What is Maccabi?
With over 10,000 competing athletes, the Maccabiah Games is the third-largest sporting event in the world by number of competitors (trailing after the Olympics and FIFA). The first Maccabi games were held in 1932 and 1936 but after the Holocaust the games have been held every four years during the summer since 1953. The Winter Maccabi Games, however, were never revived.
For 85 years Maccabi ran their summer games but the Winter Games were abandoned.
January 2023:
First Winter Maccabi Games since 1936
For the first time in 85 years the Maccabi Winter Games were revived. Athletes from all over the world congregated in the German Bavarian Alp ski resort of Ruhpolding to bring back this special event. I was very excited to be chosen to by Maccabi USA to be a delegate for the United States and represent my country!
Making History
I am proud to say that I am the first Maccabi USA athlete to ever win a medal in figure skating for the United States. There were no American figure skaters in 1932 or 1936 and no games for 85 years. I won a silver medal for my performance, coming out ahead of seven other athletes in the Bronze level competition. Being a medal winner has taught me about determination and consistency! I am so grateful to have been on the Maccabi USA team and to have competed in these historical games.
I will G-d willing be representing Maccabi USA at the Winter games in March 2026 at Sun Valley, Idaho!
Dachau
A visit to Germany would be incomplete without visiting Dachau or remembering the Olympic games of 1972. During my visit to Germany, I listened to a survivor of the Munich Olympic massacre and heard his story of survival and how he was able to escape. I also made a stop in Dachau and recited psalms at the site of the former concentration camp.
