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Team GB return as record breaking heroes

BY DAVID SAFFER

Team Maccabi GB have enjoyed glorious moments at the 20th Maccabiah Games.

And there have been record breaking performances along the way across a host of sports.

There has been euphoria aplenty for medalists but also heartache for participants in pursuit of glory.

Above all Team GB can be ‘loud and proud’ about its sporting achievements over the past two weeks in Israel.

Amongst a number of historic moments Junior sprinter Eden Davis won a golden sprint double in the 100m and 200m, the Junior Lacrosse Girls team clinched a sensational silver at their first ever Games and Ewan Taylor claimed a 50m freestyle bronze for a first individual swimming medal in 25 years.

Natan Sharansky was a keynote speaker at the closing ceremony at Latrun in the Ayalon Valley on Monday night The emotive finale celebrated 70 years of Israel’s independence, and as is traditional participants swapped training kit and enjoyed a party atmosphere.

In terms of gold medalists, sprinter Ellie Edwards won the Open women’s 200m while Junior middle distance runner David Stone came first in the 3000m.

Fencer Nick Lakeland landed gold in the Masters Team Foil prior to a silver in the Team Epee competition.

And on the final day of action, there was golden glory in the Open Water Swimming event for Emma Garber who had already won bronze in the Triathlon.

Further silver success came for Team GB as the Games drew to a close.

The Open Men’s Football team, urged on by a vocal crowd, fell just short of winning gold for the first time since 1961 when they lost to USA in the final, which took place in Jerusalem.

And the Junior and Open Netball sides lost out to Australia in respective finals following memorable campaigns in Ra’anana.

Diana Gold also picked up a silver in the Ladies Over 65 tennis singles final against South Africa.

In earlier days of action, Richard Bernstein won silver in the Fencing Open Team Foil competition, as did Josh Forshaw in the Overall Golf tournament.

In team sports, the Men’s Cricket team, Junior Boys 4 x100m relay squad and Masters Men Table Tennis all won silver medals.

And continuing the silver roster were the Junior Girls Table Tennis double team of Jessica Abrahams and Arianna Di Giammarino.

Sprint queen Edwards added to the silver rush when she claimed her first medal of the games in finishing runner up in the Open 100m final. And it was not long before Ellie made it a medal hat-trick as a member of the Composite Open Women 4x400m Relay squad.

Artistic Gynnast Zoe Harris, who finished in fifth place during the overall competiton, won Floor silver and Uneven Bars bronze.

There were also bronze medals galore with Karen Fouzailov landing a double in Show Jumping and Dressage.

Jonah Alfert had won Team GBs first medal of the Maccabiah in Judo 55kg in the opening events before team mate Philip Bloom matched the feat in the Masters Over 100kg category.

And the bronze run continued with golfer Teddy Vandermolen

Team GB Maccabiah Games coverage

PHOTO CREDITS: DANI DEITCH

Lawn Bowlers Bernie Davidson, David Stockman, Laurence Pinkers

Thumbs up for team GB

All smiles for team GB at the closing ceremony

Masters Tennis saw Sarah Schecter alongside doubles partners Alan Rechtman and Steve Carlin win bronze.

Meantime, Junior Boys teams claimed bronze in Golf, Table Tennis and the 4x400m relay race.

Elsewhere on the track, Idan Gal-Shohet leaped to a long jump bronze, rower Samuel Deutsch crossed in third place in the composite quad, whilst Douglas Greenston and Terry Lichkin won a Lawn Bowling Pairs bronze.

Big shot from U18 Team GB badmington

Every Maccabiah is always notable for its medal winners but the event is far bigger on a wider scale as 400 plus GB athletes battled away for success.

Not everyone can be a winner however and away from the medalists there have been many personal best performances.

In many ways, this was illustrated by the Team GB swimming squad.

During a high quality competition, British swimmers, who all

compete at regional or national level, enjoyed four days of scintillating action at the Wingate Academy.

