1965 Maccabiah Games

{{Short description|Maccabiah games}} {{Infobox games | name = 7th Maccabiah | logo = 1965 Maccabiah logo.jpg | size = 240 | caption = | host_city = Tel Aviv, Israel | nations = 29<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://digital-library.qub.ac.uk/digital/collection/p15979coll24/id/535/|title=BJR Sep 1965_008|website=digital-library.qub.ac.uk}}</ref> | athletes = 1,500<ref name="auto"/> | events = | opening = August 23, 1965<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/24/101563960.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=MACCABIAH GAMES OPEN AT TEL AVIV; Athletes From 26 Nations Parade at Ceremonies|website=The New York Times}}</ref> | closing = | opened_by = Prime Minister Levi Eshkol<ref name="auto"/> | stadium = Ramat Gan Stadium | debuting_countries = {{flag|Iran|1964}} <br> {{flag|Jamaica}} <br> {{flag|Peru}} <br> {{flag|Venezuela|1930}} | previous = 6th Maccabiah | next = 8th Maccabiah }} The '''7th Maccabiah Games''' in 1965 saw 1,500 athletes from 29 different countries compete in 21 sports.<ref name="auto"/> It was the first Maccabiah Games for Iran, Jamaica, Peru, and Venezuela. The United States delegation won the most gold medals, followed by Israel, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico and the Netherlands, Southern Rhodesia, Australia, Argentina and Italy, and Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and Sweden with one each.

==History== The Maccabiah Games are named in honor of the Jewish Maccabees, who in the 2nd century BC revolted against and defeated the superior armies of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who was trying to abolish Judaism.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/22/96715538.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=1,500 Athletes Ready to Open Maccabiah Games Tomorrow|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="auto3"/>

The Maccabiah Games were first held in 1932.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecjn.ca/perspectives/20th-maccabiah-games-pt-1/|title=A brief history of the Maccabiah Games|date=June 19, 2017|website=The Canadian Jewish News}}</ref> In 1961, they were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTHRB6Fj_4gC&q=maccabiah+games+olympics+regional+sport+event&pg=PA56|title=Gender Politics and the Olympic Industry|author=Helen Jefferson Lenskyj|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2012|isbn=9781137291158}}</ref><ref name=bard>Mitchell G. Bard and Moshe Schwartz (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=PeJFAAAAQBAJ&dq=Bard+and+Schwartz+maccabiah&pg=PA85 ''1001 Facts Everyone Should Know about Israel''] p. 84.</ref><ref name=MaccabiAu>{{cite web|title=History of the Maccabiah Games|url=http://www.maccabi.com.au/Maccabiah/Page/1591/Maccabiah-Games-History/History-of-the-Maccabiah-Games.cfm|publisher=Maccabi Australia|access-date=2017-07-05|archive-date=2018-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002319/http://www.maccabi.com.au/Maccabiah/Page/1591/Maccabiah-Games-History/History-of-the-Maccabiah-Games.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Games opened before a crowd of 40,000 people in Ramat Gan Stadium.<ref name="auto3"/> The flame to light the Maccabiah torch was lit at an ancient cemetery in Modiin, where it is believed that the Maccabees are buried, and run to the stadium by a relay of runners.<ref name="auto3"/>

