Maccabiah participants join Gaza border communities for day of volunteering
Athletes from around the world meet with residents and business owners working to rebuild
More than 3,000 Maccabiah athletes visited the area of Israel next to Gaza last week for a day of remembrance, volunteering and communal activities.
Jointly organised by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), and the Jewish Agency for Israel, the day began at the Nova Festival memorial site, where athletes from around the world learned more about the events of 7 October 2023.
A remembrance discussion panel featured testimonies from former hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel, as well as Adva Rabinovich, founder of the nonprofit organisation B’Darkei Noam and mother of Noam Abramovich, who was killed while serving at the Nahal Oz military base.
Also participating was Oz Davidian, a civilian hero who repeatedly risked his own life to drive into the Nova Festival attack zone and rescue dozens of young people under fire.
Maccabiah youth athletes joined children attending summer camps from the Hof Ashkelon, Sha’ar HaNegev, Eshkol, and Sderot regional councils for a shared sports day and cycling activity before volunteering alongside local residents in community projects.
They then toured communities across the Western Negev, meeting owners of small and medium-sized businesses supported by the Jewish Agency.
Later that afternoon, a cycling ride brought together 400 Maccabiah athletes and young people from across Israel and the Western Negev, followed by sports and adventure activities at Eshkol Park including ninja courses, climbing walls, rope parks and trampolines, alongside a fair showcasing handmade crafts, artwork, jewelry and locally produced food from communities across the Gaza border region, supporting local artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The day concluded with an official medal ceremony honouring the winners of the Maccabiah competitions.
Eyal Ostrinsky, chairman of KKL-JNF, said: “The connection between Jewish communities around the world and the communities of the Gaza border region as they rebuild and grow again is one of the strongest and most natural expressions of our shared values.”
Major General Doron Almog, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, said: “Today demonstrated the profound meaning of mutual responsibility within the Jewish people. Thousands of young people from Israel and around the world came to the Western Negev not only to see and hear, but to become partners—to remember, volunteer, embrace communities, and offer hope.
“The direct connection between Jewish communities worldwide and the residents of the Gaza border region reflects the strength of the Jewish people. From pain grows commitment, and from commitment grows hope. Together, we will continue strengthening the communities of the Western Negev and building a future of resilience and growth.”
Chairman of the Maccabiah, Asaf Goren, added: “Throughout the day, we gave our Maccabiah guests from abroad ‘more remembrance than ever’ alongside ‘more hope than ever.’ This is a defining chapter in the history of the State of Israel, and it is impossible to truly understand our country without experiencing it.”