 | |
| Host city | Tel Aviv,Israel |
|---|---|
| Nations | 29[1] |
| Debuting countries |  Iran Jamaica Peru Venezuela |
| Athletes | 1,500[1] |
| Opening | August 23, 1965[2] |
| Opened by | Prime MinisterLevi Eshkol[1] |
| Main venue | Ramat Gan Stadium |
The7thMaccabiah Games in 1965 saw 1,500 athletes from 29 different countries compete in 21 sports.[1] It was the first Maccabiah Games forIran,Jamaica,Peru, andVenezuela. The United States delegation won the most gold medals, followed by Israel, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico and the Netherlands,Southern Rhodesia, Australia, Argentina and Italy, and Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and Sweden with one each.
The Maccabiah Games are named in honor of the JewishMaccabees, who in the2nd century BC revolted against and defeated the superior armies of KingAntiochus IV Epiphanes, who was trying to abolish Judaism.[3][2]
The Maccabiah Games were first held in1932.[4] In 1961, they were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, theInternational Olympic Committee.[5][6][7]
The Games opened before a crowd of 40,000 people inRamat Gan Stadium.[2] The flame to light the Maccabiah torch was lit at an ancient cemetery inModiin, where it is believed that the Maccabees are buried, and run to the stadium by a relay of runners.[2]
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In swimming, American 15-year-old 130-pound schoolboyMark Spitz, swimming in his first international competition, won fourgold medals—the 400 m freestyle, the 1,500 freestyle, the 400 m individual medley, and the 800 m freestyle relay.[8][9][10] Also in swimming,Marilyn Ramenofsky of the US, who the year prior won a silver medal at the Olympics in the 400-meter freestyle, won the gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle.[11] IsraeliYvonne Tobis, 17 years old, won the 400 m individual medley.[10] IsraeliShlomit Nir, a future Olympian, won the 200 m breaststroke, beating out Mexican silver medalist and future OlympianTamara Oynick.[9] Israeli OlympianGershon Shefa won a gold medal in the 200 m breaststroke.[9] Australian 19-year-old OlympianJohn Stark won a gold medal in the 200 m butterfly.[12]
In track and field, American Olympic champion and world record holderGerry Ashworth ran in the Games, winning a gold medal in 10.6 seconds in the 100 m dash, and a gold medal in the 400 m relay.[13][14][15][16][17] World record holderHenry Laskau of the United States won the gold medal in 3,000 m race walking.[18][19][20] Lorraine Lotzof (South Africa) won the 100m, 200m and 400m athletic events. She was awarded Trophy for Outstanding Athlete across all sports at the 1965 Games. OlympianMichal Lamdani competed for Israel in the high jump, winning a gold medal.[21][22]
In tennis, DutchmanTom Okker won both the men's singles and the mixed doubles gold medals.[23] AmericanMike Franks won a gold medal in doubles in tennis, and a silver medal in men's singles, losing to Okker.[24][25] CanadianVicki Berner won a gold medal in women's singles, defeating South AfricanEsmé Emmanuel who won the silver medal, defeating AmericanMarilyn Aschner along the way.[26][10][24] Emmanuel won a gold medal in women's tennis in doubles with partner Rene Wolpert, defeating AmericansNadine Netter and Carole Wright.[24]
The U.S. won the gold medal in basketball, withTal Brody,Ronald Green,Steve Nisenson,Dave Newmark, andSteve Chubin.[27][28][3] The Israeli basketball team was led byTani Cohen-Mintz.[3]
In gymnastics, American 3-time OlympianAbie Grossfeld won four gold medals, four silver medals, and three bronze medals.[14] World trampoline championDan Millman of the US won four gold medals.[29][24] AmericanSteve Cohen, a future Olympian, won four gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze medals.[14]
In fencing,Yves Dreyfus, a future two-time Olympic bronze medalist, won the silver medal for France in individual épée.[30][31][32] American OlympianDavid Micahnik won the individual épée gold medal.[30] American OlympianMartin Jay Davis won a gold medal, and American OlympianAl Axelrod also competed for the US in foil fencing.[33][28] Canada's future OlympianPeter Bakonyi won a silver medal.[34]
In judo,Jim Bregman of the US, who the year prior won a bronze medal at the Olympics in the middleweight (80 kg), won a gold medal, as didBernard Lepkofker of the United States.
In wrestling, IsraeliMoshe Weinberg, who years later was killed in theMunich Massacre, won a gold medal in Greco Roman wrestling.[35] Argentine OlympianDaniel Verník won a silver medal in the middleweight wrestling competition.[14]
Otto Decker, whose parents sent him from Germany to England as part of thekindertransport at the outset ofthe Holocaust, represented the U.S., which came in 9th, as a halfback in soccer.[36][37] AmericansHarlan Cohen, andGene Selznick, who had played on world championship teams and was squad captain, competed the Team USA volleyball squad.[38]
The U.S. won the gold medal in shooting (free pistol event). The U.S. won the gold medal in water polo, which was its first international gold medal since the 1904 Olympics held in St. Louis.
The number in parentheses indicates the number of participants that community contributed. Poland, appearing for the first time, engaged in a series of exhibitions.[39]
The United States delegation won the most gold medals, followed by Israel, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Mexico and the Netherlands,Southern Rhodesia, Australia, Argentina and Italy, and Brazil, Canada, Denmark, and Sweden with one each.[14]
 | This list of sports fixtures or results isincomplete; you can help byadding missing items.(October 2021) |
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States (USA) | 68 | 45 | 33 | 146 |
| 2 |  Israel (ISR) | 32 | 45 | 30 | 107 |
| 3 |  United Kingdom (UKB) | 18 | 10 | 18 | 46 |
| 4 |  South Africa (SAF) | 13 | 11 | 6 | 30 |
| Totals (4 entries) | 131 | 111 | 87 | 329 | |
