News & Events

Team GB will depart for Marseille on Sunday with high hopes of claiming an unprecedented third-successive European Maccabi Football Trophy.

Boasting an exciting squad that blends youth with experience, managers Phil Peters and Jamie Slavin are excited about the challenge ahead.

A 2-2 draw with Oakwood a fortnight ago was followed-up by a 7-4 thrashing of Premier Division North London Raiders B with Norstar’s Josh Green the best of the bunch hitting a stunning hatrick to add to his equalising goal in the previous game.

The boys were in good spirit at their final training session last night. SPEC hardman Ricky Lawrence was said to be “excited” whilst Brady’s Jordan Grant will put cup-final disappointment behind him and can’t wait to unleash his ‘keep calm stay dench’ top under his kit when he scores.

EMFT veteran Jeff Gotch told the media, “After experiencing the EMFT 2010 in Spain where we bought home the gold I was very excited to be given the opportunity to defend the crown in France. After leading the team in the two friendlies we have had I am confident we can do exactly what we want and bring it home. The competitiveness and nature of the trip is a great experience for everyone and it really will be a memorable trip.”

Peters and Slavin are optimistic but are feeling the weight of expectation on their shoulders, “After a magnificent victory in Torremolinos we go in to this tournament as favourites but we can’t get complacent. The Germans are going to be stronger than they were last time and the French will be an unknown quantity but filled with talent.

“Our sponsor Adam Nathan Catering has promised to provide to nourish us if we bring back the trophy. We expect the boys to be fighting not just for , not just for themselves but for GB.”

The tournament commences on Monday 30th April with two fixtures and a final group game will be played on Tuesday morning. Stay up-to-date with the goings on in France via the Maccabi GB website, the Jewish press and on twitter #EMFT2012

Squad: 1. Jake Doffman, 2. Ben Sheldon, 3. Dan Tannenbaum, 4. Ricky Lawrence, 5. Lewis Blitz (c), 6. Jeff Gotch (vc), 7. Jordan Grant, 8. Jonny Kay, 9. Eli Houri, 11. Rob Blackman, 12. Michael Israel, 14. Josh Green, 15. Ben Weinberg, 17. Anthony Goodmaker, 18. James Gold, 19. Jerome Marks. Management: Phil Peters, Jamie Slavin

Jewish News One has come to this football pitch in downtown Frankfurt to watch the members of the German Jewish national football team practice for a tournament in Marseille. For the past 12 years, hundreds of football players from the different Maccabi Organizations in Europe have participated in the European Maccabi Football Trophy.

The Maccabi club, which is the home club for the players who will be going to Marseille, has approximately one thousand members here in Frankfurt; kids of all ages come here to play football and reinforce their Jewish identity.

With more than 300 players in 20 teams of different ages, between 6 and 17, Maccabi Frankfurt contributes the largest number of players to the German Maccabi national football team. We’ve been here two hours watching kids of all ages practice the sport they love… football, and with the club they really identify with since they were very small children – Maccabi Frankfurt.

Enjoy the news video broadcasted by Jewish News One with several players from the Maccabi Frankfurt Football team. 

The United States will have a veteran coach leading the way for next year's Maccabiah Games, as Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg has been named the head of the US basketball team.

Greenberg, who turns 56 next week, previously served as an assistant coach in 1989, when he was associate head coach at Long Beach State University. A year later, he was named head coach of the '49ers, and has proceeded to go 383-293 in 22 seasons as a college head coach at Long Beach State, South Florida, and Virginia Tech, where he has been head coach since 2003.

The Hokies went 16-17 in 2011-12, just the fourth losing record in Greenberg's coaching career, but Greenberg claimed the 375th win of his coaching career. Among Greenberg's honors as a head coach are two ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2005 and 2008, and a pair of Big West conference titles at Long Beach State.

Greenberg plans to hold two tryouts for his team, which will compete at the 19th edition of the Maccabiah Games next July in Israel. The tryouts will be held in August in California and New Jersey.

