Thirteenth Maccabiah 1989 | July 3 - 13

The Thirteenth Maccabiah: 5749
Bar Mitzvah

The ׂBar Mitzva׃ Maccabiah Games, held in the summer of 1989, hosted 4,400 athletes from 46 countries, with approximately 1,000 from Israel. The athletes were billeted in 18 hostels, according to the various branches of sports.  For the first time, since World War II, an East European contingent participated -- 57 athletes and their escorts, representing the Soviet Union and Lithuania (wrestlers of international standing, table tennis players, swimmers and weightlifters, Yugoslavia (14) in comparison to one from the previous Maccabiah, and Hungary. For the first time also, there were contingents from Cuba (7), Hong Kong, Korea (one multifaceted athlete who competed in karate, badminton and the 100 meter race) and Singapore. India sent her largest delegation, since first participating in the Maccabiah Games -- some 28 athletes. Spain, which did not participate in the 12th Maccabiah, this time sent a team of junior soccer players and a fencing team.  

The South American participation, including Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela, which had been in doubt because of lack of funding, did receive funding expressly for this purpose and came for the Maccabiah.  South African athletes participated in competitions individually under the heading ׂShaar Haolam׃ (The rest of the world), since their participation had been forbidden by the International Olympic Committee because of their apartheid policy.  Much to their disappointment, their soccer and junior soccer players were forbidden to compete.  There were thirty two competitive sports in the Thirteenth Maccabiah, including a brand new sport, bowling.  

The difficult security situation, a year and a half after the outbreak of the Intifada, and the waves of unfriendly criticism in the world press, did not lead to any cancellation of registrations. On the contrary: at a time when tourism in Israel was at a low, the 13th Maccabiah attracted tens of thousands of tourists and fans to Israel. Also, the tragic terrorist incident on the 480 Tel Aviv-Jerusalem bus, in which the daughter of Maccabiah participant Kela Kennedy, was killed, did not prevent the continuation of the Games.

At the Opening Ceremony, except for the spectacular fireworks and free fall parachuting, the main emphasis was on Jewish and Israeli motives, demonstrated by a celebration of movement, color and special technical effects.  50,000 spectators were witness to the ׂHistorical Rendezvous׃ with ׂTevye the Milkman׃ and ׂSallah Shabbati׃ on the green when Dudu Fisher entered from a different part of the stadium, commanding a cart reigned to horses, with his voice bursting into song ׂIf I were only Rothschild׃ from ׂFiddler on the Roof׃ and from the other side of the stadium, Ze'ev Revach, seated in a cart from the 40s, sang from ׂSallah Shabbati׃. Lasers projected a seven branched calendrum on the green and into this formation 800 children were placed, singing along with Fisher, ׂI belong to the Jewish nation׃ in 3 different languages.

The Israel Broadcasting Authority was prepared to broadcast full coverage of the Maccabiah events, and every day a ׂMaccabiah Day׃ was broadcast focusing on the daily events in the different sports events.  Film crews covered the less popular sports events.  The junior soccer games in the 13th Maccabiah were the star attraction; no less than nineteen countries signed up for the Games, and the South Americans set the pace.  Swimming seemed supreme with 17 Israeli records and 20 Maccabiah records set.  The outstanding athletes in the 13th Maccabiah Games were the Americans Rick Ehrenberg (among the worlds best in the 800 and 1500 meters), freestyle swimmer John Witschel (holding the 200 meter American record in freestyle swimming and among the 20 best in the world in short distance pool swimming), and the Israeli Eran Grommi (champion and Israeli record holder in backstroke). Among the outstanding women were Ruth Grodsky (who captured 4 individual Gold Medals) and Jeannie Sasser (six Golds, three of which were team wins).

On the field were a number of outstanding athletes, among them the Canadian marathon runner Dave Edge from the world class of marathon runners, the American Ken Felix, hammer thrower (70.06 meters) and the Israelis, Etty Eluz (10.57 seconds in 100 meter), who earned the title ׂFastest Jewish Runner׃ and Rogel Nachum, who posted a record in the jump (16.77 meters). The Israeli all-star junior basketball team was reinforced with four players from the adult team. The youngsters Nadav Handfield and Koren Anmisha stood out, when they and their group overcame, for the first time since the previous three Maccabiah Games, the American team, beating them 101-92.  The main attraction was the ׂoldtimers׃ team with names from the past, like Joshua Rosin and Zacharia Ofri. For the first time in Maccabiah history the triathlon (30 kilometer biking, 7-1/2 kilometer running, 500 meter swimming) competition took place.  The gold medal was won by Micha Kagan of Kibbutz Shamir.