The swim team set 25 personal best times and made more finals than a GB squad had previously achieved.

Aside from bronze-medalist Taylor in the 50m freestyle, Nathalie Lustig (200m butterfly), Ellie Grant (200m breaststroke) and CONTINUED ON PAGE 45

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Jason Pears (100m backstroke) all made ‘A’ finals, a feat in itself against stiff opposition.

And in ‘B’ finals there were Brits in many races with Alicia Slater making eight in all, winning the 400m freestyle, finishing 100m backstroke runner up and third in the 200m freestyle, a monumental effort by any standard.

Taylor also made three ‘B’ finals, winning the 100m freestyle.

Pears raced in five ‘B’ finals, finishing third in the 100m butterfly, while Lustig made three ‘B’ finals, coming third for the 100m breaststroke and 200m butterfly.

Other swimmers who enjoyed a terrific swim meet were Zack

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THE JEWISH WEEKLY Rothman and Jacob Boyden, who made three ‘B’ finals, whilst Josh Foreman, Rebecca Saville and Ellie Grant also made finals, each a notable achievement.

There are many sports of note, however, on the footballing front, Team GB participated in Futsal and 11-a-side competitions across a number of age groups.

And for two sides, missing out on the semi-finals and a crack at the medal matches was particularly heartbreaking, as they fell short by one goal in the group stages.

When the Masters 35s defeated USA 3-0 in a crucial group match they also had two goals disallowed.

The agony on the face of each

Heartbreak exit for Team GB U35s football team PHOTO CREDITS: DANI DEITCH

squad member and back room staff at full time was palpable.

And the same can be noted about the U16 Juniors team who defeated Brazil 4-2 during the group phase.

Leading by two goals deep into the match, incorrect website information on the standings meant they required one more goal, which they just failed to get in a ‘Grandstand’ finish.

Tactically, the U16s could have played the game differently with correct data, so for everyone connected with the squad, together with supporters, it was particularly tough to take.

Losing was raw in the aftermath, but as a proud supporter commented, “The boys did good!”

“I’m so happy the lads took part,” they said. “For them to meet so many Jewish footballers from all over the world and play against them is very special.

“It was exciting and magnificent to watch Team GB play, despite not getting a medal.

“They are a fabulous bunch of boys and I hope they want to play at the next Maccabiah as it’s an amazing experience, and I’m sure one they’ll never forget.”

Heartbreak for Team GB U16s football team

Throughout Maccabiah 2017, Team GB competed across the length and breadth of Israel, and enjoyed incredible support from family and friends.

For many participants, competing at this level is the pinnacle of their sporting career.

And aside from first time performers there is also veteran competitors.

Summing up the spirit of the event is lawn bowler, Bernie Davidson, who was in his seventh Maccabiah, having first participated in 1989, and had the honour of leading out Team GB at the opening ceremony.

Previously, he played football in his youth back in the 1950s and only retired as a footballer in

1986.

Taking up bowls, Bernie has enjoyed a stellar sports career.

“Lawn bowls is a great game, I’ve played to a decent level back home but here in Israel this is a different level again,” he said, prior to his opening match.

“I simply love the Maccabiah and always give it our best,” he enthused.

Bernie’s enthusiasm illustrates what the Maccabiah is really about. Medals are great and last a lifetime but so do the memories.

All that is left to be noted is… roll on Maccabiah 2021.

Arriving in Israel, I hoped to meet these giants of Israeli social and cultural history aside from the sporting action. That double wish became a reality, thanks to some networking.

Meeting Yitzhak actually at the Western Wall some 50 years on from a historic moment for Israel, and hearing about Israel’s sole World Cup tournament from Mordechai himself, has been special.

Both were emotive, memorable interviews that will live long in the memory for me, and they will be featured in The Jewish Weekly in the not too distant future, so watch this space.

