October 2011
My Dear Chaverim,
I trust this finds you and yours all well. For most of 2011, many countries have been politically and economically unsettled, but our Movement has enjoyed a period of very successful activities in all aspects since we met at Plenum, and it is very satisfying to report the unprecedented quality, quantity and pace of global Maccabi activities, Hasbara training and Aliyah promotion efforts since Plenum. By the end of October, MWU staff had led and conducted no less than 7 major events, intensely engaging 1500 people from 25 T.O.'s – including 7 or 8 that have never gone beyond sports activities – in close personal identification with the State of Israel. Add to that about 1700 people – 90% of them teenagers and students – who came to the Jewish State on MWU Israel Programs and for the JCC Maccabi Games. We have achieved in 6 months a lot.
During Plenum, 80 Spanish- and/or Russian-speaking professional coaches took part in MWU's excellent Sports/Aliyah training seminar. Aliyah Promotion on a wide scale – 600 people! – featured strongly in July at the European Maccabi Games and in Maccabi Russia family camps, at a Seminar in August for 200 Maccabi Tzair leaders from Chile and Uruguay. I note with great joy the list of T.O.'s that sent young leaders from European T.O.'s to the intensive international conference hosted by Maccabi Hungary in September: Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. MWU is investing strong continuing efforts in training Hasbara activists, notably at a Regional Educational Seminar in Mexico in September; I must emphasize how strongly Hasbara-training featured in two October events in Israel: the very important coaching seminar in the context of MWU's Mutual Responsibility Project, and the 1st Maccabi Tzair Olami conference. These last 6 months showed conclusively that education, pro-Israel Hasbara and Aliyah promotion events and focused Jewish-Zionist cultural activity is integral to Maccabi's signature mass sports events. I am especially delighted that this vital principle is so enthusiastically accepted by the leaders of all T.O's; it has run in a direct line from the EMG Education program at Vienna, through the new and very high educational standard set in the 1st JCC Maccabi Games in Israel in July/August, to the cultural/educational content that accompanied sports programs for Maccabi GB Masters football and lawn bowls tours to Israel. In fact, it will run all the way to the Hasbara program we will see in action at Sao Paulo next month at the Pan American Games; that very exciting prospect will complete our Regional Games cycle.
Maccabi Clubs, Maccabi Tzair activities, Regional Games only appear to run according to set routines, but all Maccabi leaders know, everything we achieve takes place only because we make it happen. We work hard, we take care of every detail from planning to implementation, not as Generals who issue orders and can expect to see them carried out, but as committed activists who succeed through our ability and personal example to enthuse and enlist others to volunteer their time and effort. In my opinion, our style of leadership is the fundamental factor that explains such fantastic achievements as a handful of Maccabi leaders in a small community like Vienna making complex and high-level sports arrangements for 2000 athletes from more than 35 countries. Dedicated leadership of our Movement explains why Maccabi alone succeeds in putting Sports and physical activity on Jewish Communities and JCC's agendas of priority, right up there with education. It explains why 1600 Jewish people gathered this month for Maccabi Argentina Masters Games at Pinamar, and why it is only natural that matters of Jewish importance are discussed at such events, why thousands of athletes will make the next Pan American Maccabi Games the best and most-talked about Jewish event in Latin America. Without Maccabi leadership, most Jewish athletes in Diaspora would have to play and compete as if sports were a totally secular activity, an environment in which being Jewish is irrelevant, as if Judaism is somehow not about all aspects of life in the real world.
I believe that our activities display very clearly that Maccabi athletes are hungry for the Jewish-Zionist elements and pro-Israel activism that Maccabi brings to sports; they want our added value. You can see it in the Maccabi Australia's Gap Year program that MWU arranged in Israel from February to June, in Maccabi South Africa's participation in the JCC Maccabi Games & Artsfest and in the Mutual Responsibility Hasbara seminar. And you can very definitely see it in the marvellously well-organized Delegations of athletes that Maccabi Israel sends to Regional Games; Israeli athletes not only want to compete internationally – they want the Jewish connection and context that only Maccabi can offer.
Every T.O. can use our superb record of achievement in fulfilling national missions as we shift into top gear to meet the enormous challenge of Maccabiah 2013. All Maccabi leaders must fully appreciate the vital national importance to our People of a Maccabiah that will open in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel. It must be the goal of every T.O. to recruit a Delegation that reflects its maximum potential in size and quality, and we are the only people who can do what must be done. More than ever, we must act as leaders, we must be the first to shoulder the burden, we must enthuse Jewish philanthropists, business leaders, coaches, athletes, parents and potential tourists.
These are very difficult financial times for most of our communities, but take note of another very successful MWU activity this year: amongst many other local and world executive members, the leaders of Maccabi Canada, Maccabi Australia and Maccabi South Africa will all tell you that our Director-General Eyal Tiberger's visits to help T.O.'s raise funds can work wonders. I strongly emphasize to you that now – the period before Plenum 2012 in May – is the critical time for every T.O. to raise the funds that will guarantee your athletes' participation. Don't wait: Call Eyal now! Let's make this Maccabiah dream a reality!
Chazak Ve'ematz!
GUIORA ESRUBILSKY
MWU President
To read past President Newsletters click the following link: