In this Remembrance Day and Independence Day special, host Laragh Widdess traces the history of the Maccabiah games – the “Jewish Olympics” – through Israel’s battle for independence up to the present day.

From Yosef Yekutieli, the man who invented the Maccabiah in 1929, to basketball legend Tal Brody, to the Arab Israeli athletes who compete in today’s games, the Maccabiah story is destined to mirror the story of this land’s highs and lows, and those of its peoples.

Music:

Palmach Theme
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – Hatikva
Matityahu Shelem – Shibolet ba’Sade
Naomi Shemer – Maccabiah Song
The Cracow Klezmer Band – Pagiel
Nena – 99 Red Balloons
Krav Harel (The Battle of Harel)
Bab al-Wad
Le Trio Joubran – Shajan
Nahal Band – Mahar (Tomorrow)

Written and produced by Laragh Widdess