The prominence of Jewish athletes in sports of strength reached new heights during the 1920’s, considered to be the “Golden Age of Jewish Professional Boxing.” According to “Jews in the Olympics” exhibition running through September at the Jewish Community Building, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., the Antwerp Olympiad was an important arena for these strongmen.
At the 1920 Antwerp Games, Jewish athletes from the U.S. and Canada won five medals in boxing and wrestling. To date, Jews from eight nations have tackled nearly 30 Olympic medals, including a dozen gold, in these contact events as well as weightlifting.
The international exhibition documenting the achievements of Jews in sports is a project of the Southern California Jewish Historical Society. A commemorative poster and medal are available. Call 213-852-1234.
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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.
