In the article below, one can think of the Maccibiah games as a metaphor for the entire idea of the desirability of Jewish separatism (Zionism), as contrasted to humanistic universalism. I would like to first say something about the games themselves, as I have had experience with them. Both of my sons, when they were teenagers, competed in a couple of N.American Junior Maccabiah Games. The games are open to Jewish teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16. They are ONLY open to Jews. This already might raise the little hairs on the backs of some peoples necks in the same way it would raise those hairs at restricted country clubs, or at athletic competitions in the old U. of South Africa which was White People only. I believe you would be right. Why, you might ask, would someone with my convictions allow my sons to participate? I allowed it because there is ideological conviction and there is also the real world. In the real world, my older son, Asher, when he was 14 was best friends with the kid who was the very best basketball player in Rockville Centre. At that time they were inseparable. In recent years, they speak only on occasion, but Jason did honor Asher by traveling a few thousand miles to attend his wedding in June. Back when they were middle teens however, Jason was recruited to play basketball by the Riverdale YM/YWHA (now these institutions are known as JCCs Jewish Community Centers. YM/YWHA - Young Men/Young Women's Hebrew Association has been deemed antiquated; and it is. First of all, many of the worthy services these organizations provide are to senior citizens; and calling Jewish organizations "Hebrew associations" is one of those polite yet inaccurate niceties from the Victorian era. In a similar manner, The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, The Reform Movement, tried to officially change its name a few years ago, but kept it partially out of inertia and partially because it could not come up with something preferable to the majority of the delegates.). He told Asher he could get him on the team; and most importantly, "there were a lot of hot girls there, on the other teams." Well, to a teenager, what better reasons than that: a chance to play ball in a nifty uniform with your best friend, who being the best athlete would naturally attract girls, and then there is that reflected glory, and all the fun. I see nothing wrong with those teen values, it is age appropriate. The idea that these games were "Jews only" never registered. As a matter of fact, several coaches in several JCCs played fast and loose with that rule. There was one young boy, whose dad was Jewish but whose mother was not. The couple was also inter-racial, and the boy had obvious Afro-American characteristics. The coach had spotted this kid at a summer league in Harlem, where a bunch of topflight players compete. The parents were not especially religious and were not partial to either the father's putative religion or the mother's. The coach asked the father if his son wanted to play in this national competition (national being the operative word), and of course the father saw a chance for his son to get noticed. The kid was 14 and could slam dunk. [ Oh, you may be wondering how I know all of this - it is because I was a member of the team's "board of directors". I became a member because they wanted someone to oversee the racquetball competition and I was already on the United States Racquetball Assn's Board of Directors for Junior Competition, so I was privy to inside "dope"]. The father told the coach that his son was not "being raised Jewish", both parents being completely secular. The coach told the father that because HE was Jewish, his son was considered Jewish. Now this is only true among Reform Jews. It is not Halachic (Talmudic law), wherein one is Jewish ONLY if the mother is. (Just like in Israel's Law of Return, thus all of the handwringing now over the Russians who are gentiles and come with a member of the family who happens to be Jewish). So they joined. Then there was a tribunal, because several of the other coaches (and parents) complained about this kid, BECAUSE HE WASN'T JEWISH. He was a great kid; charming, friendly, terrific athlete, competitive, helpful to his teammates, respectful. BUT HIS PEDIGREE WAS IN QUESTION. This was taken very seriously. ONLY RACISTS WOULD TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. After the hearings, the solomonic conclusion was reached - divide the baby. Because the youth was entered by his father in good faith, since he was told by the coach (whom he presumed should have known, after all the coach WAS A PRACTICING ORTHODOX JEW, who walked around everywhere with his knitted kepot.) that the boy was in fact Jewish "enough" for the games, the boy could remain with the team, FOR THIS COMPETITION. He would be barred from any future events, BECAUSE HE REALLY WASN'T JEWISH. The coach on the other hand received a suspension for being deceptive. He would not be allowed to coach the team from the floor during the competitions. My son's team lost in the finals to a team from California (LA). It was exciting, it was great basketball, but all through the competition I heard people crying foul because of "our schwartza" (our nigger). Now the coaches goal was not noble. It was not because he was trying to break in an incredible player into a league in the way Branch Rickey broke Jackie Robinson in to the all white National League of Major League Baseball. He was being deliberately deceptive, trying to pass off a kid as being a Jew when in reality he wasn't; SIMPLY SO HE COULD GARNER A TROPHY. But what does this say about racism, Zionism and kids. The only ones who did not complain were the kids! They were delighted to have the level of competition raised, they liked the kid, and the opponents