Maccabiah opening ceremony in 2005
Photo: Reuters
Israeli radio in US to air Maccabiah special
Founder of US' karate team for Maccabiah talks about history, significance of this Jewish sport event
Once every four years Israel hosts the Maccabiah Games, an international event that brings Jewish athletes from across the world to Israel. This year the games are once again coming to Israel, for the 18th time, and are scheduled to open on July 13.
As usual, the US delegation is expected to be the largest one, with almost 1,000 participants in all sports fields.
Caren Lesser, who exactly 20 years ago represented the US in karate at the Maccabiah, will this year be returning to the event as the American karate team's manager and coach.
On Tuesday, July 7 at 7 pm (local time), the US-based Kol Halev radio station for Israelis and Jews will broadcast an interview Lesser held with Dr. Alex Sternberg, who in 1977 founded the American karate team. The interview was held in English.
Dr. Sternberg's son, Dov, has followed in his father's footsteps and became a karate coach as well.
The Maccabiah is more than a competition, Sternberg told Lesser, "It is a way to unite Jews from all over the world, and a way for world Jewry to get to know Israel through sport."
An observant Jew, Sternberg says that the Maccabiah has become a tradition, a part of life, an identity. In the interview he reminisces about the first bar mitzvah he organized at Masada, something that has since become one of the Maccabiah most beautiful traditions.
During the Maccabiah, Kol Halev Radio will bring live updates from the competition. To listen, go to: www.kolhalev.com
