The Games That Will Live with Us Forever
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THE JEWISH CHRONICLE 18 SEPTEMBER 2015 THEJC.COM ACTIVE SPECIAL 1 European Maccabi ACTIVE Games 2015 in Berlin PRESENTED BY MACCABI GREAT BRITAIN The Games that will live with us forever MEDIA partner PHOTOS: MARC MORRIS THE JEWISH CHRONICLE THE JEWISH CHRONICLE 2 ACTIVE SPECIAL THEJC.COM 18 SEPTEMBER 2015 18 SEPTEMBER 2015 THEJC.COM ACTIVE SPECIAL 3 ALL ALL WORDS PHOTOS WELCOME BY DAnnY BY MARC CARO MORRIS Maccabi movement’s ‘miracle’ in Berlin LDN Investments are proud to be associated with Maccabi GB and the success of the European Maccabi Games in Berlin. HIS SUMMER, old; athletes and their families; reuniting THE MACCABI SPIRIT place where they were banished from first night at the GB/USA Gala Dinner, “By SOMETHING hap- existing friendships and creating those Despite the obvious emotion of the participating in sport under Hitler’s winning medals we have not won. By pened which had anew. Friendships that will last a lifetime. Opening Ceremony, the European Mac- reign was a thrill and it gave me an just being here in Berlin we have won.” never occurred But there was also something dif- cabi Games 2015 was one big party, one enormous sense of pride. We will spread the word, keep the before. For the first ferent about these Games – something enormous celebration of life and of Having been there for a couple of days, torch of love, not hate, burning bright. time in history, the that no other EMG has had before it. good triumphing over evil. Many thou- my hate of Berlin turned to wonder. The We, the Jewish participants and attend- European Maccabi This was a celebration of Jewish people sands of Jews, all together in the place city is beautiful. A cross between Paris ees in Berlin, will be a light unto the Games (EMG) were openly competing on German soil. The where our parents and our parents’ and New York. As I strolled along the world and an example to humanity. held in Berlin. It very place where they were excluded parents were never allowed to set foot. wide boulevards, I gazed up at the mar- For me this event has even more sig- marked 70 years since the end of the from seven decades prior. Never again will that cloak of darkness vellous architecture. Slowly, my anger nificance, if that is even possible - it signi- T Holocaust and 50 years of diplomatic envelope the world. and hate of the past lessened and admi- fies the end of my tenure as Maccabi GB relations between Germany and Isra- THE OPENING CEREMONY The German government – who ration took over. The Berlin of today is a Chairman, culminating four fabulous el. Not only this, but it was the largest Nowhere was this more poignant than ploughed funds, resources and politi- fine place, full of culture. It has come to years overseeing one of the great pearls Jewish event held in Germany since the Opening Ceremony, the traditional cal backing into the EMG – along with terms and acknowledged the wicked- in the Jewish community. My wife, Deb- the end of World War Two, attracting parade and lavish concert which opens the European Maccabi Confederation ness of the past and has memorialised bie, and I have made many friends on the 2,500 athletes from 38 countries from any Maccabi Games. This took place at (EMC) and Maccabi Germany market- its history and its victims in the best journey through Maccabi and I look for- around the world. With these Jewish the Waldbuhne in Berlin – a venue that ed the Games as a family event and ways possible. ward to my new position as President. athletes brought thousands more was used by the Nazis to hold parts of the that was clearly the theme through- During the Team Maccabi GB Pre- Many of our young people love sport. families, friends and supporters. 1936 Olympic Games. When each delega- out the 10 days. camp – the first of its kind for a Great It may be their only link to Jewish life. The spirit of the 14th incarnation of tion entered the arena one-by-one, the “We are all distant cousins,” declared British delegation at a European Mac- This organisation provides the oppor- the EMG was unbelievable. These Games cheers and applause that echoed from a member of the Italian delegation, cabi Games – the athletes and I visited tunity to participate in sport, health and are never about winning, they are about a predominantly Jewish audience of whilst sharing a drink with a French many places of significance – both to welfare of the community. taking part and bringing together Jewish 10,000 was deafening. The atmosphere athlete in the scorching August sun. our ancestors and others who suffered I have been