“This volunteer position is important to me because any time you can represent your country and your faith in the same event, it’s something very special,” Greenberg said in a statement. “I look forward to representing the USA and bringing a great group of athletes with me to Israel to share that same experience.”

J-Connection: Seth Greenberg is Jewish. He was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2010

Article by Jspace Staff on 4/11/2012 at 9:02 PM

The XII Maccabi Tennis Cup 2012 took place in Bratislava from March 8 - 10. Each year increasing interest has resulted in participation of the nine European countries' players of the Cup. In the single categories (open and masters) and double the players from Germany, Austria, Serbia, UK, Hungary, Scotland, Israel, Czech Republic as well as Slovakia contested for a prize. The tournament has been started at Thursday - Opening single game had enjoyed his excellence Alexander Ben-Zvi, the Ambassador of state Israel in Slovakia and President of European Maccabi Confederation, Mr. Tichauer. The Ambassador had demonstrated his support to the tournament and the team players during the next day, too, joining double games. Regardless of keen competition, with his play mate Mr. Veber (Serbia) they won nice 4. Placement in the Cup. Besides the organizers the international tennis umpire Ladislav Schragge had supervised professionalism and proper results during the tournament

XII Maccabi Tennis Cup results:
Double 1. Gregor (SR/Austria), Kőhalmi(HU) 2. Hornstein(Scotland), Baum (GB) 3. Tichauer (GER), Bogdanovič (Serbia) 4. Ben Zvi (IL), Veber (Serbia)
Single - open
1. Grznárik Juraj (SR) 2. Kőhalmi Peter (HU) 3.- 4. Baum Nick (GB),
Bogunovič (Serbia) Single - masters
1. Gregor Peter (SR/Austria) 2. Hornstein Errol (Scotland) 3.- 4. Tichauer (GER),
Salzberger (Serbia)

The Slovak Maccabi Organization, member of EMC (European Maccabi Confederation) as well as MWU (Maccabi World Union) is organizing the Maccabi Tennis Cup for eleven years. Named tournament belongs to the most long lasting Maccabi sport tournament worldwide. Its history goes back into 2002, when it was started in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. Since that year the tournament has been held also in other Slovakian cities, like Senec and Trnava. Due habitual linking with Purim ball, which is traditionally held at the time of games, the most common place matches Bratislava. In recent years, the tournament is organized in Bratislava tennis club Slovan, where players in addition to excellent conditions, appreciated and comfortable hotel accommodation directly in the area.

The Games concluded on Friday evening, when the awards ceremony was held and all players sat around the common Sabbath table. Saturday traditionally was relaxing with the optional opportunity to attend the Purim ball. On Sunday we visited the tomb of Chatam Sofer in Bratislava downtown.

The Slovak Maccabi Organization is trying each year to organize a first class tournament in order to represent the Slovak Jewish community in the best shape. Thanks to the Cup, over 80 tennis players from 13 countries have visited Slovakia and this tournament belongs to the most popular Maccabi sport events in Europe and represents tournament with the longest history. Next year we hope to welcome to Slovakia the greatest tennis players from all over the world, who will measure their forces with Slovak tennis player. Our plan for next year includes extending the tournament to juniors.

More information concerning our organization and photos from this event can be found on our website.
The Slovak Maccabi Organization prepares for the sports fans and their friend's various sporting events during the entire year. Information about other programs can be found on the same site listed above. If you are an active athlete or sportsman and want to promote the Slovak Maccabi Organization colors in various domestic and international competitions, you are cordially welcome.
See you next year at XII Maccabi Tennis Cup 2013.
On behalf of a Slovak Maccabi Organization team:
Dagmar Gavorníková
Ladislav Schragge
Jana Romanová

Press release: Bratislava 22.3.2012: XI. Maccabi Tennis Cup outshined by Slovak players. Other positions shared by further nine countries players.

Planning is already underway in earnest to assemble a strong squad for Australia’s opens rugby team that will attend the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2013, to defend the gold medal won in 2009.