==Notable performances==

right|thumb|300px|The 100 m backstroke competition at the Games. In swimming, American 15-year-old 130-pound schoolboy Mark Spitz, swimming in his first international competition, won four gold medals—the 400 m freestyle, the 1,500 freestyle, the 400 m individual medley, and the 800 m freestyle relay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/28/96716312.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=SPITZ, U.S., GAINS 4TH GOLD MEDAL; 15-Year-Old Swimmer Wins 1,500 at Tel Aviv|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/26/101564970.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=Spitz of U.S. Sets Third Mark In Tel Aviv Games Swimming|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/25/101564576.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=U.S. WINS 4 TESTS IN ISRAELI GAMES; Spitz Stars as Maccabiah Squad Dominates Swim|website=The New York Times}}</ref> Also in swimming, Marilyn Ramenofsky of the US, who the year prior won a silver medal at the Olympics in the 400-meter freestyle, won the gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle.<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oZxnNt28DhcC&pg=PA153 |title=Jewish sports legends: the International Jewish Hall of Fame |author=Joseph Siegman |year=2000 |isbn=9781574882841 |access-date=March 15, 2011}}</ref> Israeli Yvonne Tobis, 17 years old, won the 400 m individual medley.<ref name="auto5"/> Israeli Shlomit Nir, a future Olympian, won the 200 m breaststroke, beating out Mexican silver medalist and future Olympian Tamara Oynick.<ref name="auto4"/> Israeli Olympian Gershon Shefa won a gold medal in the 200 m breaststroke.<ref name="auto4"/> Australian 19-year-old Olympian John Stark won a gold medal in the 200 m butterfly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/27/101565478.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=KATHY COLE WINS TWO MORE MEDALS; U.S. Swimmer Lifts Total to Five at Tel Aviv|website=The New York Times}}</ref>

In track and field, American Olympic champion and world record holder Gerry Ashworth ran in the Games, winning a gold medal in 10.6 seconds in the 100 m dash, and a gold medal in the 400 m relay.<ref>Time of 10.6 seconds in 100 Meter Dash in Mac Games in "Americans Still Pace Mac Games", ''Valley Times'', North Hollywood, California, pg. 13, 30 August 1965</ref><ref name="auto6">{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/09/01/96716887.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=U.S. RELAY TEAMS SNAP 2 RECORDS; Runners Score in Tel Aviv as Maccabiah Games End|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="The Sun">{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1720368972.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+22%2C+1965&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Seventh+Maccabiah+Games+Open+Tomorrow+In+Ramat+Gan+Stadium&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130419003502/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1720368972.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+22,+1965&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Seventh+Maccabiah+Games+Open+Tomorrow+In+Ramat+Gan+Stadium&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 19, 2013 |title=Seventh Maccabiah Games Open Tomorrow In Ramat Gan Stadium|work=The Sun |location= Baltimore, Md. |date= August 22, 1965}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/923329472.html?dids=923329472:923329472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+30%2C+1965&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=U.S.+Vaulters+Fail+to+Win+Maccabiah+Action&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221844/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/923329472.html?dids=923329472:923329472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Aug+30,+1965&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=U.S.+Vaulters+Fail+to+Win+Maccabiah+Action&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |title=U.S. Vaulters Fail to Win Maccabiah Action |work=The Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, Conn. |date=August 30, 1965}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/924704332.html?dids=924704332:924704332&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+01%2C+1965&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=U.S.+Wins+Seven+More+In+Israel&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628221903/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/924704332.html?dids=924704332:924704332&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Sep+01,+1965&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=U.S.+Wins+Seven+More+In+Israel&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |title=U.S. Wins Seven More In Israel |work=The Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, Conn. |date=September 1, 1965}}</ref> World record holder Henry Laskau of the United States won the gold medal in 3,000 m race walking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/30/101566065.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=Laskau, 49, and Once-Retired, Shows Field His Heels in Walk|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.net/BioPages/HenryLaskau.htm|title=Henry Laskau|website=www.jewishsports.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/08/06/archives/laskau-in-israel-meet-enters-1950-world-maccabiah-games-sept-27oct.html|title=LASKAU IN ISRAEL MEET; Enters 1950 World Maccabiah Games Sept. 27-Oct. 8|date=August 6, 1950|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Lorraine Lotzof (South Africa) won the 100m, 200m and 400m athletic events. She was awarded Trophy for Outstanding Athlete across all sports at the 1965 Games. Olympian Michal Lamdani competed for Israel in the high jump, winning a gold medal.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ar3hAQAAQBAJ&q=Michal+Lamdani&pg=PA13|title=Sport, Politics and Society in the Land of Israel: Past and Present|first1=Yair|last1=Galily|first2=Amir|last2=Ben-Porat|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317967910}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/53989375/|title= Page 15|work=The San Bernardino County Sun}}</ref>

