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    <title>News</title>
    <link>https://maccabi.by</link>
    <description>Here we post the latest news from the team. Trainings, competitions, new partners and important events. Stay up to date with everything happening at Maccabi.BY.</description>
    <language>ru</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:55:20 +0300</lastBuildDate>
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      <title>Maccabiah 2026 Preparations Continue as Planned</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/podgotovka-k-maccabiade-2026</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/podgotovka-k-maccabiade-2026?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:03:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>Maccabiah</category>
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      <description>Despite the challenges facing Jewish communities around the world, preparations for the Maccabiah 2026 are moving forward in full swing – both in Israel and beyond.</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Maccabiah 2026 Preparations Continue as Planned</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6364-3837-4865-b363-623833336634/M25_Backgrounds_and_.jpg"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">Despite the challenges facing Jewish communities around the world, preparations for the Maccabiah 2026 are moving forward in full swing – both in Israel and beyond.</blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Confidence and Support</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">During a recent Zoom meeting of Heads of Delegation, Maccabi World Union and Maccabiah CEO Roy Hessing emphasised that registration numbers remain stable. This reflects a high level of commitment and trust from communities worldwide.</div><blockquote class="t-redactor__quote"><em>"We receive daily enquiries from athletes who express their desire to come to Israel, despite the difficult situation,"  </em>he noted. <em>"They share their support and determination, and that gives us the strength to continue our work."</em></blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Registration Deadline Extended</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">To allow more athletes the opportunity to take part in the upcoming Games, the deadline for submitting the EF3 form has been extended to <strong>15 April 2026</strong>.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Possible Adjustments</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">According to Maccabiah Chairman Assaf Goren, possible adjustments to the structure of the Games are currently being considered in light of the current situation.</div><blockquote class="t-redactor__quote"><em>"We are approaching the necessary preparations responsibly, with caution and close attention to developments," </em>he stated. <em>"Our goal is to make the Maccabiah a meaningful, well-organised and unifying event for all delegations and participants. After the Passover holiday, we will reassess – in light of developments – the format, scale and any necessary adjustments to the Maccabiah."</em></blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Our Spirit of Unity</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Despite the difficult times for Jewish communities around the world, our Maccabi spirit – unity, resilience and hope – matters more than ever. We look forward to the upcoming Maccabiah as a significant moment of connection, pride and joy for all of us.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Maccabi BY: A Time of Growth and New Opportunities</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">While the world prepares for the main sporting event, Maccabi BY is actively expanding. Athletes from a wide range of disciplines are joining our team – from basketball to flag football, hockey and billiards. We welcome everyone who shares our values and wants to be part of a larger movement.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">We continue to train, strengthen our team spirit and build plans for the future. And who knows – perhaps very soon, our athletes will get the chance to make their mark on the international stage that the Maccabi movement opens up.</div>]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>Master of Sport and Symbol of Resilience: The Story of Maya Krapina</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/master-sporta-maya-krapina</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/master-sporta-maya-krapina?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 13:16:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>History</category>
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      <description>A USSR champion in acrobatics who survived the ghetto and dedicated her life to sport.</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Master of Sport and Symbol of Resilience: The Story of Maya Krapina</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3732-3730-4432-b332-666363373565/image_2026-05-07_11-.png"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">Maya Krapina (née Levina) was born in Minsk on 20 December 1935. She became a Master of Sport of the USSR and a national champion in acrobatics, but her path to victory was incredibly difficult. She managed to survive the Minsk Ghetto, losing almost her entire family, and found the strength not only to rebuild her life but also to reach the highest levels in sport, and later to raise generations of young athletes.</blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Childhood Interrupted by War</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Maya grew up in a large and close-knit Jewish family. Her grandfather, Borukh Levin, was a skilled cabinetmaker, and the family lived in an atmosphere of warmth and peace. Maya warmly remembered the Shabbat dinners – when the whole house was filled with light and a sense of sacredness.