As the Sydney club's preparation for season 2012 cranks into gear, David Greenstein, from the management of the Maccabi rugby club in Sydney and who will manage the Maccabiah side, has already begun putting the framework in place.

“The 2009 Australian Maccabiah Rugby team returned from Israel with the gold medal and the status as the best Jewish rugby team in the world,” Greenstein enthused.  “The 2013 Australian Maccabiah Rugby team intends to return to Israel in July, 2013, to defend their title and again claim the gold medal.

"I welcome anyone to get in touch with me for more information if you think you’ve got what it takes to be part of this quest, the ‘holy grail’ of Jewish rugby.”

More information: David Greenstein 0403 044 790 or david@dglawyers.com.au

Posted: 31-Jan-2012 by Maccabi National

Maccabi GB, in partnership with UJIA, held the first ever Community 3v3 Basketball event.

On Sunday 4th March 2012 this basketball day was open for players of all ability levels and was part of Maccabi GB’s 'Sport for Everyone' Programme, engaging the Jewish Community in sporting events.

The event was split into a junior and senior section with teams playing each other in the small sided version of the game. There was a great mix of familiar Maccabi basketball faces and new players, some of whom were trying the sport for the very first time. The games produced some great moments, and there were some fantastic individual performances throughout the day with all the matches being played in a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere.

Matt Travers, Head of Maccabi GB’s Sports Department, was pleased to see the mix of players on show, "Throughout the day we have engaged over 40 people in basketball activities, we have seen players from Leeds, Manchester, East, South and North London, male and female, all come together to enjoy playing the sport and keeping active. Our aim through the ‘Sport for Everyone’ initiative is to provide sporting activities for everyone who wishes to play sport with Maccabi GB. We have certainly achieved that aim today."

Craig Harris, who runs the weekly Maccabi GB basketball training sessions, commented on the importance of such events taking place, "We have been able to identify a new group of players today who are keen to play basketball and now will be able to continue to do so through Maccabi GB activities. It is so important to spread the message right across the country that anyone interested in playing basketball can do so and should contact Maccabi GB to find out how best they can become involved in the sport."

To find out how you can become involved in Maccabi GB basketball and take part in the weekly training sessions, or for more information on the Maccabi GB 'Sport for Everyone' Programme, please contact the office on 020 8457 2333 or email enquiries@maccabigb.org.

On March 18, 2012 in the Sports Hall Kiili in Tallinn, the Maccabi Estonia team won the Estonian Futsal Cup for the first time in Estonia history. Despite the fact that indoor football in Estonia has been played for a long time, so far only regular championships were held, the Cup was held for the first time.

Maccabi won the Cup against "Rocket" 6:4, both teams are representing the major league championship in Estonia, and both of them are novices in the top division. Many experts say that Maccabi Estonia team is the most important discovery of this year; it was the only team who in the course of the season managed to defeat the fourfold champion of Estonia and the permanent leader of the recent years, the club "Anji".

Philadelphia, Pa. – The world’s third largest international multi-sport sporting event – The Maccabiah Games – is held in Israel every four years and sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.

Many notable athletes have competed in the Maccabiah Games including: Mark Spitz, Corey Pavin, Lenny Krayzelburg, Mitch Gaylord and Jason Lezak. The first Maccabiah Games took place in 1932 and the most recent Games, the 18th Maccabiah, took place in 2009 featuring 7,500 athletes from 51 countries participating in 31 different sports. Team USA consisted of 903 Americans, winning 284 medals. The Maccabi USA Rugby Team took the bronze medal (Watch those highlights here) while Australia beat Great Britain for the gold.

Maccabi USA Rugby has a storied history at the Games and has been represented by top international and national level players including members of the USA Eagles, Senior All-Star teams and Collegiate All-Americans. Zachary Test, a member of the USA National Sevens Team and his cousin Jared Braun, a forward with the University of California Berkeley Bears, were both members of the 18th Maccabiah USA Rugby Team.

