; for others, it had been many years since they last visited. It was certainly important for them to hear from residents from the north and south who are still displaced. to better understand what was really happening in Israel.
Zohar Vloski, Global Executive Director of Zionist Education at Jewish National Fund-USA, has led these missions for over a decade. He noted that the U.S. delegation was composed of senior educators, principals, cantors, and Jewish communal leaders, now with a greater understanding and appreciation, to bring back messages of strength and unity to their respective communities.
The Maccabiah Jerusalem night run was in 2022, and the night run was also canceled this summer.
The young Maccabiah athletes and their supporters from around the world were not able to come,
but everyone is looking forward to “Next year in Jerusalem.”