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">When the war broke out, the Levin family tried to evacuate, but after a bombing raid they were forced to return to Minsk. Soon after, they found themselves in the ghetto. Maya lost her father during one of the first pogroms. Her mother Sima, together with her younger sister Sara, was hanged on Yubileynaya Square – accused of having ties with partisans. Her youngest sister Lyuba suffocated in a cramped hiding place when their mother, trying to calm her in the dark, accidentally held her too tightly.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Of the entire large family, only Maya, her brother Iosif, and her older sister Valya – who had been evacuated – survived.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Escape and Rescue</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">In the autumn of 1943, when word spread through the ghetto of an impending Aktion, Maya's 13-year-old brother Iosif decided to escape to the partisans. He managed to negotiate with the partisan detachment named after M.I. Kutuzov (commanded by Israel Lapidus) that he would lead two people out of the ghetto, and afterwards he would be able to take his sister.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">On 23 October 1943, Maya saw gas vans entering the ghetto. She warned her brother, and they decided to flee immediately. Through the cemetery, crawling under the barbed wire, they made it to the railway station. Other children followed – about twenty of them. The older boys carried the weakened, sick Maya on their shoulders. In this way they reached the village of Porechye, where the partisans were based.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">A local woman, Anastasia Zinovyevna Khurs, took Maya in.</div><blockquote class="t-redactor__quote"><em>"I probably wouldn't have survived if it weren't for Aunt Nastya," </em>Maya later recalled. <em>"She treated me like her own daughter. She didn't eat enough herself, but she tried to feed me. She nursed me and cared for me as best she could."</em></blockquote><div class="t-redactor__text">After the liberation of Belarus in the summer of 1944, Anastasia Khurs placed Maya in an orphanage. Later, she was found by her uncle, and then by her brother Iosif, who had gone through the war and become a son of his regiment.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3634-6536-4362-a332-653532653632/1028662156_0_0_1920_.webp"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">The Path into Sport</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">After the orphanage, Maya left to study at a physical education college in Vitebsk. She first took up rhythmic gymnastics, but later switched to acrobatics – and this sport became her true calling.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">In 1957, Maya married Igor Krapin. In 1958, their daughter was born. Maya worked as a coach at a children's sports school at the Palace of Pioneers in Vitebsk, passing on her love of sport to the younger generation.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">The Moment of Glory</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">The year 1960 was a turning point in the lives of Maya and Igor. The couple performed successfully at the USSR Acrobatics Championship in Lviv and won the title of national champions. Maya was awarded the title of Master of Sport of the USSR.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">That same year, they were invited to perform sports-acrobatic sketches on the Belarusian stage. The couple agreed and moved to Minsk, where they continued their studies by correspondence at the Institute of Physical Education.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">From 1961 to 1981, Maya and Igor Krapin worked as artists with the Belarusian State Philharmonic, delighting audiences with their performances, which combined high-level sports technique with artistry.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Raising a New Generation</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">After retiring in 1981, Maya and Igor were invited to the Palace of Culture of Railway Workers in Minsk. There they became directors of the variety-circus ensemble "Tranzit", continuing to teach young people acrobatics and stagecraft.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Maya Krapina's contribution to the development of sport and culture in Belarus cannot be overstated. She raised more than one generation of athletes and performers, and her own journey – from survival in the ghetto to the championship podium – remains an example of incredible strength of spirit.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Recognition</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">In 1994, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial awarded Anastasia Khurs, Maya's rescuer, the honorary title of Righteous Among the Nations. In 2000, a monument was unveiled in the village of Porechye to the courageous people who saved Jewish children during the war.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Maya Krapina passed away on 29 July 2018, but her story and her sporting legacy continue to live on.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6335-3131-4365-b036-666231616639/_________________200.jpeg">]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>Become Part of Maccabi BY!</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/stan-chastyu-maccabi-by</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/stan-chastyu-maccabi-by?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 13:34:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>Team News</category>
