When in the Spring of 1932 the United States contingent to the first international Maccabiad left the shores of Palestine, they were concinced that this momentous trip and huge athletic festival in which they had participated was the greatest experience of their lives.
There were only thirteen young men and women on this team from the States, yet their athletic prowess and ability won them a second place in the competition among twenty-two nations. The track and field group won a first place an the aquatic division stroked to a fourth. In all, the results produced by this small band of American athletes on a distant soil was so heartening to the sponsors of the trip that plans for a national Maccabi organization were launched immediately upon their return.
In February of this year the greatest strides toward actual unification and solidarity among the Jewish American athletes of the country were made. Today this association stands as a gigantic symbol of sportsmanship, fair play and unity. At present the plans for the second Maccabiad are being carefully laid, so that a much larger team—a minimum of twenty-five—can be sent to Palestine to represent the United States in what probably will be the greatest Jewish sport spectacle of the ages.
MATALON AND THE MACCABIS
To further this end the World Union of Maccabis has sent Alec Matalon to America to launch a vigorous publicity campaign for the coming Maccabiad. Matalon, a young and enterprising Maccabian, has been a member of this international Jewish organization for many years. He is a member of the Palestine Olympic Committee and is one of the chief reasons why the World Olympic Association recognized the Holy Land as an entity in the realm of sports.
His arrival in America is a timely one, inasmuch as it coincides with the Fall Maccabi campaign now getting under way. Matalon plans to tour those sections of the country where this movement has shown the strongest developments and to emphasize the fact that this Second Maccabiad must be a huge success. Matalon is convinced that if the April athletic carnival is represented by most of the Jewish groups throughout the world a tradition will be created that will be a living symbol for young Jewry.
Although this is Matalon’s first visit to these shores, he plans to cover as much distance as he possibly can before sailing for London in October. He will make this trip with David White, executive director of the United States Maccabi Association, and their itinerary includes Providence, Boston, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Chicago. All these cities have either strong chapters or units.
THE SITUATION ABROAD
In speaking of the Jewish athletic situation as it now exists abroad and in Palestine, the Maccabi ambassador said, “Most of the European countries are showing progress with the Maccabi movement. In England the groups are showing fine results and they already have one of the strongest units of any nation.”
“The World Women’s Olympic Games which recently were held in London were represented by a small group of girl Maccabi’s from Palestine for the first time in history. At the same time it was surprising to note that many of ###e team captains were Maccabi members. It really looked as if it were a Maccabi reunion.”
“I am convinced,” Matalon concluded, “that there will be over 5,000 participants in the next Maccabiad in April, 1935, and that over thirty-three countries will send contingents to the Maccabiad.”
THE MACCABIS IN AMERICA
The next American team to the Palestine games in April, 1935, will be very strong. It is for this very purpose that the Fall Maccabi campaign has been started. The national sports advisory committee, which includes such names as Benny Leonard, Harry Danning, Kit Klein, Charlotte Epstein, Abel Kiviat, and Irv Jaffe, and other Jewish athletes who have blazed a championship trail to recognition in the athletic world, is concentrating on its work for 1934-35. The Maccabi groups throughout America which were coming along with such fine progress before the Summer recess set in are all putting their shoulders to the wheel for a year of success. The Maccabi Association is no longer a name. It is a powerful, growing Jewish American athletic organization which is fast becoming the strongest sports unit in this country. Keep in pace with the times. Eventually—why not now? Join the Maccabis.
ART LASKY AT THE FLAGLER
Art Lasky, the Minneapolis clouter, pitched his camp at the Flagler Country Club grounds at Dallsburgh, N. Y., yesterday and started earnest training for his ten-round slugfest against Steve Hamas, the Penn State pride. The fight will take place October 5 at Madison Square Garden.
Lasky is an Orthodox Jew and there are no two ways about that fact. Recently there have been so many Jewish boxers who overnight have laid claims to Orthodox Jewry, with pedigreed affidavits showing that their great-grandfathers were Jewish, that it has become the style for boxers to sport the Mogen Dovid on their trunks.
But Lasky is the real thing. And it is because of this that he has chosen the Flagler House. The proprietors have erected a gym equipped with every device that a fighter needs to whip himself into shape. At the same time the hotel, run in accordance with dietary laws, will arrange services on Wednesday.
When Lasky’s co-manager “Gig” Rooney, learned that Lasky would not be able to eat on Yom Kippur, he almost had a stroke. Rooney figures to smuggle something into his pet heavyweight. However, he’ll have a tough job bringing in contraband lunch to the synagogue at Flagler House.
Folks, our money is on this Lasky guy and we always pick the right hoss. We’ll have more to say about this fellow tomorrow.
THE SPORTING CALENDAR FORT HAMILTON ARENA—BOXING TONIGHT
Tonight at Fort Hamilton a card of crackerjack boxing has been arranged by men of the army post. Scrappers who have made the best showing in the army ring this season will compete. This special program is scheduled for the benefit of the newly organized non-commissioned officers’ club of the post, and proceeds will go towards purchasing furniture for the club.
In the stellar six-rounder, Jose Santo tangles with fast Al Ragone of Mulberry Bend. The winner is hard to pick; both these flashy scrappers have fought Irishtown Doherty to sensational draws. There will be twenty-nine other rounds of corking boxing.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
