Next Wednesday, the 2026 Maccabiah Games will open with a ceremonial event at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium, launching competitions across a wide range of sports.
The event aims to create new memorable moments that will be etched into the history of the “Jewish Olympics,” following in the footsteps of previous editions. As the torch is about to be lit, here is a look back at some of the most iconic moments the Games have produced over the years.
Aly Raisman: brought 'Hava Nagila' to the Holy Land
One of the most memorable modern appearances came from gymnast Aly Raisman, fresh off her Olympic success. Raisman is widely remembered in Israel for her floor routine set to the iconic “Hava Nagila,” which helped secure her Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games (alongside additional medals, including team gold and bronze), which she dedicated to the memory of the 11 Israeli athletes murdered in the Munich Olympic Games.
At the 2013 Maccabiah, she was honored to light the ceremonial torch and officially open the Games. During the event, she also performed the Hava Nagila in a celebratory exhibition.
Despite being just 19 in 2013, she was received at the highest levels of Israeli leadership, meeting then-President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both of whom attended the opening ceremony. Her participation drew global media attention.
Agnes Keleti: from Olympic greatness to a life in Israel
Unlike Raisman, who later declined the idea of making aliyah, Hungarian gymnast Agnes Keleti ultimately chose a different path.
One of the greatest gymnasts in history and a Holocaust survivor, Keleti arrived at the fifth Maccabiah after winning five Olympic gold medals in Melbourne and Helsinki. Her exhibition performances captivated audiences and left a lasting mark on Israeli sport.
Agnes Keleti. Olympic legend
(Photo: AP)
Keleti, who died last year at the age of 103, chose to settle in Israel, building a life and contributing to the development of gymnastics in the country. She went on to receive the Israel Prize in Sport (2017) and remains the most decorated Israeli Olympian in individual medals, as well as one of the most successful Jewish athletes of all time. The gymnastics hall at Wingate Institute bears her name.
Jason Lezak: from the relay finish that delivered gold to competing in the Maccabiah Masters category
Swimmer Jason Lezak arrived in Israel just one year after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he produced one of the most famous finishes in swimming history, anchoring the U.S. 4x100m relay and overtaking France in the final stretch, securing Michael Phelps’ eighth gold medal.
Jason Lezak. Arrived as a champion, returned as a coach and again as a Masters competitor
(Photo: AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
At the Maccabiah, Lezak continued his dominance, winning gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle events. He was also honored with the torch lighting at the opening ceremony.
Unlike many visiting athletes, Lezak returned to Israel in 2013 and 2017, sometimes as a coach and later even competing in masters categories. His ongoing engagement made him one of the Games’ most committed ambassadors to the global Jewish sporting community.
Tal Brody: the man who changed Israeli sport forever
No history of the Maccabiah is complete without Tal Brody, who arrived as a rising American basketball star, drafted 12th overall by Baltimore, and led Team USA to a gold medal performance that introduced Israeli audiences to a level of basketball they had never seen before.
Although he initially planned to return to the United States after the Games, his trajectory changed dramatically. Israeli basketball leaders convinced him to stay, and in 1966 he made aliyah.
Eleven years later, in a legendary European Cup moment with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Brody delivered the phrase that became part of Israeli cultural identity: "We're on the map! And staying on the map!"
Tal Brody holding the European Cup
(Photo: Yossi Rot)
To this day, Brody remains closely associated with the Maccabiah as an ambassador, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of Jewish communities worldwide visiting Israel not only for sport, but also to experience its historical and cultural landmarks they heard of only in school, such as Jerusalem, Masada, the Galilee, and the Dead Sea.
The 2026 Maccabiah Games will run from July 1 to July 13, bringing together thousands of athletes, families, and sports fans from around the world. The Games, themed “More Than Ever,” with over 8,000 athletes from approximately 45 countries competing across roughly 45 sports, were originally scheduled for last summer but were postponed due to Operation Rising Lion.