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      <description>Join a movement that unites athletes from all over the world.</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Become Part of Maccabi BY!</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6532-3539-4633-b136-303039323964/69f8fa6b20683_1920.jpg"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">Maccabi BY is the official representative of the <a href="https://www.maccabi.org/">Maccabi World Union </a>in Belarus. We are building a strong team to represent our country with pride on the national and international stage – and we are inviting you to become part of it.</blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Who Can Join?</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">We are open to athletes of all levels – from amateurs to professionals. What matters most is the desire to grow, to compete, and to share our values: respect for sport, unity, and the drive to win.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Which Sports Do We Offer?</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Maccabi BY is currently forming teams in the following disciplines:<br /><br /><ul><li data-list="bullet">Futsal</li><li data-list="bullet">Flag Football</li><li data-list="bullet">Basketball 3x3, 5x5</li><li data-list="bullet">Boccia (a ball sport for people with limited mobility)</li><li data-list="bullet">Hockey</li><li data-list="bullet">Chess</li><li data-list="bullet">Table Tennis</li><li data-list="bullet">Billiards</li><li data-list="bullet">And other disciplines – we are open to your suggestions</li></ul></div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Our Pride: The Maccabi IRO Futsal Team</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Our futsal team, Maccabi IRO, is already competing actively in the Premier League. They are a perfect example of how sporting passion and team spirit deliver results. You can follow the match schedule, results and the team's league position on the official Premier League website.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Why Choose Maccabi BY?</h4><div class="t-redactor__text"><strong>Opportunity to grow. </strong>Training sessions, camps and competitions under the guidance of experienced coaches.</div><div class="t-redactor__text"><strong>Become part of a global movement.</strong> Maccabi brings together 450,000 athletes in more than 70 countries.</div><div class="t-redactor__text"><strong>Aim for the international level. </strong>Participation in tournaments and the prospect of competing at the Maccabiah – one of the largest sporting events in the world.</div><div class="t-redactor__text"><strong>A supportive team.</strong> We back each other and help everyone reach their full potential.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">How to Apply?</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Fill in the short form on our website: provide your name, contact details and your sport. Our specialists will get in touch to tell you about training sessions and upcoming events.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Together We Are Stronger!</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Maccabi BY is more than just a team. We are reviving sporting traditions and building a future in which every athlete has a chance to make their mark on the world stage. Join us.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6632-3663-4431-a533-663132343630/69f8fa5e291df_1920.jpg">]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>Without memory of the past, there is no future</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/bez-pamyati-o-proshlom-net-buduschego</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/bez-pamyati-o-proshlom-net-buduschego?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2026 14:37:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>Team News</category>
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      <description>On 9 May, the Maccabi BY team joined a memorial gathering at the Yama Holocaust memorial site in Minsk.</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Without memory of the past, there is no future</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6234-3062-4336-a263-343839646661/WhatsApp_Image_2026-.jpeg"/></figure><div class="t-redactor__text">On 9 May, representatives of Maccabi BY took part in a commemorative gathering at the Yama memorial complex, honouring the memory of 800,000 Belarusian Jews – victims of Nazi genocide.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">People live on as long as their memory lives on.</div>]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>Maccabi IRO's Debut Season: Pride, Quarter-Finals and a Huge Thank You</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/itogi-sezona</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/itogi-sezona?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 14:41:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>Team News</category>
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      <description>The Maccabi IRO futsal team has finished its debut season in the Minsk Premier League – and it was a truly impressive start!</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Maccabi IRO's Debut Season: Pride, Quarter-Finals and a Huge Thank You</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3161-6138-4335-b961-313534333063/photo_2026-05-12_214.jpeg"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">The Maccabi IRO futsal team has completed its first season in the Minsk Premier League. And what a start it was!</blockquote><div class="t-redactor__text">It all began with a few enthusiasts brought together by their love of sport and their Jewish roots. They decided to create a team – and they made it happen. In October 2025, Maccabi IRO entered the league and began their journey. In their very first season, the team managed to reach the play-offs and advance to the quarter-finals. A solid result for a first and such a serious challenge.</div><div class="t-redactor__text"><strong>We extend our huge gratitude to all the athletes who took part in the season, and to the organising team for their belief in the project.</strong></div><div class="t-redactor__text">Thank you for your dedication, your performance and the Maccabi spirit. This season is just the beginning. More to come!</div>]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>A New Chapter in Partnership: Maccabi BY Meets with The Together Plan</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/novyy-etap-partnerstva-the-together-plan</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/novyy-etap-partnerstva-the-together-plan?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 14:47:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>Team News</category>
