A Tradition of Excellence
Creating Opportunities for All Jewish Wrestlers
The main objective of Maccabi USA Wrestling, aligning with the mission of our parent organization Maccabi USA, is to "Build Jewish Pride Through Sports". It strengthens Jewish identity, community, and connection to Israel through wrestling-specific athletic, educational, and cultural experiences, including national tournaments and international competition, notably the World Maccabiah Games. Maccabi USA Wrestling continues to "Bridge the Mat" around the world and especially in the USA, bringing Jewish wrestlers of all backgrounds together. We can learn from our differences to come together.
To read more about the mission of Maccabi USA Wrestling, please click here
The vision of Maccabi USA Wrestling is to foster a world where sports serve as a galvanizing force to strengthen Jewish pride, connection, and community. Specifically, they aim to develop and promote wrestling within Jewish communities, using it to build a, "brotherhood and sisterhood" that connects athletes to their heritage and to Israel. We aim to create a community that is inclusive to Jewish wrestlers of all backgrounds and to enhance the Jewish wrestling community. Maccabi USA Wrestling leads the way and sets the example of an inclusive organization.
To learn more about the vision of Maccabi USA Wrestling, please click here.
“The World Maccabiah Games is an incredible vehicle to bring Jewish people from different cultures together, united in faith and athletics."
- Rob Prebish, Maccabi USA Wrestling Coach & World Maccabiah Games Gold Medalist
From the inception of the World Maccabiah Ganes in 1932, wrestling has been an integral part of the movement. Wrestlers such has Henry Wittenberg, Alan Friend, Ken Chertow, and most recently Mitchell Finesilver have competed successfully, not just at the Maccabiah Games, but in national and international wrestling events. Henry Wittenberg was a two-time Olympic medalist, earning a gold in 1948 and a silver in 1952. Fried was an NCAA Champion for Oklahoma State, and Chertow represented the USA in the 1988 Olympics. Finesilver nearly qualified for the 2021 Olympics representing Israel. Check out our recent Maccabiah Games history: click here.
