Since 2018, a profound and highly significant collaboration has been in place between the German-Jewish sports association MAKKABI Deutschland and our esteemed partner, Israel Bonds. This remarkable partnership has been solidified through the organization of outstanding events, including the European Maccabi Games in Budapest 2019 and the MAKKABI Deutschland Games 2021.

The European Maccabi Games (EMG) represent a remarkable sporting event that occurs every four years, organized two years after the Maccabiah in Israel. During these games, European delegations send their finest Jewish athletes to compete in various disciplines. This event brings together over 1,000 Jews from across Europe to compete for medals and foster connections. Proudly, Makkabi Deutschland has sent its outstanding athletes to the EMG after rigorous selection processes. Israel Bonds played a significant role in making this impressive event a reality and deserves our special recognition as a key sponsor.

The EMG goes beyond mere competition; it is a vibrant celebration where we not only honor athletic achievements but also prioritize nurturing long-standing relationships and forging new connections. Emphasizing our own identity and tradition is one of MAKKABI's primary objectives that transcends the boundaries of sports venues. These remarkable EMG events are hosted by the European Maccabi Confederation and hold great significance for the European Jewish community.

In 2019, the fifteenth European Maccabi Games took place in Budapest, where more than 3,000 participants from 42 different countries gathered. Impressively, delegations from nations like Andorra, Moldova, and Montenegro participated in the EMG for the first time. This underscores the event's importance as an international meeting point for the Jewish sports community.

Another outstanding event generously supported by Israel Bonds was the MAKKABI Deutschland Games in Düsseldorf from September 2nd to 5th, 2021. These games were eagerly anticipated and exceeded all expectations, illustrating how sports bring people together regardless of their religious affiliation or origin.

The MAKKABI Deutschland Games commenced with an official opening ceremony, where the Mayor of Düsseldorf, Dr. Stephan Keller, along with the City of Düsseldorf and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, invited MAKKABI Deutschland, its friends, and partners to an official reception in the courtyard of Düsseldorf City Hall. On this occasion, Alon Meyer, President of MAKKABI Deutschland, and our hosts delivered inspiring speeches on the role of Jewish life in Germany, the societal importance of MAKKABI, and the urgent fight against antisemitism.

 Michael Grauss, Managing Director of the Development Company for Israel (Europe) GmbH in charge of Israel Bonds in the EU, introduced Israel Bonds to the audience and wished all the athletes and guests happy and successful games. At this point, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Israel Bonds, who played a pivotal role as a significant sponsor of this important event.

Another highlight was the official entry of MAKKABI Deutschland into the Golden Book of the City of Düsseldorf, carried out by President Alon Meyer on their behalf. This honor filled the Maccabees with pride, and we would like to thank Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller for this special recognition.

On September 2nd, 2021, the Maccabees celebrated the highly anticipated opening of the games. After a solemn procession of over 700 athletes from Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Austria – members of the MAKKABI local associations and members of Jewish communities ranging from 12 to 99 years old – various greetings were read out. Among the distinguished guests was renowned football expert Reiner Calmund, who highlighted the importance of Jewish association work in sports and society during his speech. A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of the "Maccabee Award" to Shaul Ladany. Mr. Ladany, a Holocaust survivor who also lived through the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, was an outstanding marathon runner and multiple Israeli national champion in racewalking. He continues to engage in sports to this day, including representing MAKKABI Deutschland at the European Maccabi Games in Budapest in 2019.

Later in the opening evening, a diverse cultural program was offered, featuring musical performances by artists such as Sam Oberhand, Kippalive, and Samuel Haas, along with a speech by Rabbi Aharon Ran Vernikovsky of the Jewish community in Düsseldorf. The closing speech was delivered by Abraham Lehrer, Vice President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and the opening ceremony concluded with a spectacular fireworks display.

The sporting competitions kicked off at 5:30 PM with a football tournament between the MAKKABI Deutschland Allstars, the Fortuna Düsseldorf tradition team, and the 1. FC Landtag. This event was initiated with a parachute jump onto the football field at Sportpark Niederheid, performed by Eberhard Gienger, CDU member of the Bundestag and former gymnast.

Starting the following Friday morning, the focus shifted to the sporting competitions in disciplines such as swimming, futsal, bridge, basketball, beach volleyball, sports shooting, fencing, sailing, chess, table tennis, tennis, cycling, triathlon, weightlifting, and martial arts. After intense competition for gold, silver, and bronze medals, the evening featured the largest Shabbat celebration in North Rhine-Westphalia, with over 600 participants.

On Saturday, Shabbat, sports activities were set aside, and various workshops were offered. Prominent speakers such as Shaul Ladany, Ben Salomo, and Olympic ambassador and politician Ralf Bockstedte garnered significant interest among the participants.

The last day of the MAKKABI Deutschland Games brought another highlight: the inaugural "321 MAKKABI Run," the first Jewish obstacle course in Europe, featuring 12 diverse obstacles and over 150 participants.

The MAKKABI Deutschland Games in 2021 undoubtedly represented the largest Jewish event in recent years in North Rhine-Westphalia, filling us with great joy. Particularly in a year where we celebrated "1700 years of Jewish life in Germany" and the 100th anniversary of the Maccabi movement, these games served as a powerful symbol of a confident and open Judaism in Germany.

They symbolized diversity, unity, and friendship across the boundaries of religions and nationalities. Especially with a view to the regularly occurring Maccabiah in Israel, the world's largest international Jewish sports event with over 10,000 participants, the MAKKABI Deutschland Games provided a fascinating preview of what the Jewish sports community has to offer. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Israel Bonds for their generous support and unwavering dedication to these significant events.