1. MACCABI - International
"The origins of a Jewish world sports organization, named after Judea the Maccabee, harks back to the foresight of young European Jews, towards the end of the 19th century.
They saw the formation of a national movement as an integral part of the dream of a national home in Palestine.
These youths advocated a real change in the lifestyle of Jews, especially concerning the physical condition of Ghetto Jews.
During this period, Jewish sports clubs were founded in Eastern and Central Europe. The first club was founded in 1895 in Constantinople, Turkey, and named "The Jewish Sports Club". In 1897 a club was established in Bulgaria. 1898 saw the founding of "Bar Kochba" Berlin. Other clubs that followed were named after "Bar Kochba" or Hebrew names such as "Hakoach" or "Hagibor" that symbolized strength and heroism.
The basic premise behind the founding of these clubs was of Jewish Nationalism. The concept was that Jews were not only a religious entity, but also one based on a common historical and social background, having special cultural and psychological concepts that have been preserved to this day, resulting in a strong recognition of collective belonging.
The idea for the founding of Jewish National sports organizations, gained momentum in 1898, following an inspired speech by the renowned Zionist leader, Dr. Max Nordau, during the 2nd Zionist congress in Basle.
Three years later at the Sixth Zionist Congress in 1903, The Jewish Gymnastics Society (Judischen Turnerschaft) was formed as an international body encompassing all the Jewish sports clubs in the world.
At the 12th World Jewish Congress in Carlsbad (Czechoslovakia) 1921, the secretariat of Jewish sport leaders decided to form one umbrella organization for all Jewish Sports associations, to be named Maccabi World Union.
Its aims were clearly defind: "To foster physical education, belief in Jewish heritage and the Jewish nation, and to work actively for the rebuilding of our own country and for the preservation of our people".
The very name Maccabi pointed the new Zionist orientation of the World Union. The saga of the ancient Maccabees celebrated at Chanukah signified the courageous fight for freedom of conscience and religion, for autonomy and sovereignty - the very goals toward which modern Zionism strove.
With the establishment of Maccabi World Union, Maccabi became an integral body in the Zionist Movement."
www.maccabiworld.org
2. MACCABI - Romania
This is the international environment for Maccabi București establishement.
Before season 1940-1941, in the same international and national political circumstances, the team was expelled from official competitions, due to its Jewish connections and to some suspicions of communist propaganda.
It reappeared in 1945 with the same name, changed in 1946 in "Ciocanul".
In May 1948, "Ciocanul" merged with "Unirea-Tricolor" București, resulting today's "Dinamo". In season 1947-1948, these two teams were named "Dinamo A" ("Ciocanul") and "Dinamo B" ("Unirea-Tricolor"), and next season, in Divizia A remained only one, "Dinamo A".
Winner of Maccabi football tournament of 1935, at Tel-Aviv