Thousands celebrate Maccabi Sunday across Europe

Thousands celebrate Maccabi Sunday across Europe

Maccabi Organisations from across Europe came together remotely this weekend for the Maccabi Fun Run Online to promote Health and Well-being in their communities whilst showing support for front-line services as Europe slowly starts to unlock from Covid19. #maccabifunrunonline

Thousands of Maccabi members and their local communities from 31 European countries, supporting over 50 different charities took part in the largest Jewish event of the year in Europe.

The online event was inspired by Maccabi Great Britain and the annual Maccabi Global Fun Runs, which pre-virus were taking place in over 20 cities worldwide every year.

Maccabi Europe, the umbrella organisation, promoted the event to its network of Maccabi affiliates across Europe with the support of its parent body Maccabi World Union and the European Council for Jewish Communities.

David Beesemer, Maccabi Europe Chairman said: “We wanted to engage our communities at this most difficult time and the Maccabi Fun Run Online gave us the most appropriate opportunity. Whether people did this in their homes or were able to go to the park there really was no barrier to taking part. Young and old alike could exercise. Some chose to walk up and down stairs at home and, in other cases similar to that of Captain Tom in Britain, older members of our communities set their own personal challenges, like a 96-year-old lady walking 2km!”

David continued, ”Life has been difficult for so many people and we wanted to give hope and inspiration while having fun to our communities; exercise does just that. Even during many lockdowns most governments allowed some exercise, it’s vital for our physical and mental health and that’s what our movement delivers via a broad spectrum of projects, programmes and events. I want to thank everyone of our Territorial Organisations who took part, we made a difference today and that is something our movement aspires to do every day.”

The Maccabi organisations listed below joined with many other organizations to make it happen. David concluded, “We are a sports, health and wellbeing community organisation and I am proud that we could mobilise the Jewish people of Europe in this way, but I also look forward to us all being physically together in the near future.

#maccabifunrunon

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Austria

Azerbaijan

Belarus

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Czech Republic

Estonia

Finland

France

Great Britain

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Holland

Hungary

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Moldova

Norway

Romania

Russia

Serbia

Scotland

Slovakia

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

Ukraine

Non-European countries:

USA

Brazil

St. Kitts

Hong Kong

Kind regards,

Laura Renberg
Head of Programmes and Communication
Maccabi Europe