were in awe of the skill and wanted to be challenged. The kids all got along. It was the adults who were carrying the baggage! This held true through other events I had witnessed. When my younger son was old enough he also competed. He played basketball for the same Riverdale team, and of course he played racquetball. Allow a proud father to be a braggert. He was world champion in his age division at 14. (When I told my aunt he had just won the world championship in Jacksonville, Fla. she asked, "The WHOLE WORLD?" I replied, "Well not Antartica, he hasn't played any penguins yet." :-) ) Saying he competed in racquetball at the Junior Macabees, would be like saying that Michael Jordan showed up one day at our high school and was allowed to "compete" in a game against neighboring Baldwin H.S. Because these games ARE RESTRICTED TO JEWS ONLY, the level of competition is naturally lowered because the pool is smaller; not because people who are Jewish are somehow terrible athletes. As a matter of fact there are a whole lot of Jews who are incredible athletes. Because these games are run through the World Zionist Organization; since the Maccabiah is one of the Territorial Zionist Federations (World Union subdivision -see my chart in the archives), basically the only Jews who become aware of them are those who belong to one of the affiliates, either a JCC or perhaps a synagogue in which the games are publicized. Now, of course there are plenty of Jews and Jewish youth playing Racquetball, but in our circle of aquaintences on the national circuit what we found that those who were on the tour were unaffiliated, and so were unaware of these games. The Maccabiah Union could have affiliated with some national junior athletic committees but because of the restriction, they avoided it. They knew that if they attempted to, their "apartheid" nature would become public, and they didn't want the adverse publicity. Naturally, as with all sports organizations, they want to present themselves in a good and positive light. This is accomplished by the adults who sit on the committees, many of whom are extremely well connected both politically and socially to make these events a success. Just as the article below describes, the events are top-heavy with "machers", with big-shots. The entire idea behind the Maccabee games is to promote Zionism and it's "ideals" through sports competition. One of those ideals of course has been to create "the new Jew"; someone athletic, able to "play with the team", strong and independent, not some "ghetto Jew bent over some book for 15 hrs a day." To be a little fair, the Maccabees began precisely because Jews were barred at the turn of the 20th Century from some international athletic competitions. Avery Brundage was a notorious anti-semite. But as Kari likes to say, "that bird don't fly anymore". Thus, the only obvious reason for restricting the Maccabee games to Jews only now, is to promote "Jewish Solidarity" (read Zionist solidarity and indoctrination). They certainly did their best to promote Zionism. The events always began with the opening ceremonies which tried to emulate The Olympics. The teams would march out onto the running track and circle it with their representative flags. In the N.American games, the teams were represented by State or Province and within each of those, the individual JCCs marched as a team. There were always foreign teams as well, from the UK, France, and once from Australia. But the team that always was first in line was the team from Israel. It didn't matter if there were three kids or twenty kids, Israel marched first, holding of course, the Israeli Flag, which of course, before there was an Israel, was the flag of the World Zionist Organization. Some of the more ideological adults would give them a standing ovation. I suppose that's nice, the kids did come a long way, but I always wondered exactly what it was these adults were standing and applauding. After all the teams assembled on the field, naturally the national anthem of the U.S., Canada and Mexico was played. Then, Hatikvah, the National Anthem of Israel was played. Of course out of respect, people stood for both of the anthems. I noticed some even sang Hatikvah. Most didn't. Most don't know the words (but everyone could at least hum the Moldau by Smetena from which the music to Hatikvah is taken), I suspect many don't even care. The kids on the field would blithly fidget through most of this because that's what kids do. Then some old fart would get up on the podium who was some high ranking official with the Maccabiah World Union, and would drone on for fifteen to twenty minutes (it was probably only five but it felt that long) about Jewish youth this, and solidarity with Israel that, and contributing x amount to this and that. Then he would in turn introduce some regional or local politician who was running for something at the moment and needed the brownie points. Quite often this politician was not even a Jew, but hey, when it comes to money, they are all Zionists. Many of the spectators and competitors found these self-serving speeches a good time to visit the concessions and refreshment stands to pick up T-shirts, hats, Hebrew-National hotdogs, Coca-Cola (always two of the major sponsors), whatever. One could easily see what the kids were doing. They were doing what kids everywhere do - mixing and mingling. After all, that is also one of the reasons behind the games - to get young Jewish boys to meet young Jewish girls. There is nothing wrong with that either. In my experience, most kids came away enjoying the fraternization and the competition immensely. They had fun. Did they become good little zionists by osmosis, as a result of the best efforts of the organizers? I asked my son what he liked best about the games when they were over. "Dad, some