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Posted on 07/11/2005 11:14:35 AM PDT by IAF ThunderPilot
17th Maccabiah opens
Gala opening ceremony for the 17th Maccabiah, the world's largest Jewish sporting event begins at Israel's National Stadium near Tel Aviv
RAMAT GAN - The opening ceremony for the 17th Maccabiah Games, the world's biggest Jewish sporting event, has opened in Ramat Gan with the biggest show in the event's 70-year history.
Israeli artist Roni Superstar officially opened the ceremony at 8:00 p.m. (1:00 EDT) and was accompanied by a group of hundreds dancers dressed in red and yellow costumes.
More than 7,100 athletes from 55 countries, led by the Australian delegation, participated in the ceremony, marching into the Ramat Gan Stadium behind their national flags.
More than 20,000 family members, friends and fans have arrived as well. About 40,000 people are attending the show.
The Tel Aviv Police department announced weeks earlier that they are ready to secure the massive event. The stadium gates were locked a half hour before the 8:00 p.m. show, to avoid crowding, and 1,500 policemen were brought into the security efforts.
However, the Maccabiah torch will not be lit during the ceremony as previously expected, as a sign of respect to the Maccabi youth leader who passed away early Monday.
In addition, the pre-show scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (11:30 EDT) was also canceled.
The Maccabiah flag will be carried by 10 youths and teens injured by terrorism who are now part of the Sport Rehabilitation for Terrorism Victims program.
Olympic medal winning Judoka Arik Zeevi, who was originally considered to carry the torch, will swear in the athletes.
I hope they all have a great time. They've earned it.
See, years and years ago there were these people called the Maccabees.
My niece's husband is competing in wrestling, representing the USN. Go Josh!!!!!
He was born as Shlomo Zilberstein, but he changed his name to avoid discrimination, which runs rampant in the Israeli entertainment industry.
"Israeli artist Roni Superstar officially opened the ceremony at 8:00 p.m...."
"He was born as Shlomo Zilberstein, but he changed his name to avoid discrimination, which runs rampant in the Israeli entertainment industry"
-Dude, Roni Superstar is a SHE. What are you talking about?
"Israeli artist Roni Superstar officially opened the ceremony at 8:00 p.m...."
"He was born as Shlomo Zilberstein, but he changed his name to avoid discrimination, which runs rampant in the Israeli entertainment industry"
-Roni Superstar is a SHE. What are you talking about?
Sorry!
I hope you got the joke!
Is that similar to a girl I knew in school...her name was Lisa Lipschitz.
Everyone made fun of her because of her name. When she was old enough to do so, she legally changed it to...
wait for it...
wait for it...
Susan Lipschitz.
Wait, you know I'm joking right? I mean, I was trying to make this absurd joke, but not everybody got it.
Yes, of course I got the joke...and it was a knee slapper too. Didn't make my stomach hurt, but it sure was funny.
:-D
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