NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/The+17th+Maccabiah+Games+-+July+2005.htm?DisplayMode=print


Went to the opening ceremony today, it was absolutely phenomenal.
The biggest teams came from Australia, America, Israel (no shit:p), Canada, Britain and South Africa.
However my personal favourites were the Brazilians. They were absolutely nuts. The security guards spent half the ceremony trying to keep them in check. Whilst doing their lap of the stadium, some of them went off to meet the performers who were sitting in the middle. Some did a dive on the floor, the rest were just hyper. When the security finally got them where they were supposed to be, near the centre, they climbed onto the makeshift platform, then from there onto the block in the middle :p It was absolutely brilliant.
Right in front of our seats were a good couple of hundred Aussie fans, they were great, were really supportive of everyone, just basically went to have fun, and judging by the rugby chants, I assume they did :D

Basically, the entire event was a success, now lets hope that the events go as well as the ceremony. If anybody isn't following it/hasn't heard of it, but wants to know how their team is doing, I'll post updates ;)

52 different nations attended, from five continents, with representatives coming from places you'd never think had a Jewish population. (Serbia & Montenegro, Japan, China for example)

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!

I predict the Aussie-Jews will WIN!

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!

I predict the Aussie-Jews will WIN!
Slightly optimistic, the Aussies did send their largest ever delegation, but its still way smaller than Israel and America's. But hey, best of luck to you :)
Like I said, the Aussies provided lots of entertainment.

as a Christian can I Just ask what are you talking about?

as a Christian can I Just ask what are you talking about?
No connection to Christian..... You can ask anyway.

The Maccabiah Games are a series of games organized by a Jewish youth movement called Maccabi. Every four years, Israel hosts the games. It includes lots of different events (hockey, football, archery, judo etc....) and involves people from all over the world. It brings a lot of people to Israel to watch the games, also giving them the chance to learn about Israel and bringing people who otherwise wouldn't have the money to come. Its also (apparently) a very nice time, getting to meet lots of people from all over the world. Any questions?:p

You know the Tel-Aviv Maccabis is coming to Canada? Hopefully i can score tickets to the Air Canada center, and watch them beat the Raptors. :D

I wonder if the game will be fixed....

Maccabia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A couple of my Mexican cousins are there for soccer, apparently, and possibly one for gymnastics.

Any questions?:p

Do you have to be Jewish to compete? If so, how is that somewhat nebulous chatacteristic quality 'Jewish' defined in this situation?

You know the Tel-Aviv Maccabis is coming to Canada? Hopefully i can score tickets to the Air Canada center, and watch them beat the Raptors. :D

I wonder if the game will be fixed....
Maccabi Tel Aviv, and thats not related;)

and Maayan, I might go and watch the football. My brothers a youth leader there, he's looking after the Swedish Soccer and table tennis teams. So I might go and watch the football if I get the chance, although I'd rather go and watch the hockey :p

Do you have to be Jewish to compete? If so, how is that somewhat nebulous chatacteristic quality 'Jewish' defined in this situation?
I believe being Jewish isn't necessary by law, but most of the competitors are Jewish. There are cases of Israeli arabs also competing for Israel.
And as for that, not even all Jews go there. You need to be involved with Maccabi Youth group in order to participate I think....

I believe being Jewish isn't necessary by law, but most of the competitors are Jewish. There are cases of Israeli arabs also competing for Israel.


So, "The 17th Maccabiah (Predominantly, but not Exclusively) Jewish Games" got rejected for being less catchy, but more truthful?

.... although I'd rather go and watch the hockey :p
You're kidding Sahar. there's hockey at the Maccabia?

How good do you have to be to play? Because I've always wanted to play tennis for the US.

How good do you have to be to play? Because I've always wanted to play tennis for the US.I think each country sets the standards for its teams depending how big and organized they are. I don't know if there are minumum requirements set by the maccabiah itself; probably not. If you aren't good, you can play, you just wo't get very far.

I think each country sets the standards for its teams depending how big and organized they are. I don't know if there are minumum requirements set by the maccabiah itself; probably not. If you aren't good, you can play, you just wo't get very far.
I mean, I'm good enough to be in the top 60 in my region of the US.

I believe being Jewish isn't necessary by law, but most of the competitors are Jewish. There are cases of Israeli arabs also competing for Israel.
And as for that, not even all Jews go there. You need to be involved with Maccabi Youth group in order to participate I think....
An Israeli Arab girl had just won a golden medal at the Macabiah yesterday. Forgot which sport though.

I think each country sets the standards for its teams depending how big and organized they are. I don't know if there are minumum requirements set by the maccabiah itself; probably not. If you aren't good, you can play, you just wo't get very far.
Exactly. The Lithuanian (I think) team, came with two people, both of whom looking like they got there by mistake.
The Brits by contrast, came with hundreds of people, each of whom was probably to a very high standard.


Maayan, yes there's hockey. (Field hockey, not the crappy ice version:p)

Quick update for you, football semi finals.

Sweden-Great Britain
Israel-Argentina


Expect an Israeli-British final. Then again, Sweden has beaten South Africa, Italy and France to get to this stage. However Britain beat Holland 12-0 in the quarters :p

Nationalism is evil.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't NATIONALism, about your country, not religion?


If this was a "Muslim Olympics" or a "White Olympics" or a "Male Olympics", people would be up in arms. There would be an uproar.
No they wouldn't, thats a load of crap and you know it :) And note where I said, its not only Jews that are allowed to compete.


Jews, generally, are prejudiced. Their religion practically requires it, such as having a mitzvah stating you can't drink non-Jewish wine and opposing marrying non-Jews.
*giggle* *chuckle* *ROFL*
Yep, we're evil baby eating racists. You noticed anywhere where I've been racist? Feel free to look through my post history to find such cases. Thats like saying "Generally, Christians are....<insert stereotypes>". There's so many sects of Judaism, that you can't possibly state "all Jews are" or "generally Jews are".

