1950 Maccabiah Games
The 3rd Maccabiah () took place during Sukkot from September 27 to October 8, 1950. It was the third edition of the Maccabiah Games and the first held since the independence of the State of Israel; 15 years after the previous Maccabiah.

History

The 3rd Maccabiah was originally scheduled to take place three years after the 2nd Maccabiah in Spring of 1931. Preparations began; posters were created; and distinguished guests such as the Chief Rabbi of Romanian Jewry, Jacob Itzhak Niemirower came to Eretz Yisrael. However, for a number of reasons, such as the British Authorities' refusal to approve the games (due to illegal immigration concerns) and the Arab revolt, the games were postponed indefinitely. The Maccabiah was further delayed due to World War II and the 1947–1949 Palestine war.

The final date for the third Maccabiah was decided upon at the Third World Congress of Maccabi in December 1948, during the war. At the same meeting it was also agreed that games will not be held on Saturdays and holidays.

Eight countries entered the competition for the first time, among them Argentina, Canada, India and Sweden.

Notable medalists
Gold medals were earned by Americans Henry Wittenberg in wrestling, Frank Spellman (who two years earlier had won a gold medal at the Olympics) in weightlifting, Henry Laskau in racewalking,  and 3-time Pan American Games gold medalists Allan Kwartler and Daniel Bukantz (foil) in fencing. Canada earned 14 medals in its first Games.

Ben Helfgott, a concentration camp survivor, won the weightlifting gold medal in the lightweight class for Great Britain.

Participating communities

References

External links 

Summaries of each of the Games

 
Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
1950s in Tel Aviv