The Jewish Olympics

July 11, 2005 by Israelity · 1 Comment
Filed under: General 

The 17th Maccabiah Games officially opened this evening in Ramat Gan. Dubbed the “Jewish Olympics,” the Maccabiah brings together Jewish athletes from over 50 countries in what is one of the five largest sports gatherings in the world. Sponsored by the Maccabiah World Union, the Maccabiah Games’ purpose is to strengthen Jewish identity and traditions through sport. Since the first-ever Maccabiada (as the Games were then called) in 1932, this celebration of Jewish strength and skill has been a source of pride for Jews everywhere. Or has it?

The other day, I turned on the television to the Israel sports channel and caught a program about the Maccabiah in mid-broadcast. One of the many people interviewed was a journalist for one of Israel’s major Hebrew daily newspapers, who complained that the whole “Jewish Olympics” thing may have been okay in 1932, but that it didn’t “sound good” in 2005. Do the Christians and the Muslims have their own Olympics? he asked. He then went on to complain about the amount of money it costs Israel to put on the Opening Ceremony, and ended by griping that the whole thing was unnecessary.

I guess I haven’t learned my lesson yet. I’ll admit it: I was shocked. How could anyone be against the Maccabiah Games? I wondered. Well, eventually I remembered that there are always people who are in favor of unpopular things, and against popular ones. So be it. After all, that journalist isn’t all that different from those who told Yosef Yekutieli that his dream of “a worldwide Olympics for Jewish sportspeople in the Land of Israel” (quote taken from the official Maccabiah 17 website’s history section) was a pipe dream. And yet, for better or worse, here we are.

The Maccabiah Games are not perfect, and they have been touched by disaster and tragedy. In 1997, a newly-constructed bridge collapsed, and four members of the Australian team died. Many others were injured. The memory of that day will always be with us.

Are the Maccabiah Games racist? I don’t believe so. But then, I wouldn’t be upset about an all-black or all-redhead Olympics, either. Not everything in this world must be all-inclusive. Of course, interacting through fair athletic competition is a wonderful way for people from differing backgrounds, who might otherwise never meet, to get to know one another. But gathering Jews from around the world, who might otherwise never meet – who, indeed might otherwise never come to Israel – is also a worthy endeavor.

It’s not just adults who come to compete. There is a Junior Maccabiah for teens, as well. (Be sure to check out their fabulous website, created and maintained by Israeli teens, including my young friend Ella). Indeed, several talented youths have participated in the Maccabiah, then gone on to become famous. Remember Mark Spitz? At age 15 he won four gold medals in the 1965 Maccabiah Games, his first international competition. Some of the young men and women who will be participating in the competitions of the next ten days may well be the stars of the 2008 Olympics.

One of Israel’s best-loved athletes is Tal Brody, who came to Israel for the first time in order to participate in the Maccabiah, also in 1965. He decided to move to Israel, and went on to be one of our most famous basketball players. Among his other achievements, he led his team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, to victory in the European Championships of 1977.

Of course most of the Maccabiah’s thousands of participants will not go on to become international sports stars, or even decide to move to Israel. That’s all right. The important thing is, they are here now, participating in these Maccabiah Games. May they enjoy every moment of their visit here. Good luck to all!

This has also been posted on my website, Postcards from Israel.

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WHO are those guys?

July 6, 2005 by David Brinn · Leave a Comment
Filed under: General 

Last week’s Live 8 may have boasted the remnants of The Who in the guise of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, but last night in Israel, we had the whole band.

Ok, so it wasn’t Townshend and Daltrey, it was a group of straight-looking (save for rocker-looking drummer Dave Fenster), kippa-wearing middle-aged Anglo-Israelis from Beit Shemesh, a sleepy town halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

But Live Wire’s performance in its entirety of The Who’s classic ‘rock opera’ Tommy at Jerusalem’s Yellow Submarine before a respectable crowd of friends and fans, was just as enjoyable and inspiring, if not more so, than the real thing.

Guitarist Gabi Salkin and bassist Zvi Newman faithfully recreated the dynamic string duo of Townshend and John Entwhistle, with Salkin – looking like a non-delinquent Billy Joe Armstrong – mimicking Pete’s windmill effect, and Newman nimbly fingering every fret of his bass at once in homage to Entwhistle. Fenster was all over the place in true Keith Moon fashion, and keyboardist Victor Ofstein added the right embellishments, as well as vocally shining on a post-Tommy version of ‘Substitute’.

And, as my friend Geoff astutely put it, the performance represented the ultimate Zionist/Jewish expression. Whereas Roger Daltrey once stalked the stage at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight in his fringed-leather white jacket, now lead singer Shimon Lebowitz was doing his microphone windmills with his tzitzit fringes hanging out his shirt. Long live rock – in Israel.

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Minyan on platform 1

July 4, 2005 by Gilly · 1 Comment
Filed under: General, Israeliness 

“The Minyan for Shacharit will shortly be departing from platform 1, stopping for the Minyan men at Beit Shemesh and then at Ramle, Lod and Tel Aviv. Passengers should take care when putting on their Tefillin. The service will be followed by a Kiddush in the Buffet Car”.

I had heard about the train minyan but today was the first time that I’d experienced it – rather than spending the 20 or so minutes davening at home before heading for my meetings in Tel Aviv, I decided to take my tefillin and tallit along for the ride – a clear advantage of taking the train. As I took my tefillin out of their bag, my neighbour advised me to wait until we hit Beit Shemesh where we’d be joined by enough men to make up a minyan (prayer quorum).

As the train swayed, so did we, caught up in the rhythms of prayer. The rumour that a breakaway minyan was forming in carriage 3 proved to be untrue but as all Jews have to have a place that they won’t pray in, it’s surely just a matter of time?

Apparently their has been some discussion as to the possibility of arranging for a Sefer Torah to be kept permanently on the train so that the Monday and Thursday minyanim can have Torah reading.

Is the following ad really so far fetched?

“Message: 2
Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 17:38:45 -0000
From: “IsRail”
Subject: JOBOPPS + 02/03 + Ticket collector / Gabbai

Looking for a train lover with a grasp of Halacha and a knack of avoiding Broigesim. Please send CV stating salary requirements and preferred nusach.”

Anyway, we finished davening with a few minutes to spare; once the fast train starts running between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv (Ani Ma’amin Be’Emunah Shleima…) the possibility of a minyan will go out of the window as by the time you put on your Tallit you’ll be at Arlozorov. I’m not aware of anyone arranging a Bar Mitzva on board but it would be a great PR stunt!

The Minyan Express leaves Jerusalem at 7:09 and passes through Beit Shemesh about 30 minutes later. The Minyan is at the back of the train – there is no women’s section but who would bet against an enraged feminist starting up “women of the train”?

Gilly

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