It's quite sad how some Jews, just like Nazis, believe that they are "the superior race."
Wow, comparing Jews to Nazis. Very tactful. Where did anybody state that they are "the superior race"? You're making up stuff and running with it in the hope that someone'll fall for your thinly veiled trolling. Now go create a thread about how Jews are t3h omg evil and I'll debate you there. This isn't for that.

If this was a "Muslim Olympics" or a "White Olympics" or a "Male Olympics", people would be up in arms. There would be an uproar.
Not really about the Muslim one. The other two are different, because they imply that a majority group is allowed to exclude minority ones. The undertones are racist and/or sexist. The Maccabi games, or this hypothetical Muslim Olympics, are designed to promote harmony and solidarity between disparate ethnic groups, rather than enforce a racist view of the world on others.

But it's okay for Jews and blacks because they're minorities.
Yes, and justifiably so.

It's sickening, because this kind of culture creates prejudice. And it's true. Jews, generally, are prejudiced. Their religion practically requires it, such as having a mitzvah stating you can't drink non-Jewish wine and opposing marrying non-Jews.
You, sir, are a big hypocrite. You are also a big racist. You decry prejudice, and then decide it's funny to stereotype every Jew every? Further, your interpretation of Jewish law is laughably anachronistic. I suggest you actually read the Talmud and the TaNaKh. It might help you figure out why you're wrong on this one. You know what else would help? Talking to a living, breathing Jew. And yes, we don't have horns.

It's quite sad how some Jews, just like Nazis, believe that they are "the superior race."
Great. Real great. Jews are Nazis because they think their religion is true (which is what the "chosen people" language means)? No thanks for sharing.

...not the crappy ice version...

Guess you won't be watching any NHL games this coming season, then. Assuming you can get those in Israel.

Guess you won't be watching any NHL games this coming season, then. Assuming you can get those in Israel.
How'd ya guess?:p

Yes, you do get it in Israel, its even played by some people. Then again, with my build, its hardly surprising that I don't play:p

Please nobody respond to the above post, there is a thread up in moderation. Thank you.

Please nobody respond to the above post, there is a thread up in moderation. Thank you.

Wow. There is so much there it's hard to even swallow. I have just seen a "classic" racist in action.

The most obvious characteristics are oversimplifications and generalizations, but then again everyone generalizes (heh) especially me.

Other obvious facets are the: Claim of egalitarianism amidst slurs and slanders, the use of limited personal interaction and acceptance of a select few whilst decrying the whole, the use of object pronouns to refer to members of the group, the overly PC phrasing, the use of acronyms to describe characteristics, the use of childhood whinings and "trauma" to condemn an entire people, the supposition that one limited knowledge and experience is enough to know about a history older than ones own, the personal examples that are all estranged and second hand, the tangent to slurs of other groups, conspiracy theories, and a failure to admit ones personal deficiencies.

Granted, everyone likes themselves and people like them. Granted, there is a drive to try and maintain your ethnic or cultural origin, especially amongst groups that feel they are oppressed (and often times rightfully so). But this is a universal constant, stemming from mankind being selfish (in the good way) and having a healthy amount of ego.

I suppose I shouldn't bother going into the finer points, but here it goes:

Jews were money lenders because Christians weren't allowed to by religious doctrine (also, Christians were predominantly illiterate.) That obviously bred contempt, and compounded with jealousy at personal inadequacies in certain fields, history has shown some Christians to be very cruel and inhumane, while some Jews to be very spoiled, stubborn, selfish, etc.

Hollywood has a great number of Jews because the Holocaust displaced a great number of artistic German Jews. The same holds true in the fields of science and philosophy. I'm surprised I've never heard the KKK claim that blacks control the NBA through some conspiracy theory.

The Torah is very ethnocentric and oppresive, which is readily admitted by more Jews than Christians. In fact, Jews are the ones who are openly willing to ammend their religious doctrine. Christians have been changing their doctrine too, only through divine revelations which suddenly make all those narrowminded short comings of religion in the past go away.

I'm not Jewish, why should I give a shit about these games?

I'm not Jewish, why should I give a shit about these games?

You shouldn't. I'm Jewish, and I don't really care either. :P

Speaking of being Jewish, are you from the camp that believes in life after death, or the opposite? I've only known Jews who believe that their consciousness ends here, but their relatives perform rituals of remembrance to "immortalize" their deeds.

I'm not Jewish, what reason would I have to take an interest in these games?
Much better, isn't it better when we can all be nice to each other?

Well for one, you might be interested in your nations progress, regardless of the fact that the participants are Jewish. For another you might be open-minded enough to want to learn about these games. A variety of reasons really.

I find nothing interesting in this Jewish youth organized game. How about you affiliate with the Satanic Youth, and learn about Anton LaVey? You might want to be open-minded about those people. A lot of reasons, really.

I'm Jewish, and I don't think i'm part of the chosen people.

Come to think of it, there is not one Jewish person I know that feels they are part of a superior religion. Israel, London, New-York. No-one.

Have the Christians never tried to attempt superiority? The Crusades?

The Idea that the Jewish people are the 'chosen people' is one that is held by the un-informed and the crazed fundamentalists.

The Maccabiah games are like any other religious activity. In the U.S I have friends that go to Christian Camps at summer. Sure, people from other religions are allowed to attend, but it's still called 'Christian Camp'.

The Maccabiah games are the same principle.

So before stereotypes and cliches are thrown around, think and compare to other religions. You can sure make some interesting connections.

Now please let the conversation continue about the games, if you want a religious debate go create another thread so it can turn into a flame war.