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      <description>Developing cooperation, supporting sport and opening new horizons for the Belarusian team!</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>A New Chapter in Partnership: Maccabi BY Meets with The Together Plan</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3565-6565-4137-a366-363539313636/macccabi_by_and_ttp.jpg"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">Today in Minsk, representatives of Maccabi BY held an important meeting with the British charity The Together Plan. The meeting was attended by one of the organisation's founders, Debra Brunner, and Chair of the Board, Tracey Kieve. The main outcomes of the talks were the development of a joint working strategy and discussions on new partnership formats.</blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Who Are The Together Plan?</h4><div class="t-redactor__text"><a href="https://www.thetogetherplan.com/">The Together Plan</a> is a British charity that works with Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The organisation supports community development through historical research, education, cultural events and dialogue.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The charity's projects support Jewish communities, former ghetto prisoners and Holocaust survivors, people with special needs, children of all ages and large families.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6630-3861-4437-a163-363437336239/__.jpg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">The Aid Together Project</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Of particular note is the <a href="https://www.thetogetherplan.com/our-projects/community/aid-together/">Aid Together project </a>– an initiative that was born even before The Together Plan was officially registered as a charity and which relies entirely on volunteers. Volunteers collect, sort and pack clothing, footwear, toys, children's goods, art materials and resources for Jewish community centres. Every year, the organisation sends around 13 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Belarus.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Today, a new direction within Aid Together was announced: <strong>a collection of sports equipment for Maccabi BY</strong>. This is an important step in the development of our team, which will allow us to attract more athletes and provide them with the necessary equipment for training and competitions.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Strategy Discussions and New Partnership Formats</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">During the meeting, both sides discussed long-term cooperation plans. A strategy for working with The Together Plan was developed, key priorities for collaboration were identified, and new partnership opportunities were explored. The Together Plan has long supported Jewish communities in Belarus, and now this cooperation is moving to a new level – through support for the Maccabi BY sporting movement.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3838-3238-4336-b964-396464353463/_.jpg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">An Interesting Fact: Tracey Kieve Is Part of the Maccabi Family!</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">It is worth noting that Tracey Kieve, Chair of The Together Plan, is herself part of <strong>the Maccabi UK</strong> and actively plays tennis. This once again demonstrates how naturally our values and missions intertwine. We are delighted that our partners not only support us from afar, but also share the philosophy of Maccabi – unity through sport.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Together Towards New Achievements</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Maccabi BY thanks Debra Brunner, Tracey Kieve and the entire The Together Plan team for their support and readiness for long-term cooperation. We are confident that together we can not only develop sport in Belarus, but also strengthen international ties, reviving the traditions of Maccabi on our land.</div><div class="t-redactor__text"><em>Stay tuned – there is much more to come!</em></div>]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>Maccabi BY Visits the "Memory Embrace" Memorial in Brest</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/maccabi-by-posetil-lapidariy-v-obyatiyah-pamyati-brest</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/maccabi-by-posetil-lapidariy-v-obyatiyah-pamyati-brest?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 14:57:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>Team News</category>
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      <description>The Maccabi BY team travelled to Brest to visit the "Memory Embrace" memorial complex – the first lapidarium in Belarus.</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Maccabi BY Visits the "Memory Embrace" Memorial in Brest</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3131-3333-4161-b234-366333663762/WhatsApp_Image_2026-.jpeg"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">The Maccabi BY team travelled to Brest to visit the "Memory Embrace" memorial complex – the first lapidarium in Belarus, opened a year ago on the site of a centuries-old Jewish cemetery.</blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Where Stones Tell Stories</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">A lapidarium (from the Latin <em>lapis</em> – "stone") is a type of open-air memorial museum that preserves surviving stone monuments. The Brest complex contains over <strong>1,200 fragments of matzevot </strong>(Jewish gravestones) discovered throughout the city – on the former cemetery grounds, near the walls of the Brest Fortress, in residential courtyards, old workshops and even in building foundations. Each stone is a unique artefact inscribed with names, dates and epitaphs in Hebrew and Yiddish.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The Jewish cemetery in Brest was established in 1835. Over its 106-year history, <strong>between 35,000 and 50,000 people </strong>were buried here, making it one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in modern-day Belarus. During the Second World War, the cemetery was desecrated by the Nazis: matzevot were torn out and used as building materials – to pave roads, reinforce foundations and even construct private homes.