The 22nd Maccabiah Games began on Wednesday evening with a festive opening ceremony at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. Addressing thousands of athletes and guests from around the world, President Isaac Herzog called for growing global antisemitism to be met with pride and unity.
“Welcome to your second home,” Herzog told the participants. He said the gathering in Jerusalem filled Israel with pride and gave the event special significance. The Maccabiah was “an expression of Jewish strength,” sending a message of partnership and determination to the Jewish people and the world. “In the face of rising antisemitism, we light the Maccabiah torch,” the president declared.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal, attend the opening ceremony of the 22nd Maccabiah Games at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem on July 1, 2026. Photo: Haim Zach/GPO.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the participants in a video message. Referring to the rise in anti-Jewish hatred worldwide, he urged the athletes to stand confidently in their Jewish identity. “People respect only those who respect themselves,” Netanyahu said. “In the face of antisemitism: Stand tall!”
This year’s Maccabiah is being held under the motto “More Than Ever.” The Games were originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2025 but were postponed because of the war with Iran. Organizers therefore view the event not only as an international sporting festival, but also as a symbol of the resilience of the Jewish people following the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, and the wars that followed.
According to official figures, more than 8,000 athletes from around 55 countries are participating in this year’s Games. Organizers had originally expected around 10,000 participants from 60 countries. Although the event is somewhat smaller than initially planned because of the wartime postponement and several cancellations, it remains the largest Jewish sporting event in the world. Over the next two weeks, athletes will compete in 45 sports.
The Maccabiah was first held in Tel Aviv in 1932, before the establishment of the State of Israel, and has taken place every four years since 1953. It is open to Jewish athletes from around the world, as well as to all Israeli citizens regardless of religion. In this way, it combines sporting competition with the strengthening of ties between Israel and Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
Against the backdrop of rising antisemitism worldwide and continuing security threats, this year’s Maccabiah carries particular symbolic importance. While Jewish communities in many countries are facing increasing hostility and attacks, thousands of Jewish athletes from around the world are gathering in Jerusalem. For Israel, the Maccabiah is therefore far more than a sporting event—it is a visible expression of the vitality of the Jewish people and the close bond between Israel and the Diaspora.
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