A milestone in sports history was set with the MAKKABI Germany Winter Games, a positive signal for Jewish sports as well as for the dynamic Jewish life in Germany and beyond. The last Jewish Winter Games took place in Poland in 1933 and in what was then Czechoslovakia in 1936 before they were banned by the National Socialists and then fell into oblivion within the global Maccabi movement. With the MAKKABI Germany WinterGames 2023, a tradition was revived with a signal effect far beyond the borders of Makkabi.

At the grand opening ceremony on January 2nd, Dr. Josef Schuster (President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany), Dr. Charlotte Knobloch (President of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria), Mahmut Özdemir (Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland, Justus Pfeifer (Mayor of the Ruhpolding Municipality) and Carmela Shamir (Consul General of the State of Israel in Munich) inspiring words of welcome. MAKKABI Germany President Alon Meyer greeted the representatives from sport, society, politics and culture who were present. MAKKABI Germany Vice-President Alfi Goldenberg, spiritus rectus behind the WinterGames, gave an emotional opening speech that gripped all spectators Spectators who had traveled a long way were joined by athletes from the numerous Maccabi delegations, and the Maccabi fire was lit as part of this spectacular celebration. 

The participants competed in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, laser biathlon, snowboarding, figure skating, snow volleyball and curling. A particular highlight was the snow volleyball competition at an altitude of 2.000 meters with the finals between Israel and Ukraine. But Maccabi is more than just sport: We made it possible for Maccabi athletes from all over the world to meet, and the special Maccabi spirit was palpable at all times.

A special moment for all participants was certainly the big Kabbalat Shabbat (beginning of the Jewish day of rest on Friday evening), also with many guests and numerous non-Jewish participants. Musically framed by the a cappella band KippaLive from Israel, there was a very special atmosphere up to the Havdallah (end of the rest day) on Saturday evening.

In addition, there was a diverse educational and supporting program. For example, Prof. Manfred Lämmer (German Sports University Cologne) and the Holocaust and Olympic assassination survivor Prof. Shaul Ladany (Israel) gave lectures on the history and present of the Maccabi movement and the 1972 Olympic assassination in Munich, which also included a exhibition presented throughout the week as well as a virtual reality offer from Bayerischer Rundfunk. This and other events were organized and carried out by the Central Council of Jews and the educational project “Together1” 

The Winter Games once again showed how open Maccabi is – all Maccabees could take part, regardless of religion or origin. "We are certain that the MAKKABI Germany WinterGames 2023 is the start of a long-lasting tradition, which, like the Maccabiah in Israel, is regularly held all over the world," says Makkabi Germany. During the Winter Games, the US Maccabi Association announced that it intends to host the next MAKKABI Winter Games in Sun Valley, Idaho.