The power of sport when it matters most

This morning, I went to buy my challah and was stopped in my tracks by the front page of The AJN.

There, proudly displayed, was a beautiful image of our Australian athletes at the Maccabiah Opening Ceremony, waving the Australian flag for the world to see.

I was overwhelmed with emotion.

Perhaps the weight of the past three years and the many challenges leading into these Games had taken a greater toll than I realised.

But in that moment, seeing Team AUS proudly representing our country and community, I felt an enormous sense of pride.

It was the visual confirmation that, despite everything, Australia had made it to the Maccabiah.

The journey was anything but certain. Our community has endured the trauma of October 7, attacks by Iran against Israel, an unprecedented rise in antisemitism across Australia that has brought fear into the lives of ordinary Australian Jews, and the devastating Bondi terror attack.

Each event has challenged our sense of safety, belonging and optimism for the future.

Yet, throughout this period, I have repeatedly spoken about the power of sport because sport represents the complete antithesis of hatred, division and fear.

Sport brings people together. It creates belonging, builds friendships and reminds us of what we share rather than what separates us.

That is why Australia needed to be at this Maccabiah.

Our participation was about more than the individual athletes fortunate enough to compete.

It was about standing alongside Israel and demonstrating genuine solidarity and friendship at a time when it mattered most.

It was also about representing an Australian Jewish community that has endured so much, while showing that we remain proud, connected and resilient.

The past fortnight has been a powerful demonstration of what sport can achieve.

It can help us heal, support our recovery and, beyond that, make us stronger and more connected as a community for the future.

As the 2026 Maccabiah draws to a close, we must carry this lesson home.

At a local level, sport has an important role to play in bringing together both the Jewish community and the broader Australian community.

By creating opportunities for people to participate, connect and understand one another, we can strengthen social cohesion and help build a more inclusive Australia.

This is work we must all support, not only for our community today, but for the Australia we want our children and grandchildren to inherit.

David Goldman is the General Manager of Maccabi Australia