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6137-3230-4062-b332-353533666337/Colourised_image_of_.jpg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Two Decades of Struggle for Memory</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">The idea of creating a lapidarium was first proposed in 2004, but the project faced years of delays. Work only resumed in 2023. A key role in its realisation was played by <strong>the Jewish Religious Union of the Republic of Belarus </strong>and <strong>The Together Plan</strong> – a British charity with which Maccabi BY actively cooperates.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The project also received support from the Brest Regional Executive Committee and renowned American landscape architect Brad J. Goldberg, who developed the memorial's design concept.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3764-6636-4562-b538-343763306438/18.jpeg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">The Opening Ceremony</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">The lapidarium was officially opened on 28 July 2025 – the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Brest from Nazi occupation. The date was chosen deliberately: the memory of the victims was restored on the very day the city was freed.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">At the opening ceremony, Artur Livshyts, Chairman of the Jewish Religious Union, said:</div><blockquote class="t-redactor__quote"><em>"A lapidarium of this scale is the first of its kind in Belarus. This project embodies international cooperation. We have brought home over 1,200 gravestones – we have brought back the memory of those who rest beneath them."</em></blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Memory Embrace</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">The memorial's name, "Memory Embrace," reflects its design concept. The walls of the lapidarium symbolise an embrace – a mother's arms, now protecting the gravestones. On the hill, the stones face in different directions, as if silently speaking to one another, creating a space for visitors to quietly reflect and remember.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">At the entrance, a memorial plaque bears inscriptions in four languages.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6466-3966-4262-b136-336134336439/COLLAGE_Memory_Embra.png"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Maccabi BY: Honouring Memory and Connecting Generations</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">For the Maccabi BY team, this visit was more than just an excursion – it was a deeply personal experience. It reminded us that through collective effort, we can not only build the future but also restore the dignity of the past.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The memory of lost communities and the revival of Maccabi sporting traditions are part of the same story. We preserve the past in order to build a strong future. We are proud that our partners – the Jewish Religious Union and The Together Plan – played a central role in restoring this piece of history.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3538-6464-4434-a539-393233343638/WhatsApp_Image_2026-.jpeg"><div class="t-redactor__text"><em>Maccabi BY extends its gratitude to everyone who contributed to the creation of this unique memorial. We will not forget.</em></div>]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>Where It All Began: The History of the Maccabi Movement in Belarus, Rooted in the Early 20th Century</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/s-chego-nachinalsya-makkabi-v-belarusi-istoriya-nachala-xx-veka</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/s-chego-nachinalsya-makkabi-v-belarusi-istoriya-nachala-xx-veka?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:08:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>History</category>
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      <description>Today, the Maccabi BY brand represents modern sports facilities, 3x3 streetball and international tournaments. We are building the future, but we remember where it all began.</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Where It All Began: The History of the Maccabi Movement in Belarus, Rooted in the Early 20th Century</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6162-3863-4631-a564-376338386535/2026-06-01_163440.jpg"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">Today, the Maccabi BY brand represents modern sports facilities, 3x3 streetball and international tournaments. We are building the future, but we remember where it all started. The history of Belarusian Maccabi is a story of passion for sport, strength of character and forward momentum – and it continues to this day.</blockquote><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">How It All Began</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">In the late 19th century, a movement of Jewish sports clubs emerged in Europe. In 1912, these clubs were united in Palestine into the Maccabean Federation. The name was chosen in honour of the Maccabees – the ancient Jewish warriors who symbolise strength, valour and national pride.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">In 1921, the Maccabi World Union was officially established, bringing together Jewish sports associations from around the world. From that point on, the movement began to develop actively in Belarus, which at the time was part of Poland.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Jewish population in the cities of Western Belarus was substantial. In Grodno, for example, Jews made up to 40% of the residents, and sport was given considerable attention within the community. It was here that the first Maccabi sports clubs began to appear.