On May 8, 1972, Palestinian terrorists hijacked Belgian airliner Sabena Flight 571 en route from Vienna to Tel Aviv. The four terrorists--two men and two women--were part of the Black September terror organization, the same group that, just four months later, would perpetrate the notorious Munich Olympics massacre. Motivation for the hijacking stemmed from lingering anger over Israel’s success during the Six Day War in 1967. Terror organizations were looking to indiscriminately kill Israelis around the …More

David Berger, an Israeli weightlifter who died during the hostage standoff at the 1972 Munich Olympics, will be inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. The American-born athlete won bronze and gold medals in both the 1965 and 1969 Maccabiah Games, before making aliyah to Israel in 1970 and moving to Tel Aviv. Berger believed that sports were about more than competition and winning—he saw athletics as a tool to promote camaraderie and break through social barriers. As an Israeli citizen, …More

2012 was a year full of highs and lows for Jewish sports and athletes. Here are the ones that stood out, for better and for worse, in this athletic year. A Year to Remember Aly Raisman will remember 2012 as the year she won the Olympic Gold at the London Games, and became America’s sweetheart. Raisman chose the Jewish song “Hava Nagila” as her floor routine soundtrack, and became not only the first American to win the gold medal on the floor, but a role model for Jewish girls as well. The young …More

Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, former IDF head and cabinet minister who was key in several secret Israeli operations, died today at the age of 68 after battling cancer for years. Lipkin-Shahak began his service as part of a paratrooper brigade, taking part in the 1973 Beirut raid against top commanders in Black September, the group responsible for the Munich 11 killings. The two-time Medal of Courage recipient was side by side with comrade Ehud Barak on that mission, who Lipkin-Shahak would later serve under when Barak …More

Just in time for the close of 2012, the Anti-Defamation League has published its list of the top 10 issues the Jewish community faced this past year. Topics ranged from the 40th anniversary of Munich 11 to Operation Pillar of Defense, with issues taking place in the US, Europe and Israel. "While it isn't always true, this year was a year with particular emphasis on events overseas," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director. "For us at ADL, and indeed for the entire Jewish community in America, which has …More

Stereotypes have followed Jews all across the globe. When it comes to sports, Jews are still considered the underdogs, or widely misrepresented as management, as opposed to athletes. New book “Jewish Jocks: An Unorthodox Hall of Fame” attempts to addresses these issues and change the way Jewish athletes are viewed. In their introduction to “Jewish Jocks,” New Republic editor Franklin Foer and former Tablet Magazine editor Marc Tracy refer to a “Jewish ambivalence” about sports, …More

Becky Griffin is an Israeli-American television journalist living in New York. A basketball and music lover, Becky can be found on Twitter at @DorothyofIsrael. When it comes to Jewish pride, this year’s Olympic Games will be remembered mainly because of two medals, both won by American Jews. The first is of course the gold achieved by Aly Raisman in her winning “Hava Nagila” floor routine for the USA Gymnastics team, and her subsequent tribute to the 11 members of the Israeli team murdered by …More

Ankie Spitzer spoke at a memorial in Germany yesterday, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Munich massacre. Spitzer is the widow of Andre Spitzer, one of the 11 Israeli athletes killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Olympic games. The tragedy was marked with a ceremony at the Furstenfeldbruck airfield in Munich, where the final showdown between German police and the terrorists took place four decades ago. In her remarks, Spitzer criticized the International Olympic Committee, which refused to …More

Jewish leaders criticize International Olympic Committee at Munich memorial. [Haaretz] Chicago Jewish leaders decry attack on Jerusalem monastery. [JUF] Rosh Hashanah has one Jewish writer questioning her faith. [Huffington Post] Jewish texts offer no easy answers on labor rights issues. [Washington Post] A little Jewish deli for everyone. [Black Book] US declines sanctions against Russia in Jewish literature battle. [Algemeiner] A Q&A with Israeli Grammy winner Miri Ben-Ari. [Tablet] …More

Today marks exactly 40 years since Palestinian terrorists kidnapped and killed 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. It is an anniversary being marked around the world by news outlets, politicians, Jewish organizations, and individuals who have promised to never forget. In Munich this morning, diplomats including Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom and relatives of the slain attended a ceremony to mark the occasion. Wreaths were laid at the Fuerstenfeldbruck airfield, where the final showdown took …More

September 5th marks exactly four decades since a group of Jewish fencers, weightlifters and coaches was killed in a senseless pursuit of terrorism. The story of the Munich massacre has seeped into the public consciousness—books, films and documentaries have covered the subject at length. Global efforts and advocates like Ankie Spitzer and Ilana Romano have ensured that the 11 Israeli athletes murdered by Palestinians at the ’72 Olympics have not been forgotten. Still, there remains much that is …More

Aly Raisman keeps piling up the honors. The 18-year-old gymnast will be inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame next April, after bringing home two gold medals and a bronze at this summer’s Olympic games. “She did so outstanding at these Olympics, the [Hall of Fame] Committee was unanimous in their decision to induct her now,” Alan Freedman, the Hall of Fame Director, told Boston.com. “Aly was our 2011 Pearl D. Mazor Outstanding Jewish Female High School Scholar Athlete of …More