The Jewish Olympics

To the enthusiastic applause of 20,000 international fans and many more Israelis, they competed in no fewer than 43 sporting events. Fourteen of the competitions were held in Jerusalem, with the rest spread out among 68 sporting facilities across the country. The first Maccabiah was held in 1932. Following a temporary ban by the British Mandatory authorities, the games resumed under Israeli sovereignty in 1950, and have been held every four years in the Jewish state ever since. One of the goals of the Maccabiah is to accentuate Israel as the center of Jewish life worldwide. Pictures from the 20th…