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Maccabi in Grodno: One of the First and Strongest</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Grodno Maccabi (Żydowski Klub Sportowy "Makabi") was founded in 1922. It was one of the first Jewish sports clubs on the territory of modern Belarus. The team played in blue colours and quickly gained popularity among the townspeople.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Interestingly, due to pressure from the Polish authorities, the club changed its name to "Hasmonea" for a year in 1924, but from 1925 onwards and right up until 1939, it once again competed under the name Maccabi.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The Maccabi football team regularly took part in the championships of Grodno, the Vilnius Football District and the Białystok District Football Union. From 1929, the club became a permanent participant in Class A championships.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The team achieved particular success in 1932, finishing third in the championship with 15 points. Between 1933 and 1936, Maccabi held 2nd–3rd place in their Class A subgroup. In 1937, the Grodno team again became bronze medallists of the Białystok District Championship, and in 1938 they took silver, losing only to WKS Grodno.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Maccabi's best players regularly represented the Grodno select team in friendly matches. For example, in June 1939, in a winning match for Grodno against the Lithuanian champions LGSF from Kaunas, Maccabi defender Shuster took to the field.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6338-3930-4432-a166-386436373030/Vol231a.jpg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Maccabi in Other Cities of Belarus</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">Clubs named Maccabi existed in almost every city with a Jewish population. Documentary evidence confirms the presence of Maccabi teams and sports societies in Brest, Pinsk, Slonim, Vitebsk and Minsk.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">In Slonim, for example, archival materials attest to the active work of the Maccabi movement in the 1920s. Photographs have survived showing the football team, the skiing section and a group of cyclists from Slonim Maccabi. These images are priceless evidence of Jewish sporting life in interwar Belarus.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">In Brest and Pinsk, Maccabi clubs were also highly active, drawing young people into sport and promoting a healthy lifestyle.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6530-3363-4839-a564-346238386630/Vol227.jpg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Sport for Everyone: The Versatility of the Clubs</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">A key feature of the early Maccabi clubs was their versatility. They were not narrowly focused football or athletics sections. Young people could take part in gymnastics, athletics, swimming, cycling and even weightlifting.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">In Grodno, alongside the football team, other sports sections were also active. The club's board was located in the former Radziwiłł Palace on Mostovaya Street, and the Maccabi sports ground was situated in the park behind the Batory department store.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3734-6533-4730-b436-343735393466/Vol233a.jpg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Own Stadiums and Infrastructure</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">In the 1920s and 1930s, Maccabi clubs in Grodno, Pinsk and Brest not only trained but also built their own sports grounds. These matches drew full stands of spectators – city derbies between Jewish Maccabi and Polish teams (Kresovia, WKS) were hugely popular.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Maccabi played its main matches at the city stadium on Sobieskiego Street 3 (now Zakharova Street). However, the Jewish community had plans to build its own stadium, to avoid dependence on the Polish authorities, with whom relations were not always easy.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Connection to the Global Movement</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">It is important to note that Belarusian Maccabi clubs were part of a global network. The Maccabi World Union coordinated the activities of Jewish sports societies across Europe, including the territory of modern Belarus.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The clubs exchanged experience and played friendly matches against teams from Vilnius, Warsaw and other cities. For example, in the 1930 season, Grodno Maccabi defeated the Vilnius teams Ognisko (3:1) and Maccabi Vilnius (2:0), and drew with the strong Warsaw side AZS.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Tragic End and Revival</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">With the outbreak of the Second World War and the subsequent Nazi occupation, the activities of Jewish sports clubs on Belarusian territory came to an end. In Grodno, the Maccabi club ceased to exist at the start of the war.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Many documents and photographs were lost during the occupation. Some images were taken out before the war and are now preserved in archives and private collections around the world.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Today, Maccabi BY is reviving these traditions. We are building a new team, open to athletes of all nationalities. We want to restore the former glory of the Maccabi sporting movement in Belarus and represent our country with pride on both the national and international stage.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The history of Belarusian Maccabi is a testament to how sport unites people, builds character and helps preserve national identity. And this story continues right now.</div>]]></turbo:content>
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      <title>Bringing Memory Back: A New Chapter in the History of the Jewish Cemetery on Sukhaya Street in Minsk</title>
      <link>https://maccabi.by/news/en/evreyskoe-kladbishche-na-suhoy</link>
      <amplink>https://maccabi.by/news/en/evreyskoe-kladbishche-na-suhoy?amp=true</amplink>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:18:00 +0300</pubDate>
