The opening ceremony for “Unbroken,” a new exhibition examining the aftermath of the October 7 attacks and the resilience of the Jewish spirit in sports, was held on October 15 at Kfar Maccabiah in Ramat Gan, Israel. .
The exhibition was organized by the Maccabi World Union, the world’s largest Jewish sports and education organization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the World Jewish Congress.
The exhibition is being held in the run-up to the 2025 Maccabiah Games, where 10,000 Jewish athletes are scheduled to compete in Israel, and was curated by Adi Rubinstein and will be the first in Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza Strip. focuses on the history of the sport. It depicts war through the experiences of the victims, survivors, and their families of October 7th.
The collaboration between the World Federation of Maccabi and the World Jewish Congress is part of a long-term commitment to join forces to raise awareness of the events of October 7, while combating growing anti-Semitism in the wake of the attacks and the Gaza war. .
The first exhibition of its kind will be held at the World Jewish Sports Museum in Kfar Maccabiah and will remain there until March 2025. The exhibition will then tour New York, Miami, and Geneva, featuring a variety of exhibits. Jewish communities and non-Jewish audiences around the world watch these stories.
In addition, the World Jewish Sports Museum has created a pop-up version of the exhibit that can be easily downloaded and displayed within the Jewish Diaspora for communities looking to provide a Jewish Diaspora experience to their members.
The exhibition features personal items, multimedia exhibits, and interviews, providing visitors with a unique and intimate perspective on this important moment in history. Osnat Tzur, director of the World Jewish Sports Museum, said: “At first glance, sports and war are contradictory, but the State of Israel clung to sports during a difficult period of war, creating unforgettable moments of grace and pride.” said. “Sport is an element of unity and promotes resilience, healing and strength, as evidenced across Israeli sports clubs after October 7th. Preserving Jewish sports history everywhere We are pleased to share these powerful stories of resilience and spirit as part of our commitment to this,” added Zuhl.
The exhibition is divided into three chapters. The first part, “Sports on October 7th,” tells the stories of several athletes and sports fans who were killed or survived the attacks. Cyclist Aya Meydan and her friend, the late rider Lior Weitzman. Lior Assoulin, a soccer player who died, and Ben Benjamin, another soccer player who was injured in the Nova Party massacre. Among the many stories is that of the late Inbal Heiman, a Maccabi Haifa supporter who was kidnapped by Hamas and killed while in captivity.
Chapter 2 discusses sports fans’ reactions to the war and calls for the return of the abducted people. Chapter 3 focuses on some of the successes of Israeli athletes during the conflict.
Exhibits include the late Lior Weitzman’s bicycle. Danny Abadiyah’s basketball shoes were created to pray for the health of Idan Amedi, a popular actor and singer who was injured in the Israeli Defense Forces. Shoes of the late Lior Assoulin. The late Inbal Hyman’s shirt. Swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko won the gold medal in Qatar amid boos from a hostile crowd. and the gold medal won by Israeli Olympic gymnast Artem Dolgopyat at the World Championships on October 7, 2023.
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According to Rubinstein, sports after October 7 played an important role in strengthening his resilience. “One of the few things that gave Israelis hope during this terrible year was sports, because surprisingly, this year was actually the best year in sports since the founding of the state of Israel.”
“Sport helps us maintain hope for a brighter future. Even when we fall to our knees, feeling defeated and defeated, we take a deep breath, gather the pieces, look to the horizon and get back up. Please continue,” said Amir Ghisin, Executive Director of the Maccabi World Federation. “And if you fall down again, you can get back up just the same.”
Maccabi World Union President Michael Segal said: “This monument was designed to never forget those who died and those who have yet to return. This wonderful display will be open to all of Israel and We hope that other Jewish museums around the world will consider and display this tribute to the victims of October 7th and the athletes who will never be forgotten.”
Ron Roeder, President of the World Jewish Congress, said: “Today we are proud to present the Maccabi World Federation Exhibition, which focuses on the profound impact of the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel’s sporting community. I support it.”
Limor Weitzman is Lior’s widow, whose story is featured in the exhibition. She said it was her mission to memorialize her husband through the sport he loved. “Lior’s passion for cycling was deep. On October 7th, he had a dream of becoming an Ironman. He was driven by an immense love for his family, his parents, me and Kfir. Tragically, it was love that caused his death. He was murdered while doing what he loved most.”
Since Oct. 7, Meydan has been riding, not only for himself, but also in memory of those who cannot ride for themselves. “I wake up every day and do something. I do it for myself, as a victory of the mind over the body, and also for my friend Riolu. We were supposed to meet, but he was murdered. I decided that if he couldn’t achieve that, I would do it for him, so that he could continue on that path, as he had dreamed of becoming Iron Man. I did.”
Survivors of the massacre attend the opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was attended by survivors of the October 7 attack, their families, and relatives of the victims, as well as representatives of various organizations involved in the exhibition.
The exhibition is open to the public on Sundays from 10am to 4pm, Thursdays from 4pm to 8pm, and Fridays from 10am to 2pm. No registration or guided tour required. in Worms Hall at the World Jewish Sports Museum in Ramat Gan.
For more information, please visit the museum’s website at www.jewishsportsmuseum.org.
