New exhibition showcases Israeli sports amid year of war

A new exhibition called “Unbroken” examines Israeli sports and the resilience of the Jewish spirit following the traumatic Oct. 7 Hamas surprise invasion and mass terror attack on Israeli southern border communities last year.

The “Unbroken” exhibition, which opened on Oct. 15 at the World Jewish Sports Museum in Ramat Gan, aims to tell the story of sports in the State of Israel after October 2023 from the perspective of survivors and victims of the attack and their families.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Israeli Ministry of Culture & Sports and the Maccabi World Union, the world’s largest Jewish sports organization

Osnat Zur, the director of the World Jewish Sports Museum, addressed the complex relationship between sports and war in Israeli history, especially after Oct. 7, 2023.

“On the face of it, sports and war are opposites, but the State of Israel clung to sports during the difficult hours of the war, creating unforgettable moments of grace and pride,” Zur explained.

“Sports are a unifying factor, fostering resilience, healing, and strength, as has been evident since October 7 across sports clubs in Israel. We are excited to share these powerful stories of resilience and spirit as part of our commitment to preserving Jewish sports history wherever it is,” she added.

The first part of the exhibition, “Sports on October 7,” recalls the stories of Israeli Jewish athletes who were either murdered or survived the Hamas atrocities. The second portion of the exhibition examines the responses of sports fans to the war and the government's efforts to free the Israeli hostages and bring them home from Gaza. The third part of the exhibition highlights Israel's sports successes over the last year.

The exhibition curator, Adi Rubinstein, highlighted the significance of sports achievements amid the ongoing war.

“One of the few things that gave hope to the Israeli people during this terrible year was sports. Because, amazingly, this actually was the best year in sports that Israel has had since it was established,” Rubinstein said.

After being showcased in Israel, the exhibition is scheduled to travel to New York, Florida and Switzerland.

Despite security threats and anti-Israel boycott calls, Israeli athletes won 7 Olympic medals at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, including one gold, five silver and one bronze.

Israeli windsurfer Olympic athlete Tom Reuveny won a gold medal in the men’s iQFOiL windsurfing finals in Marseille, France. He dedicated his gold medal to the Israeli soldiers who have been defending the Jewish state against numerous threats in the south and the north this past year.

“I did it for our brave soldiers,” Reuveny stated.

In addition, Israeli female judoka, Raz Hershko, and the male gymnast, Artem Dolgopyat, both won silver medals at the Olympics.

In February, Israeli female swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko won a silver medal at the World Championship Games in Qatar, despite being subjected to boos from portions of the audience.

“I’ve been here a week, I hear all these noises but I’m with earplugs. I’m in my zone. I’m here to do what I love to do, which is sports,” Gorbenko told media representatives. “I’m here to represent my country…And I’m doing this with the Israeli flag and I’m proud of that. And whoever doesn’t like me, it’s just not my problem,” she added.

Amir Gissin, director-general of Maccabi World Union, believes that sports offer hope and inspiration for a better future.

“Sports help us hold onto hope for a brighter future, teaching us that even when we fall on our knees, feeling shattered and broken, we can take a deep breath, gather the fragments, look toward the horizon, rise to our feet, and carry on,” Gissin said.