      <category>Team News</category>
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      <description>The Jewish Religious Union of the Republic of Belarus continues its work to preserve Jewish heritage in Minsk. Maccabi BY has joined this important initiative.</description>
      <turbo:content><![CDATA[<header><h1>Bringing Memory Back: A New Chapter in the History of the Jewish Cemetery on Sukhaya Street in Minsk</h1></header><figure><img alt="" src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6466-6462-4138-b938-633337643738/WhatsApp_Image_2026-.jpeg"/></figure><blockquote class="t-redactor__preface">The Jewish Religious Union of the Republic of Belarus continues its work to preserve Jewish heritage in Minsk. Maccabi BY has joined this important initiative.</blockquote><div class="t-redactor__text">On 23 June 2026, having received official permission from the authorities, the Union began the careful relocation of approximately 250 surviving matzevot (Jewish gravestones) and their fragments from the memorial park on Sukhaya Street. The stones were moved to the Main Synagogue on Daumana Street, where they will be cleaned, documented and catalogued.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">A Site with a Complex History</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">The Jewish cemetery on Sukhaya Street is one of the most significant sites in the history of Minsk's Jewish community. Established in 1868, it served for over a century as the city's main Jewish burial ground. Thousands of people were laid to rest here: rabbis, scholars, public figures, and ordinary families whose lives were closely intertwined with the history of the city.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">During the war, the cemetery found itself within the territory of the Minsk Ghetto. It became not only a place of memory but also a site of profound tragedy. Victims of Nazi persecution were brought here, including Jews deported from across Europe.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3737-3835-4532-b633-653665633661/2026-06-25_000729.jpg"><div class="t-redactor__text">In the early 1970s, the cemetery was closed. By the 1990s, most of the area had been levelled, and a small memorial park was created on the site. Several monuments were erected to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. But the gravestones themselves – around 250 in total – lay scattered on the ground for years, deteriorating in the elements.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">For the first time in decades, these stones have received the care and respect they deserve. The Jewish Religious Union, together with its partners, obtained permission to remove them from the park and place them in a secure location for preservation.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3466-3330-4335-a332-613865366434/WhatsApp_Image_2026-.jpeg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">How Maccabi BY Supports This Project</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">For us, the mission of the Maccabi movement is about more than just sport. It is also about respect for our history, our traditions and our memory. We see our role not only in preparing athletes for international competitions, but also in being part of a larger story.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Preserving Jewish heritage in Belarus is directly connected to what we do. After all, we are reviving not just a sports club, but traditions that were part of Jewish life in Belarus for decades.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">That is why we are supporting the Jewish Religious Union in the Sukhaya Street project. For us, this is not just charity – it is a continuation of our mission. We are proud to contribute to restoring the memory of those who lived on this land before us. We believe that the revival of sporting traditions and the preservation of historical memory go hand in hand.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild6537-3436-4237-a366-323734353937/WhatsApp_Image_2026-.jpeg"><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">What Happens Next</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">In the coming months, every stone and fragment will be cleaned and documented. Specialists will read and record all inscriptions, preserving names, dates and other details. This painstaking work is essential to ensure that this information is not lost to future generations. Each stone will be photographed, the inscriptions will be translated, and all data will be entered into a catalogue.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">Once this work is complete, plans will be developed for a lapidarium on the cemetery site – a memorial where all the preserved gravestones will be integrated into a unified architectural space. Instead of stones scattered across the ground, there will be a place of remembrance.</div><h4  class="t-redactor__h4">Why It Matters</h4><div class="t-redactor__text">This project goes far beyond the preservation of old stones. It is about reconnecting the past with the present. It ensures that those living in Minsk today can see physical traces of the Jewish life that existed here for centuries. The lapidarium on the site of the former cemetery will become more than just a memorial – it will be a place where visitors can connect with the history of the city and the people who built it.</div><div class="t-redactor__text">The work is being carried out by the Jewish Religious Union with the support of Maccabi BY, The Together Plan and other partners. For years, these stones lay forgotten. Now, at last, they have been remembered.</div><img src="https://static.tildacdn.com/tild3132-3261-4437-a335-653735383762/WhatsApp_Image_2026-.jpeg"><div class="t-redactor__text"><em>Maccabi BY is proud to contribute to this important cause. Together with our partners, we continue working to ensure that the past is not forgotten and that the future is built on a strong foundation of tradition and respect.</em></div>]]></turbo:content>
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