Maccabiah Games - 19th Session

About

Jerusalem Hosts 19th Maccabiah Games, July 18-31, 2013

The Maccabiah Games is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition. Taking place every four years, in a city in Israel, the games attract athletes and onlookers from all over the world to attend its sporting events.

This year, 2013, Jerusalem is blessed with hosting the Maccabiah Games for its 19^th session, with the Opening Ceremony taking place July 18, 2013, at Teddy Stadium, and competitions continuing through the end of July. United States representative Ali Reisman, 2012 Olympic gymnastics gold winner, is also said to be competing.

The first Maccabiah Games was held in 1932 in nascent Tel Aviv with 400 athletes participating. The Maccabiah Games has gone through the ups and downs of Jewish history during the last century, and thankfully, since WWII, is consistently held every four years. The last session boasted over 12,000 Jewish athletes from almost sixty countries participating.

The sports competitions vary per year and are still in the works for this coming summer. There are master, junior, and open competitions, and specific sports are scheduled when at least 3-4 countries have delegates.

Rumor has it that ice hockey is back on the slate again after a hiatus last session…stay tuned for details.

While You're Here

In order to maximize your stay in Jerusalem during the Maccabiah Games, we offer you a variety of tips to help you during your travels around the city including recommended attractions in the immediate area and the various means of transportation.

Transportation

Be it light rail, bus, taxi, or foot, it's pretty easy to get around Jerusalem. Here we list some particulars with regard to accessing Teddy Stadium via Malha Mall.

Light Rail

The Jerusalem light rail began running in the fall of 2010, with many Jerusalem residents and visitors enjoying its services every day.  The light rail system is electrically operated, allowing a quiet ride which is friendly to passengers, passers by, and the environment as well.  The train passes through 23 stations, from the northern tip of the city at Pisgat Ze'ev, through center city, and ending at Mount Herzl. Trains generally come every  5-10 minutes.

The light rail does not yet have a stop near Teddy Stadium, so for the Maccabiah Games, depending on your point of origin, you might need to first take an Egged bus to a lightrail station.

Buses

Egged intracity bus lines provides service throughout Jerusalem.  For the Maccabiah Games, you will use the buses going to Malha Mall, as follows:

Line 14: Central Bus Station – Malha Mall

Central Bus Station/Binyanei HaUma - Israel Museum - Givat Ram Campus - Katamon - Emek Refaim - Malha

Line 18: Central Bus Station – Malha Mall

Central Bus Station - Mahane Yehuda Market – City Center - Prophets  Street- Emek Refaim - Katamon - San Martin – Malha Mall

Line 4:  French Hill – Malha Mall

French Hill – Givat Hamivtar - Ramat Eshkol – Geula – City Center - The German Colony – Katamon – Malha Mall

Line 4A:  Mount Scopus - MalhaMall

Mount Scopus (Hebrew University) - French Hill - Givat Hamivtar - Ramat Eshkol - Geula – City Center - The German Colony – Katamon – Malha Mall

Line 6: Pisgat Zeev – Malha Mall

Pisgat Zeev – Shderot Bar Lev - City Center - Mahane Yehuda Market – Central Bus Station - Givat Mordechai – Malha Mall

Line 34: Homat Shmuel (also known as Har Homa)- MalhaMall, via Gilo

Taxis

2,000 taxis service Jerusalem, based mostly in the center with major service hubs as well in  Givat Shaul, Talpiot and Beit HaKerem neighborhoods. The  Jerusalem  Municipality recently signed taxi drivers onto the iTaxi service charter, which requires them to provide fair and quality service to passengers in any of the hundreds of taxis marked  "iTaxi". You can distinguish the iTaxi cabs by their orange iTravelJerusalem logo.

Hotels

Several top hotels are available for the Maccabiah Games including Ramada, Leonardo Inn, Dan Jerusalem, and Crowne Plaza, where many rooms were booked by Maccabiah Games guests.

Ramada

Ramada Jerusalem is located at the entrance to the city with easy access to the Knesset, Supreme Court, the Israel Museum and other sites.  This hotel is just near  the light rail stop of Kiryat Moshe, passing over the String Bridge and quickly arriving to the Mahane Yehuda market and city center.

The rooms have a spectacular urban landscape view of Jerusalem.

Crowne Plaza

Crowne Plaza Hotel Jerusalem is one of the tallest buildings in Jerusalem, with its windows overlooking the beauty of the city. The hotel is located on the top of Givat Ram near the International Convention Center (Binyanei HaUma), just near a light rail stop, and within walking distance of the Museum Complex, the Knesset and the Supreme Court. The hotel offers 396 refurbished and decorated rooms and suites, a new and innovative restaurant, and a luxury Business Club on the 21st floor.

Dan Jerusalem Hotel

The Dan Jerusalem Hotel offers both luxurious accommodation and a phenomenal view. The hotel is built on the slopes of Mount Scopus, overlooking the romantic skyline of Jerusalem and the towering hills of the Judean Desert. It is located in a quiet environment, away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, and offers quick access to the Mount Scopus branches of Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical Center, both world-renowned for their innovations.

Dan Jerusalem Hotel is also the perfect starting point for excursions to the desert, the caves of Qumran, the Dead Sea and Masada, and is a short walk from the Givat Hamivtar light rail station, allowing quick access to the city center.

Teddy Stadium Area Attractions

There are plenty of things to do in Jerusalem in the immediate area of Teddy Stadium.  Since it's recommended to arrive to the games area a few hours before an event in order to avoid traffic jams, you have excellent choices for diversions while you're waiting.

Biblical Zoo

The Biblical Zoo (formally named the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens) is located in a pastoral valley southwest of Jerusalem, near the Malha neighborhood.  The zoo is designed in such a way to provide living conditions for the animals and other fauna as similar as possible to nature. The campus is carefully architected, including a lake with waterfalls, providing a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.  

There are many educational activities and special activities for children - petting corners, guided feedings, story and creative workshops, night tours and more.

Ein Yael Museum

Just near the Biblical Zoo lies the interactive Ein Yael Museum.  This museum provides visitors with experiences which leave behind modern life and returning to a close relationship between humans and the earth.

The area is host to stunning views of ancient terraced land,  magnificent fountain, gardens and agricultural facilities, a reconstructed Roman street, archaeological remains, a Roman villa, baths and impressive mosaics.  The museum  holds a variety of workshops, including restoring ancient crafts such as weaving, pottery, paper production, mosaic, weaving, production of perfumes, mud building, archery, and more.

Jerusalem Malha Mall

Jerusalem's Malha Mall is just across from Teddy Stadium. An indoor three-story shopping center, Malha Mall attracts many residents and visitors from the city and outlying areas. The mall has a large variety of shops, both Israeli and international, representing  sports, cosmetics, fashion, children, coffee shops and a kosher food court.  There are also a variety of activities for children often scheduled.

Jerusalem looks forward to hosting the Maccabiah Games and we hope you'll find your stay as active as you'd like it!

Photo: Itamar Grinberg

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