Centenary gala at SCG celebrates Maccabi’s ton
Seven people, including three Olympians, were inducted into the Maccabi NSW Hall of Fame at a Centenary Gala.
Two months after Maccabi Victoria marked Maccabi’s 100th anniversary in style at an event at the MCG headlined by Jewish AFL star Harry Sheezel, Maccabi NSW completed the celebrations at a similarly iconic Australian sporting venue, the SCG, on November 10.
The Maccabi NSW Centenary Gala Dinner, attended by more than 400 people and emceed by Daniel Garb, was made that extra bit special by an induction ceremony for seven new Maccabi NSW Hall of Fame members, who are household names not only in Australian Jewish sport, but on the international stage.
The three new inductees in the athlete category are all Olympians – recently retired 400m runner Steve Solomon, and sisters and canoe slalom Olympic gold medallists Jess and Noemie Fox.
In the administration category, the new inductees are former Football Federation of Australia president Steven Lowy, Hakoah FC legend Jon Pillemer, former Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, and current Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg.
Guests – including five Maccabi Australia and eight Maccabi NSW life members – enjoyed viewing an extensive Maccabi memorabilia display before formal proceedings began, and fittingly got to watch the last few overs of the day’s Sheffield Shield game between NSW and Victoria.
As Maccabi NSW president Mandy Penkin pointed out in her address, “A full century ago, a group of passionate locals had a dream to build a place where Jewish sport could thrive, where friendships could flourish and where the community could come together around something bigger than themselves – and it all started with one Jewish cricket match between 20 to 30 players from NSW and Victoria.
“One hundred years later, that dream is alive and stronger than ever and tonight we celebrate it.
“Maccabi brings people together in sport, in friendship, and sometimes in love!
“It has given so many people a Jewish identity and a connection to the community, it has supported people of all abilities, backgrounds and beliefs, and it has helped people through tough times, through physical well-being.
“Tonight we want to especially acknowledge our past presidents, our life members, our sponsors and supporters, and most importantly, everyone who has played, coached, volunteered, fundraised, schlepped kids, cut oranges, or simply cheered from the sidelines.
“This is your celebration and your legacy.”
Maccabi Australia president Rodney Rosmarin described the new Hall of Fame inductees as “the embodiment of Maccabi spirit at the highest level – you are role models, leaders and legends, and you have set a standard for others to follow.
“For that, we thank you, we celebrate you, and we welcome you into Maccabi’s proud history – mazal tov!”
Inspired by the SCG setting, Rosmarin added, “Maccabi has knocked up a magnificent century and we’re still going strong, with over 40,000 supporters, 10,000 members and 56 clubs across the country.
“More than 42 per cent of our participants are female and more than 70 per cent are under 18 – a reflection of a strong and growing future.
“It’s up to all of you to keep the scoreboard ticking – l’chaim!”
Jess and Noemie Fox were in Switzerland on International Olympic Committee duties, so could not attend the induction ceremony, but both sent video messages.
Jess emphasised “the power of sport being able to bring people together” as Maccabi has for 100 years.
Noemie advised young people in the community, “Don’t think that you’re not capable, or give up before you have a go … there is something out there for everyone in sport.”
Solomon – who made the London Olympics men’s 400m final aged 19, and achieved his PB nine years later at the Tokyo Olympics – participated in a panel discussion with Athens Olympics baseball silver medallist Gavin Fingleson, and Olympic hockey gold medallist and 2026 Australian Maccabiah team ambassador Nova Peris.
Solomon said, “It might not take you to the top of the world, but there is such an important place that sport plays in our lives, and Maccabi has played such an important part in my life – so it means an enormous amount to me to be inducted tonight.”
He also paid tribute to his first sprinting coach, the late Fira Dvoskina, who guided him to glory in London 2012.
“She was a 76-year-old recently-arrived Ukrainian refugee, and I was 16, and one day I told her that I’d have to miss training because it’s Yom Kippur, and she looked at me, started crying, and then pulled out a Star of David necklace,” he said.
“She’d had to hide her religion basically for her entire life, so it was incredibly special to share that [Jewish] connection with her, and I don’t think I would have made it as far as I did in my career if it wasn’t for Fira.”
Steven Lowy was touched to receive his induction plaque from Maccabi Australia and NSW life member Tom Goldman, in the presence of Peris.
“Our family has had now three generations playing for Maccabi, and it’s a privilege for me to be inducted after my father [Frank],” he said.
Pillemer said he feels “very honoured and humbled” to now be a Hall of Fame member in the administration category, having been inducted in the athlete category in 2012.
“Ever since I arrived in Australia from South Africa in 1986, I will never forget how my brothers and I were welcomed into the Maccabi fold, and it made us feel part of the community.”
Hockley said, “Like everyone here, sport at Maccabi has given me so much, and like Steven [Lowy], I was lucky to compete in three Maccabiah Games, including one with my [late] father.
“He taught me to work hard, to be kind, and to not get ahead of myself, and if you do that all the time, opportunities will follow.
“I really hope he’d be proud of me tonight – this really is such an honour.”
Todd Greenberg could not attend the ceremony due to Cricket Australia CEO duties, but the former NRL chief executive’s brother Glen accepted his induction plaque and thanked Maccabi on his behalf.
In a video message, Todd Greenberg said while he has “done some wonderful things” during his time in sport administration, “none have been better than winning a gold medal in Israel [in cricket] at the 1993 Maccabiah Games”.
Maccabi World Union chair Amir Peled also attended the Centenary Gala and told the audience how significant Maccabi Australia’s contribution is “compared to many others”.
“You are doing great things here, and we look forward to seeing you soon in Israel at the Maccabiah Games.”