A smaller, scarred Maccabiah Games opens in Israel, carrying the weight of Oct. 7 and war
JERUSALEM — Just days before the start of the Maccabiah Games, the Jewish sports competition held every four years in Israel, Australia was officially out of the competition. Australia had canceled its official delegation —…
Assessment
The Maccabiah Games proceed in a diminished form, with Australia's last-minute reversal highlighting how the Oct. 7 attacks and subsequent war have fractured participation. The games now carry symbolic weight as a test of normalcy and resilience for Israeli society. The key question is whether other delegations will follow Australia's pattern of hesitation or reaffirm their commitment.