In tennis, Dutchman Tom Okker won both the men's singles and the mixed doubles gold medals.<ref name=autogeneratedasf1>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W39oSS7c2xAC&q=Tom+Okker+jewish&pg=PA209|title=Historical Dictionary of Tennis|first=John|last=Grasso|date=16 September 2011|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810872370|via=Google Books}}</ref> American Mike Franks won a gold medal in doubles in tennis, and a silver medal in men's singles, losing to Okker.<ref name="auto8">{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/31/101566386.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=MORGAN CAPTURES MACCABIAH 5,000; U.S. Runner Breaks Games Record With 14:23.6|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scjewishsportshof.com/franks.html|title=Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Home|website=scjewishsportshof.com}}</ref> Canadian Vicki Berner won a gold medal in women's singles, defeating South African Esmé Emmanuel who won the silver medal, defeating American Marilyn Aschner along the way.<ref>{{cite news |title=Maccabiah Games |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/pacific-stars-and-stripes-sep-01-1965-p-19/ |work=Pacific Stars And Stripes |date=1 September 1965 |page=19}}</ref><ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto8"/> Emmanuel won a gold medal in women's tennis in doubles with partner Rene Wolpert, defeating Americans Nadine Netter and Carole Wright.<ref name="auto8"/>

The U.S. won the gold medal in basketball, with Tal Brody, Ronald Green, Steve Nisenson, Dave Newmark, and Steve Chubin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/30/101566063.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=U.S. FIVE TAKES TITLE IN ISRAEL; Tops Host Team, 74-66, for Maccabiah Gold Medal|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19650820-01.1.3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|title=20 August 1965|website=Jewish Post }}</ref><ref name="auto2"/> The Israeli basketball team was led by Tani Cohen-Mintz.<ref name="auto2"/>

In gymnastics, American 3-time Olympian Abie Grossfeld won four gold medals, four silver medals, and three bronze medals.<ref name="auto6"/> World trampoline champion Dan Millman of the US won four gold medals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usghof.org/files/bio/d_millman/d_millman.html |title=Biography: Millman, Dan |publisher=U.S. Gymnastics Federation}}</ref><ref name="auto8"/> American Steve Cohen, a future Olympian, won four gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze medals.<ref name="auto6"/>

In fencing, Yves Dreyfus, a future two-time Olympic bronze medalist, won the silver medal for France in individual épée.<ref name="auto7">{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/08/28/96716314.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=Garber Wins Boxing Title|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/214130468/|title=· Page 41|date=August 22, 1965|website=The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19650312-01.1.12|title=12 March 1965 |website=Jewish Post}}</ref> American Olympian David Micahnik won the individual épée gold medal.<ref name="auto7"/> American Olympian Martin Jay Davis won a gold medal, and American Olympian Al Axelrod also competed for the US in foil fencing.<ref name=go>[https://gonyuathletics.com/honors/hall-of-fame/martin-jay-davis/219 "Martin Jay Davis,"] gonyuathletics.</ref><ref name="auto1"/> Canada's future Olympian Peter Bakonyi won a silver medal.<ref>Leible Hershfield (1980). [https://books.google.com/books?id=JMuCAAAAMAAJ&q=%22peter+bakonyi%22+%22maccabiah%22 ''The Jewish Athlete; A Nostalgic View,''] p. 196.</ref>

In judo, Jim Bregman of the US, who the year prior won a bronze medal at the Olympics in the middleweight (80&nbsp;kg), won a gold medal, as did Bernard Lepkofker of the United States.

