The Maccabiah Games Trivia Quiz

Answer: Non-Jews may not participate

The Maccabiah Games are held every four years, just like the Olympic Games. However, they are held the year after the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee recognizes the Maccabiah Games as Regional Games. Jewish athletes from anywhere in the world are eligible to participate in the Maccabiah, as are non-Jewish citizen of Israel.

Answer: The 1912 Olympics

Yosef Yekutieli was a teenager when he read about the 1912 Olympics held in Stockholm, Sweden. Despite his youth, Yekutieli possessed great determination, and never let go of his dream. He outlined his ideas to the Jewish National Fund in 1928, and acquired support of Sir Arthur Wauchope, the British High Commissioner of Palestine.

The first Maccabiah was set for 1932, 20 years after Yekutieli first envisioned the games.

Answer: Organizers traveled to Jewish communities by motor bike

Unbelievably, the Maccabiah organizers set out by motor bike from Tel Aviv, traversing thousands of kilometers and visiting Jewish communities far and wide. The first group, for instance, motor-biked from Tel Aviv to Antwerp, Belgium. The second group was even more daring.

They headed south through the Sinai desert, visiting Jewish communities in Egypt, and then traveled by ship to Salonika, Greece, home to a vibrant Jewish community. From there they continued through Europe, covering a total distance of 9,375 kilometers (5,825 miles).

Answer: Yes

The Maccabiah Games include four major categories, Open, Masters, Juniors, and Disabled.

Answer: Four

Born in 1950 in California, Mark Spitz is one of the best-known Jewish athletes. As a fifteen year old, Spitz participated in the 1965 Maccabiah Games, finishing with four gold medals. He was also named the outstanding athlete of the Games that year. Returning to the Maccabiah in 1969, he finished the summer with six gold medals, and was once again named the outstanding athlete. Spitz gained world-wide fame in the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Germany. That summer he not only won seven gold medals, but set seven world records.

In 1985, Spitz carried the torch in the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games.

Answer: Wrestling

Henry Wittenberg was born in 1918 in the United States, and began wrestling in college. He was one of the most successful wrestlers in history, enjoying a 300 match winning streak between 1939 and 1948. In 1948, Wittenberg was a member of the US wrestling team at the London Olympics, the first Games held following World War II.

He took the gold medal in the light heavyweight class. Shortly after that Wittenberg retired, but left retirement briefly to participate in the 1950 Maccabiah, where he also took a gold medal. Wittenberg was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1977.

Answer: Ramat Gan

The "Kfar Maccabiah" or "Maccabiah Village" is located in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. It was first used in the 1961 Maccabiah Games. The Maccabiah Village includes sports facilities, a convention center, and housing facilities for all participants.

Answer: A bridge collapsed

5000 athletes, representing 53 nations arrived in Israel for the 1997 Maccabiah. As usual, the events opened with a parade of all the delegations. A temporary bridge erected over the Yarkon River collapsed while the Australian team was crossing it, sending many athletes plunging into the water. Four lost their lives, and many others were injured.

After a day of mourning, it was decided to carry on with the games. Families of the victims led the opening parade in the 2005 Maccabiah Games.

Answer: Golf

Caesarea, in the Israeli coast north of Tel Aviv has its origins in Roman times, as its name suggests. One of Israel's wealthiest towns, it is home to Israel's first golf course. Lawn bowling and swimming are both available in the Maccabiah Village, while an indoor ice-skating rink can be found in Metulla, near the Lebanese border.

Answer: Chess

Chess has been included in the Maccabiah games for the past 30 years, but 2009 saw the first super-tournament. There were several events included in this tournament. Among them an international super-tournament and a youth division. In addition, there were exhibits of masters playing simultaneous games.