honoured and privi- people from all over the world - young and was electric. Emotions ran wild. The Ger- Participants as young as 13 and as old during the Shoah. leged to lead and work with outstand- man President and Ronald Lauder were as 80, from all over the world, min- We laid stones on Mendelssohn’s ing people. Young and old, lay and pro- there, as well as the Israeli Vice-President gled, laughed and bonded – both in the grave in the Jewish Quarter; said prayers fessional. Those whose commitment, and many dignitaries. Olympic Park where the majority of the by the railway tracks at Grunewald Sta- passion and dedication is above and Nancy Glickman, the youngest daugh- sport took place and in the Estrel Hotel, tion, where 60,000 Jews were herded beyond the call of duty. ter of Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller, which housed every delegate from like cattle into trains which took them Furthermore we have had fantastic lit the flame at the start of the ceremony. every participating nation. All of them to the concentration camps; and visited support from friends and families alike, CONTENTS For Nancy, it was about remembering her shared a common bond. They were all the site of the Bebelplatz book burning. who not only support us financially but father, whilst also paying tribute to a man Jews, united in their love for sport. We will never forget what we saw and also support our young participants and 2 Michael Ziff Welcome who never allowed the anger or frustra- experienced. We will share our experi- make it possible for them to play the 4 Pre- Camp tion to affect his principles. MY MACCABI EXPERIENCE ences with the world. sports in a Jewish environment. 6 Opening Ceremony “My father had his dream taken away I had mixed emotions travelling The sport itself was also a This Active Publication is not only a 8 Futsal from him; and he spent the rest of his life to Berlin. I didn’t know what to rollercoaster of emotions. celebration of an incredible summer of LDN INVESTMENTS SOURCES, ACQUIRES AND DISPOSES OF 9 Swimming trying to ensure that nobody else would expect. I dreaded seeing the plac- Team Maccabi GB won a sport, history, culture, friendship and 10 Football ever be excluded,” she said. In a touching es where Jews once lived, whose record-breaking number of Judaism. It is ‘thank you’ to all those RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 12 Highlights of the Games twist of fate, she wore the Olympic jersey lives were cut short by the mur- medals, surpassing all tar- who worked hard to make summer 14 Golf that her father did not get to wear at the dering Nazis who dragged them get, with athletes of all ages 2015 a memorable one, especially Head OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT LONDON AND THE UK. 14 Basketball 1936 Olympics as she lit the flame. This act from their homes in the mid- bringing home medals of of Delegation, Daniel Collins, General 16 Table Tennis perfectly symbolised the closing of the dle of the night. I arrived and gold, silver and bronze Team Manager, Joel Nathan, Assistant 17 Squash circle, the survival of the Jewish race and was prepared to hate eve- to compliment the General Team Manager, Richard Horne 18 Tennis the defeat of the Nazis. ry moment of my stay red, white and and the whole Organising Committee. 19 Half Marathon Then came the moment which will yet at the same time, blue of the Union It is a keepsake for our delegation 20 Ten Pin Bowling stay with every person present that I was excited to take Jack Magen Dav- and our community to remember that 20 Badminton night into eternity. Ten thousand bod- part in a potential id. But, as Jeff something remarkable happened for 21 Lee Harpin ies stood. Ten thousand heads rose. miracle. To be Bukantz, Head the world’s Jewish people for a fortnight [email protected] | T: 020 7118 0844 | www.LDNINVESTMENTS.COM 21 Bridge Ten thousand Jewish voices sang the amongst 2,500 of Delegation in Berlin. May the spirit of Maccabi live 22 Medals Table Hatikvah. We realised, as we sang Jewish athletes for Maccabi on for us, our children and our children’s loud and proud and as the tears fell from all parts of USA at the children sake. unchecked down our faces, that those the world in a 2017 Macca- tears were washing away all the hate biah Games, Michael Ziff and fear and wickedness of the past. Michael Ziff said on our Chairman, Maccabi GB THE JEWISH CHRONICLE THE JEWISH CHRONICLE 4 ACTIVE SPECIAL THEJC.COM 18 SEPTEMBER 2015 18 SEPTEMBER 2015 THEJC.COM ACTIVE SPECIAL 5 PRE-CAMP Berlin — a most profound experience that will live long in the memory TARING DOWN worry.