In wrestling, Israeli Moshe Weinberg, who years later was killed in the Munich Massacre, won a gold medal in Greco Roman wrestling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/09/06/81957762.html?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0&pageNumber=19|title=Sketches of Victims|website=timesmachine.nytimes.com}}</ref> Argentine Olympian Daniel Verník won a silver medal in the middleweight wrestling competition.<ref name="auto6"/>

Otto Decker, whose parents sent him from Germany to England as part of the ''kindertransport'' at the outset of the Holocaust, represented the U.S., which came in 9th, as a halfback in soccer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/07/12/96706469.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false|title=U.S. Soccer Squad Named For 7th Maccabiah Games|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://open.salon.com/blog/david_decker/2009/06/19/fathers_and_sons_part_i_of_ii |title=Fathers and Sons, Part I of II: Kindertransport |access-date=2022-08-06 |archive-date=2013-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720062612/http://open.salon.com/blog/david_decker/2009/06/19/fathers_and_sons_part_i_of_ii |url-status=dead }}</ref> Americans Harlan Cohen, and Gene Selznick, who had played on world championship teams and was squad captain, competed the Team USA volleyball squad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/07/13/94967383.html?pageNumber=30|title=12-Man U.S. Volleyball Team Picked for Maccabiah Games|website=The New York Times}}</ref>

The U.S. won the gold medal in shooting (free pistol event). The U.S. won the gold medal in water polo, which was its first international gold medal since the 1904 Olympics held in St. Louis.

==Participating communities== The number in parentheses indicates the number of participants that community contributed. Poland, appearing for the first time, engaged in a series of exhibitions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19650820-01.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|title= 20 August 1965|website=Jewish Post}}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=13em}} * {{Flag|Argentina|1816}} * {{Flag|Australia|civil}} * {{Flag|Austria}} * {{Flag|Belgium}} * {{Flag|Brazil|1960}} * {{Flag|Canada}} (30)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maccabicanada.com/about-us/history-and-milestones/7th-maccabiah-1965|title=7th Maccabiah 1965|website=Maccabi Canada}}</ref> * {{Flag|Chile}} * {{Flag|Denmark}} * {{Flag|Finland}} * {{Flag|France}} * {{Flag|India}} * {{Flag|Iran|1964}} * {{Flag|Ireland}} * {{Flag|Israel}} (largest)<ref name="auto3"/> * {{Flag|Italy}} * {{Flag|Jamaica}} * {{Flag|Mexico|1934}} * {{Flag|Netherlands}} * {{Flag|Peru}} * {{flag|Rhodesia|1964}} * {{flag|South Africa|1928}} * {{Flag|Sweden}} * {{Flag|Switzerland}} * {{Flag|Turkey}} * {{Flag|United Kingdom}} * {{Flag|United States}} (202; 2nd-largest)<ref name="auto3"/> * {{Flag|Venezuela|1930}} {{div col end}}

==Medal count== The United States delegation won the most gold medals, followed by Israel, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico and the Netherlands, Southern Rhodesia, Australia, Argentina and Italy, and Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and Sweden with one each.<ref name="auto6"/>

{{inc-results|date=October 2021}} {{Medals table | caption = | host = | flag_template = | event = | team = | gold_USA = 68 | silver_USA = 45 | bronze_USA = 33 | gold_ISR = 32 | silver_ISR = 45 | bronze_ISR = 30 | gold_UKB = 18 | silver_UKB = 10 | bronze_UKB = 18 | gold_SAF = 13 | silver_SAF = 11 | bronze_SAF = 6 | name_SAF = {{flagteam|SAF|1928}} | source = [http://ajcarchive.org/AJC_DATA/Files/1966_12_IsraelMidEastIran.pdf] }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Link== *[http://www.jewishsports.net/the_maccabiah_games.htm Summaries of each of the Games]

{{Maccabiah Games}}

Category:1965 Maccabiah Games Maccabiah Games Maccabiah Games Category:Maccabiah Games Category:1960s in Tel Aviv