of the girls were HOT!" Hey, so go fer it. Here's the article from the JPost: with comments, The Maccabiah: time for a rethink -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Daniel Ben-Tal August, 19 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (August 19) - The 16th Maccabiah was a declaration. Its importance was in its very existence. As a Zionist enterprise, it had to go on. [ Note that it is not a sporting event, primarily, although it is that. Primarily it is a Zionist enterprise, and that was why it had to go on, that is why there was so much pressure. The Zionists refused to see themselves caving in and not holding the games simply because of a popular insurrection in the midst of it. What after all would that say about Zionism? The hell with concerns for the safety of the athletes, most of whom had the good sense not to show up anyway. ] Only three weeks before the opening ceremony, the games looked likely to be canceled, or at best postponed until next summer. Over half the expected 4,000 overseas participants canceled their participation following the Dolphinarium bombing, and the US delegation was lobbying for a postponement. [ The JPost still likes to spin numbers as best as it can. "OVER HALF" was really two-thirds, which is of course, more than "over half". Moreover, 70% of the athletes who did show up were Israelis, and even some of those athletes did not want to go to public places and so dropped out. ] But the organizers fought a rearguard action to save the games, calling an emergency meeting of Maccabi World Union heads at its Kfar Hamaccabiah headquarters. [ Once again, this is NOT QUITE the truth. The organizers were ready to cancel. It was the Israeli government, and the parent WZO which put the screws to the Maccabee officials in all of the countries, threatening a withholding of funds for future games, and a cutback on travel subsidies. The arms of the maccabiah people were twisted every which way but loose. So they didn't cancel, but obviously, no one could force individuals to go, and so many didn't. People are NOT stupid. Ideologues may be. ] Continuity, they argued, is vital if the Maccabiah - still reeling from the bridge disaster four years ago - is going to survive. If not for the intervention of Science, Culture and Sport Minister Matan Vilna'i, who pleaded with the overseas representatives to reconsider, the games would probably not have been held. [ In fact the entire Israeli Cabinet was greatly concerned about a major Zionist organization cancelling something in Israel. How would THAT look to the goyim? ] Almost all the overseas delegations were smaller than four years ago - particularly noticeable was the large number of cancellations from more affluent, Western communities. The Australians sent a depleted squad, notwithstanding their understandable disgust at the buck-passing by the organizers of the 15th Maccabiah after four Australian athletes died and dozens were injured when a bridge collapsed during the opening ceremony. This wound has yet to heal, and some Australians are still angry. Interestingly, the only "Anglo-Saxon" delegation not to register any cancellations was from South Africa, where people are used to political unrest. [ Isn't that a great new-speak? "South Africa, where people are used to political unrest". What is that? The thousands of deaths over the defeat of Apartheid were no more than the nonsense that went on at the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago? Political Unrest!!!!????? I suppose eventually Israelis will get used to "terrorist bombings of fast food restaurants", so they'll go there. What the heck. ] While their compatriots felt safe in their armchairs, [ Not stated but implied - "sniveling cowards that they are.. only concerned with their own safety, and not with ZIONIST SOLIDARITY!" ] the 2,000 or so Diaspora Jews who chose to identify with Israel enjoyed a unique experience, albeit a somewhat hollow one in sporting terms: many medal contenders were missing, several team competitions featured pick-up local squads drafted in to make up numbers, and some events had to be scrapped due to a dearth of participants. So this year's Maccabiah was a success - but only on one level. Sport is supposed to be the heart of the Maccabiah, but in sporting terms, recent Maccabiahs have been abject failures. Israel's leading soccer and basketball players, athletes and swimmers preferred the lure of a summer break or overseas competitions to competing against other Jews. [ And because no one is lighting bombs in such places as The Netherlands or Japan, which means ten weeks without being in a lunatic asylum.] (Ironically, the world's leading Jewish sportsperson, triple Olympic champion swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg of the US, chose to forgo this year's World Championships in Japan in favor of the Maccabiah.) [ and of course, you must ask, HOW MUCH WAS HE PAID TO GO? Hey folks, olympic swimming IS NOT A MONEY SPORT, so athletes in that sport will get while the getting is good. He also avoided Japan because some of the REAL competition was gaining on him. So he had a win-win situation. He picked up a few bucks, became a "Jewish hero" (not like he's a household name like the WWF "wrestler", GOLDSTEIN or is it GOLDBERG, whatever...), had armed protection, and became a local media darling. He had his 15 minutes of fame. Any of the better players in international money sports such as basketball or soccer DID NOT SHOW UP for the most obvious of reasons. Moreover, you must make your bones in a highly competitive atmosphere at a level above high school varsity. ] Cynics may call the "Jewish Olympics" a contradiction in terms, yet Jewish sport is very much alive. [ I actually do not like that subtle dig. The original reason in fact WAS the result