The team competed as a territory in the Inter-Territorial Tournament (ITTs) in 1993.

Today the squad has the potential to include a few Eagles and some great territorial players, including Test, current star of the USA 7s team, and former 7s Eagle Dallen ‘Paki’ Stanford. These are exciting times for Maccabiah Rugby with the potential backline in 2013 seeing at least six players that have represented the US, either at senior, U20 and U 18 levels.

The USA Rugby team has competed continuously at the Maccabiah Games since 1985 and won the gold in 1997, defeating South Africa 23-22 and has medaled in all seven Maccabiah Games: ’85 – bronze; ’89 – bronze; ’93 – silver; ’97 – gold; ’01 – silver; ’05 – silver; and ’09 – bronze. Watch highlights of the US winning Gold in 1997.

Shawn Lipman, a former USA Eagle, will be the Head Coach for Maccabi USA Rugby at the 19th Maccabiah Games in 2013. Lipman was the Captain of the USA Team that took the gold in 1997 and has also played in an additional four Maccabiah Games (View feature on Lipman, as well as being chosen as the US Flag Bearer in 1997). He has put together an impressive coaching staff with the primary goal to bring home the gold back to the USA in 2013. Greg Schor-Haskin, a member of the 14th and 18th USA Maccabiah Rugby Team, will join Lipman as the Assistant Coach.

“We are very proud and excited to have Shawn and Greg lead us to gold in 2013.” said Maccabiah Rugby Chairman, Jeff Simon.

The rest of the coaching staff includes:
Marc Stcherbina (Coaching Development Coordinator - Backs) played professionally for well over a decade including the NSW Warratahs, Australian 7''s (winning medals at two Commonwealth Games), Biarritz, Northampton, Cardiff Blues, and Newport Gwent Dragons. His experience as a backline player will be invaluable to the squad.

Norm Mottram (Coaching Development Coordinator - Forwards) played for Scotland at age group level and provincially for Glasgow District. He then moved to the United States, playing for the West and USA Eagles, winning 9 caps and was part of the 1991 RWC squad. For the past two years Mottram served as the Director of Coach Development for USA Rugby and is currently on the IRB Scrum Steering Committee, a worldwide working group tasked with reviewing current scrum research and providing recommendations on potential law changes.

Mike Smith (Director of Fitness and Conditioning – West Coast) is a former US Eagle who now owns and runs CrossfitHB in Huntington Beach, California. He has worked with the All Blacks with rugby specific training and conditioning.

Aaron Manheimer (Director of Fitness and Conditioning – East Coast) is a former Maccabiah silver medalist player who has been instrumental in the success at the Chicago Lions 7s, and also owns and runs Body By Manheimer in Chicago.

David "Buzzy" Rudzinsky (Team Manager) played in the 1989 Maccabiah Games, and has been actively involved with Mystic River and youth rugby in the Boston area for many years.

Recruiting a world-class squad is the priority, with Lipman hoping to create a stand-out team in the USA Rugby community. “My goal is to take the fittest, most skilled and committed team to Israel and bring back the gold medal,” Lippman said. “We’re looking to establish the Maccabiah Games as part of the USA Rugby scene once again, with the hope that some of our team members will go on to represent the USA at other international events.”

Maccabi USA is seeking Jewish Rugby athletes who are interested in representing the USA at the 19th Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 2013. Tryouts for the team will be held in Chicago this year over Labor Day weekend from August 31st to September 3rd. The squad will then look to assemble two more times, one of them possibly during the Las Vegas Invitational, before leaving for Israel to take part in the 19th Maccabiah Games from 18th – 30th July 2013.

Interested candidates should visit www.maccabiusa.com to fill out an application. For more information regarding qualifications, please contact Head Coach Shawn Lipman at usamaccabiahrugby@gmail.com. Also, please join our facebook page, USA Maccabiah Rugby Team.

About the organization:

Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.

MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.

Article Written by Alex Goff Friday, March 16, 2012 17:02

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