Twenty four countries won Gold Medals at the 13th Maccabiah.  The Maccabiah was budgeted at $6,000,000.  Israel won 97 Gold Medals, 82 Silver and 79 

Bronze, leading the US -- 52-73-74, Canada -- 33-21-16, and Brazil -- 15-9-7. The Closing Ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, continued the ׂBar Mitzvah׃ theme of the Jewish Olympics. Symbolically, 13 flames were lit by the two torch bearers from the previous 12 Maccabiah Games (Uri Zohar and Motti Aroesti who conducted the swearing-in ceremony during the 11th and 12th Maccabiah Games took the place of former torch bearers Shlomo Glickstein and Mark Spitz) and a torch bearer from the 13th Maccabiah, Chanoch Boden, one of Isarel’s outstanding Handicapped Swimmers.

Eighty Zahal (IDF) orphans together with hundreds of American children, celebrated, on the morning of the Closing Ceremony, their Bar Mitzvah ceremonies at the Western Wall Plaza.

Also included were activities for the handicapped, two swimming events, tennis and basketball tournaments. The Ramat Gan Museum held a photography exhibition of the previous twelve Maccabiah Games.  A ׂMaccabiah Youth Quiz׃ was held at Kfar Maccabiah -- the topic was ׂBody Culture in the Jewish Nation throughout the Generations. Within the framework of ׂMaccabiah week, the Ramat Gan Shopping Center sold shirts and souvenirs of the events.  A special stamp was issued for the Thirteenth Maccabiah, designed by Rafi Diagi and produced by Dan Reisinger, and the world renowned artist, Yaakov Agam presented to the President of the State of Israel and new kinetic creation that he created especially for the event, called ׂLight of the Maccabiah.

Notable Athleths

• The outstanding athletes in the 13th Maccabiah Games were the Americans Rick Ehrenberg (among the worlds best in the 800 and 1500 meters), free style swimmer John Witschel (holding the 200 meter American record in free style swimming and among the 20 best in the world in short distance pool swimming), and the Israeli Eran Grommi (champion and Israeli record holder in backstroke).  Among the outstanding women were Ruth Grodsky (who captured 4 individual Gold Medals) and Jeannie Sasser (six Golds, three of which were team wins
• Canadian marathon runner Dave
• American Ken Felix, hammer thrower (70.06 meters)
• Etty Eluz (10.57 seconds in 100 meter)
• Rogel Nachum, who posted a record in the jump (16.77 meters) 
• Nadav Handfield
• Koren Anmisha 

Basic Facts

• 4,400 athletes from 46 countries competed in thirty two categories.
• South African athletes participated in competitions individually under the heading ׂShaar Haolam׃ (The rest of the world), since their participation had been forbidden by the International Olympic Committee because of their apartheid policy.  Much to their disappointment, their soccer and junior soccer players were forbidden to compete. 
• 50,000 spectators in the opening ceremony
• Swimming seemed supreme with 17 Israeli records and 20 Maccabiah records set. 
• Twenty four countries won Gold Medals at the 13th Maccabiah.    Israel won 97 Gold Medals, 82 Silver and 79 Bronze, leading the US -- 52-73-74, Canada -- 33-21-16, and Brazil -- 15-9-7. 

Joining the Party: Countries who participated for the first time

• For the first time, since World War II, an East European contingent participated -- 57 athletes and their escorts, representing the Soviet Union and Lithuania (wrestlers of international standing, table tennis players, swimmers and weight lifters, Yugoslavia (14) in comparison to one from the previous Maccabiah, and Hungary.  For the first time also, there were contingents from Cuba (7), Hong Kong, Korea (one multi-faceted athlete who competed in karate, badminton and the 100 meter race) and Singapore. 
• Spain, which did not participate in the 12th Maccabiah, this time sent a team of junior soccer players and a fencing team.

Say Hello: New Sports Competition

• Triathlon (30 kilometer biking, 7-1/2 kilometer running, 500 meter swimming) competition took place