Joe Biden Opens 2022 Maccabiah (Photo from White House Twitter)
President of the United States Joe Biden was in attendance for the opening ceremonies of the 2022 Maccabiah games. The opening ceremonies were held Thursday night at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium, which is named for the late long time serving Mayor of Jerusalem Teddy Kollek.
President Biden’s official Twitter account tweeted a picture of him standing alongside Israel President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the Maccabiah opening ceremonies with the statement, “Let the Maccabiah Games begin!”
The 21st Maccabiah Games are being held in Israel from July 14 – 21.
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Over 10,000 athletes from 66 countries around the world are in Israel to compete in the games.
President Biden came to the Maccabiah opening ceremonies straight from another important ceremony. Earlier in the day, President Herzog awarded him the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor at a ceremony held at the official President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
At that ceremony, President Biden pledged America’s eternal support for the State of Israel.
President Biden Receives Israel Presidential Medal of Honor (Photo White House official Twitter)
“I see a nation that has forged peace before and will do it again,” he said, “and a nation that will never dwell alone because as long as there will be a United States you will never ever dwell alone.”
“As a leader, I can say that being known as a friend of Israel,” he added, “and receiving this award today is one of the greatest honors of my career and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
Maccabi World Union is the largest and longest running Jewish sports organization spanning over five continents, more than 60 countries, 450 clubs, and 400,000 members. MWU is a Zionist organization that utilizes sports as a means to bring Jewish people of all ages closer to Judaism and Israel in addition to various informal educational activities in a manner that surpasses politics and sectarianism. Many Maccabi clubs serve as community centers and youth movements providing a diversity of educational, cultural, social and sports activities under one roof.