Returning to the action at the Games, and seeing at close hand the joy of winning and pain of defeat was a stark contrast to meeting not only Yitzhak but other veterans of the Six Day War back in ‘67.

These brave soldiers lost colleagues, many of whom were buddies that made the ultimate sacrifice for this great nation five decades ago. Their endeavours are felt every day in Israeli society all these years later and the Maccabiah every four years in part of that legacy.

Winning a Maccabiah medal, whatever colour, is of course an incredible achievement for those concerned, but it’s not the ‘Be all and end All’.

Taking part is what counts, and 10,000 athletes did just that this month.

For Israel to host the third largest global sporting event every four years is astounding and joining in with the Israeli national anthem at the opening ceremony really is a special moment.

Long may this great event continue to flourish.

Editor’s note: Every effort has been made to note medals winners at the time of going to press.

My experience reporting on the games So the 2017 Maccabiah Games is over and after travelling over 2000km around Israel there is much to look back and reflect on.

I’d never covered this global sporting fiesta before but was well aware of its standing for competitors and family supporters alike.

Having no allegiance to a particular Team GB side was an advantage, as I could be neutral and just enjoy the sport for what it is, with an obvious bias of course towards my countryman.

But I also had a few other objectives on my agenda, because in the midst of following the Brits, I was determined to see one of my many nephews, Ry Cyna, who lives in Vancouver, compete for Canada at this level.

Indeed, Ry was slated to swim in six events at the Wingate Academy in Netanya so there was a fair

The Cyna family

Yitzhak Yifat chats to Jewish Weekly’s David Saffer

chance I’d get my wish, which came on the last day of competition. And it was terrific to see him finish just outside the top three of his heat in the 50m swim dash in a shade over 28 seconds.

His beaming smile at the end was a sight to behold.

I’d bumped into my brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Amy Cyna, at the opening ceremony in Jerusalem, albeit by accident, which was a pleasant surprise as I thought it would be impossible, especially as the details of their seats was 200 out! Thanks Charles, I owe you one…

But after saying a brief hello, it was time to set out on my sojourn to cover the event with my Israeli first cousin, Dani Deitch, acting as driver, interpreter and professional photographer to boot.

From football to tennis, badminton, lawn bowling, netball, swimming to name but a few sports, it was great to take in the action, but I still wanted more from this Israel trip, which included connecting with mates from days gone by and the barmitzvah of Ry’s closest brother in age, Kyler, at the Western Wall only this week.

As a kid growing up Leeds, I recall vividly that Yitzhak Yifat was one of three Israeli paratroopers pictured in an iconic photograph at the Western Wall during the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.

And three years later, Mordechai Spiegler was Israel’s World Cup captain at the 1970 World Cup. Both left an indelible imprint for different reasons.

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Mordechai Spiegler with Jewish Weekly’s David Saffer

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Exclusive interview - Stuart Greenberg

BY DAVID SAFFER

Stuart Greenberg is President of the European Maccabi Federation.

The Maccabi GB vice president has been in the post almost two years and has over five decades involvement in Jewish sport going back to when he was an accomplished table tennis player.

Stuart represented Team GB at a number of Maccabiah and European Games where he experienced the thrill of winning bronze, silver and gold medals, prior to repeating this success as a team manager in his chosen sport.

A past chairman of Maccabi GB, Stuart together with his wife, Aviva,

Stuart Greenburg PHOTO CREDIT: DANI DEITCH

oversaw a dozen Maccabi GB Challenge Tours in Israel for an initiative catering for youngsters with learning difficulties.

The couple’s three children have also represented Team GB at European Maccabi and Maccabiah Games.

Stuart has held various positions with the Maccabi Union governing body, and at the 2017 Maccabiah Games, was Chairman of the Yakir Committee, Master’s Committee and for a fourth time was an international sports inspector for table tennis.

So who better to overview the impact a Maccabiah Games has on the Jewish world of sport.

But firstly, why did Stuart get involved with Maccabi in the first place?

