Geulah Siri was three months old in 1949 when her family arrived in Israel from Yemen. Within a few weeks, she had contracted polio, which left her with a permanently stiffened left leg. Today, Siri is a triathlete about to compete in her sixth Special Olympics and a past winner of multiple gold medals. She… More ▸
A relatively small contingent of Israeli athletes left Monday for Seoul, South Korea, on their way to participate in the 1988 Olympic Games, which begin there in two weeks. Their departure coincided with the 16th anniversary of the Munich Olympics massacre, when on Sept. 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists gunned down 11 members of the Israeli… More ▸
International businessman Shaul Eisenberg announced Wednesday that he will head a public committee to raise funds to send an Israeli team to the 8th Olympic for the disabled. The games will be held in Seoul, South Korea, immediately after the 1988 Olympic Games being played there in September. Eisenberg, whose financial empire is built on… More ▸
Although no Israeli athlete is participating in the 15th Winter Olympics underway in Calgary and none of the top-rated athletes is known to be Jewish, the corollary events are not without Jewish content. The memory of the 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Olympics in Munich was honored by the Calgary… More ▸
Forty members of Congress have urged the United States Chess Federation to boycott the annual Olympics of the International Chess Federation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this fall because the Chess Federation of Israel was barred from attending. The bipartisan group of Congressmen sent a telegram, initiated by Reps. Tom Lantos (D.-Cal.) and Jack Kemp… More ▸
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… More ▸
Both Israel and the Soviet Union participated in their first Olympiad at the 1952 Helsinki Games, according to “Jews in the Olympics” exhibition running through September in the Jewish Community Building, 6505 Wilshire Blvd. While the Israeli team has yet to bring home a medal, nearly 20 Soviet Jews have exhibited distinguished performances in the… More ▸
Since 1896 Jewish sportsmen and sportswomen have been an integral part of Olympic competition, in both summer and winter Games. Speedskater Irving Jaffe was the first Jewish winter Olympics medal winner in 1928, according to “Jews in the Olympics” exhibition running through September at the Jewish Community Building, 6505 Wilshire Blvd. Technicalities prevented Jaffe’s best… More ▸
During the early 20th century one could fence one’s way to social prominence, an opportunity taken up by many talented European Jewish swordsmen, according to “Jews in the Olympics” exhibition running through September in the Jewish Community Building, 6505 Wilshire Blvd. In 1908, Jews from three nations captured great respect and several Olympic medals, including… More ▸
(Editor’s note: Sol Marshall, who will cover the Olympic Games for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, in earlier years coached championship municipal and Jewish Center volleyball teams in Milwaukee, Atlanta and Chicago. He was manager of the volleyball teams at the Westside Jewish Community Center in L.A. which won the national AAU and USVBA and JWB… More ▸
