Maccabiah: An Alternative Visual History
The Maccabiah, founded in 1932, is not only the world’s third-largest sporting event, but also a highly influential diplomatic mechanism. Since its inception, it has served as a tool for encouraging Aliyah (immigration to Israel), shaping the image of the “New Jew,” strengthening ties with Jewish communities around the world, and reinforcing Israel’s position on the global stage.
This exhibition presents an interpretive reimagining of the first twelve Maccabiah posters, redesigned by students from the Department of Visual Communication at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Through historical and visual research, the works deconstruct and reconstruct the myths, images, and narratives that have shaped the Maccabiah over the years, examining the power of graphic imagery to shape perception, identity, and collective memory.
This project was developed in collaboration with the Sports Diplomacy Research Center at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Jewish Sports Museum, and the Maccabiah.
Research Team on behalf of Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem
Lead Researcher and Exhibition Curator: Idan Vaknin
Head of the Research and Innovation Authority and Associate Curator: Dr. Tal Hasdai-Rifa
Participating Students: Ilan Priel, Tal Nagel, Noga Avni, Karin Gotin, Dolev Harel, Or Dahan, Tommy Shambon, Aviya Druzin, Tomer Geva, Daniel Liberman, Yael Hasson, Tamar Blur
Research Team on behalf of the Center for Sport Diplomacy, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Prof. Sharon Pardo, Dr. Hila Zehavi, Dr. Sophia Solomon, Adi Gura
In collaboration with the Iris Smith World Jewish Sports Museum