“To improve as a table tennis player I quickly realised that you had to play in non-Jewish leagues, but at the same time, I wanted some form of Jewish connection so joined a Maccabi club in Hampstead, which led to the Maccabiah Games,” he recalled.

“Playing in my first Maccabiah games, there are no words to describe the feeling of competing at this event, I was simply ecstatic.

“Also, being a part of the opening ceremony is one of life’s great experiences as a Jewish sportsman.”

Although, Stuart has taken part in many a Maccabiah, one in particular made a special impact.

“For me the Maccabiah that has always stuck out was in 1993 when the Ethiopians Jews were coming to Israel,” Stuart recalled.

“Sitting in the stand after marching in the opening ceremony, there was some singing and dancing in Ramat Gan Stadium, which used to be the national stadium in Israel.

“Suddenly the back end of the stadium opened and an El Al plane rolled up to the centre of the stadium. The plane doors opened and the Ethiopian Jews down walked.

“It was so moving, it was unreal and quite spectacular.”

In terms of stature, the Maccabiah Games is the third largest sporting event in the world.

Only the Olympic Games and Pan-American Games is bigger, but most followers of sport are not aware of this startling fact.

Whilst Stuart is overwhelmingly positive about the event, he has strong views on an aspect of it.

“The Games does not get the global coverage it deserves,” he lamented.

“It gets quite good coverage here in Israel, the opening and closing ceremony is on Channel 2, and some sports are televised.

“But, and this may sound controversial, the reality is of the 10,000 athletes taking part, in terms of the event being an elite sporting competition, as much as I’d love to say

that it is, it is not.

“The Maccabiah as an event introduces Jews from all over the world to Israel and there is nothing wrong with that, however some leaders get carried away that it is an elite sporting event, but it is not, there are not many elite Jewish athletes.”

It did not take Stuart long however to note the undoubted positives a Maccabiah brings for participants and competitors alike.

And it is followed up two years later by the European Games, an event close to him.

“The Maccabiah is the third largest sporting event, which means a lot, and as an event it is spectacular, there is no question about it,” he explained “The Games is one of life’s great experiences, and as an organisation, Maccabi has a lot going for it.

“There are 450,000 members worldwide, a Maccabi centre is in virtually every country in the world, and if you look at Maccabi Europe there are events taking place on a daily basis throughout Europe.

“The Maccabiah in Israel every four years is the pinnacle, it’s ‘The Jewish Olympics’ and that is why it is here in Israel whereas the European Games is in a different European city each time.

“Budapest is the next one and the last one was in Berlin, which was very controversial for obvious reasons, but it was the best one of

all.”

As for his role with Yakir, which recognises individuals dedicated to the ideals of the Maccabi movement, Jewish people and its traditions, Stuart is proud of his involvement.

“Yakir is the highest honour anyone can get within Maccabi and was a very special ceremony at the Tel Aviv Museum (Wednesday, July 12),” he noted.

“You have to have done a fair amount of work internationally to be given this award.

“All recipients are fully deserved, and this time, winners included Tal Brody, who in Israel is a basketball superstar, and Igal Carmi, a past chairman of Maccabi World Union and currently chair of the Israeli Olympic committee.”

Returning to the Maccabiah theme, Stuart, who lives in London, could not help but conclude on a really positive note.

“I look forward every time to the whole concept of the Maccabiah,” he said.

“Every squad that I was involved with at a Maccabiah, a group of young Israelis with flags cheering and a brass band playing greeted us when we got off the plane.

“It’s quite simply an extraordinary event for Jewish athletes and to pull on the GB top is fantastic.

“For participants to be aged 13 to 80 is unbelievable and to take part very special.”

Manchester Maccabi senior and junior teams start pre-season training

Limbering up

First jog after a long break

Talking tactics

On the attack Well timed tackle PHOTO CREDIT: LAWRENCE PURCELL

Picking up the pace

Stretching back to fitness

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