of discrimination. It was the same reason for the Negro Leagues. There was no where else to go. This dig almost smacks of the ethnic jokes such as "World's shortest books" - Jewish Business Ethics , etc. ] The intense commitment and tremendous camaraderie apparent during the Maccabiah's rugby or softball tourneys, for example, make the whole effort worthwhile. This is pure sport: talented amateurs who train hard and play to both win and enjoy. These good, healthy people are exactly what Israel needs. [ Yes, the Zionist Organization always put out feelers for "good, healthy people" and failing that people with money. One must read The Transfer Agreement by Edwin Black to see how that worked, and how Weizmann referred to the "Ostjuden" who were neither healthy nor rich as "human dust" and so left them to their fate at the hands of the German Nazis. ] Yet sporting levels remain low - which is an issue to be addressed if the Maccabiah is to be relevant in the 21st century. Maybe it's time to consider opening the Maccabiah to all comers. [ One can almost hear, "But, but, that would dilute THE JEWISH NATURE OF THE GAMES! You can't do that! You might get to a point where there are more gentiles than Jews competing, and then what would be the meaning of "The Jewish Olympics". Why have a Jewish Olympics? Why have a Jewish State?" Why, indeed. ] Since the scrapping of the quadrennial Hapoel Games, Israel has no international track-and-field competition of note, and the inclusion of invited athletes will help raise standards. Team competitions would also benefit from stiffer competition. Old-timers recount how, back in the Fifties, they sat riveted to their radios as their heroes battled for Maccabiah honors. [ Sure, those oldtimers, entirely understandable as most of them lived through the Nazi holocaust against the Jews of Europe, and were rightfully delighted to see "the phoenix rise from the ashes". They were justifiably and psychologically proud that they could see that Hitler "didn't finish the job", and that there were youth out there which brought hope for the future. Nothing wrong with that, and nothing to do with Zionism. ] By comparison, most of this year's events were held in out-of-the way venues in front of a handful of spectators. They did little to raise the national morale. Most Israelis ignored this year's games, and, if not for a costly, pathos-ridden televised publicity campaign, many would have remained unaware of its existence. [ The events were held out of the way in little publicized venues to reduce the threat from saboteurs. In fact, most of the athletes housed themselves outside of the public areas of Jerusalem or other big cities for the same reason. Most entered the competition they were in, got done and went back to whereever it was they were sequestering themselves. They were not there to be posterboys and postergirls for Zionist solidarity, except for that swimmer who received a handsome compensation for doing so. I didn't see the TV campaign, but I can imagine it. In fact the way it came off in the U.S., where people were excoriated for staying away, one can only recall Hamlet saying "Methinks the Lady doth protest too much." ] In its present form, the Maccabiah is an irrelevant anachronism. [ Any sport competition based on the race or religion of the competitor is anachronistic. Any country, for that matter, based on the race or religion of an individual is also anachronistic. Oh yeah, that was the point...:-) ] As a national project, it needs a new injection of fervor. My sad observation from working in the media department of the past three Maccabiahs is that the MWU setup is unsuitable for organizing such an event. This hopelessly top-heavy organization is swamped in committees. Too many of its cellphone-wielding executives appear more concerned with personal prestige than sport or Zionism - they could be seen every evening throughout the games, looking resplendent at some VIP reception, ceremony or festive luncheon. [ That rings home. The "machers" at the games on L.I. set up VIP tents, where we were treated to free foods, adult beverages, and of course, hobnobbing with the rich and powerful, that the plebians waiting in line for a Hebrew National frank and a Coke were not privy to. And yes, there were also too many needless cell phones. "Honey, what's doing at home, I told you to come, they're giving us free food and BEER! and guess who's here, ED KOCH!!! Boy he's fat, and I never realized he was THAT tall. Ed's about 6'4" And I met that rabbi on TV from The God Squad, you know, the one that always wears a bowtie..." ] One of the 16th Maccabiah's greatest shortcomings was its focus on spin, rather than substance. The extravagant opening ceremony at Jerusalem's Teddy Stadium had little to do with sport, and turned Zionism into a frivolous spectacle complete with dancing girls and the obligatory fireworks (as if we need more explosions). The games were lavishly promoted as an innovative multimedia package. In The Jerusalem Post's Maccabiah supplement, I quoted the games' computerization project coordinators who claimed "The 16th Maccabiah will be six levels above the computerization of the Sydney Olympics... If any system fails, a backup system will instantly take over." I have never written such rubbish in my life - Kfar Hamaccabiah's ill-planned intranet system crashed regularly, while the games' Web site was an embarrassment at best. If the Maccabiah is to survive as an event, it needs a thorough shakeup. [ It's already dead, it just dosen't know it. Let it go. ] (The writer is a freelance journalist.) [ Hey me too. Can't anyone be a freelance journalist. It's kinda like being a poet......] "If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls I will write always I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you."
