020 More than Ever
The opening ceremony of the 22nd Maccabiah Games would have taken place tonight, July 10th 2025, in Jerusalem. This edition of the Maccabiah was to see more than 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries competing in more than 40 sports under the fitting slogan: "More Than Ever". Indeed, the event grew to massive proportions since its humble beginnings in 1932 Tel Aviv, back when the biggest Jewish delegation came from Poland, Jewish athletes from the Land of Israel were competing under the British flag and some teams came from countries now long gone such as Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.
Teddy Stadium, named after longtime Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek, is the largest sports venue in Israel. It is home to Jerusalem's top football clubs and also the home court of Israel's national football team. Being the world's largest Jewish athletic competition and the second-largest sporting event globally by number of competitors after the Olympics, Teddy Stadium is definitely the most appropriate place in Israel to host the opening ceremony of the Maccabiah. It’s also symbolic to have the eternal capital of the Jewish people reaching quasi-olympic standards.
Unfortunately, those 10,000 Jewish athletes won’t be marching into Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium tonight. The event was postponed by one year to July 2026 due to the Israel-Iran war. When they do march into the stadium next summer, they'll be teamed into national delegations, carrying their country’s flag - a symbol of Jewish life celebrated in communities across the globe. Each and every one will also be carrying the hopes of a people determined to celebrate life, sport and unity in a world some say is becoming more hostile to Jewish identity.
Even before Operation Rising Lion started, the 2025 Maccabiah (now, 2026 Maccabiah) called for the strengthening of bonds between scattered Jewish communities and the State of Israel. If organizers stick to their original plans, it will be the first time that the games will collaborate with the organization of disabled veterans of the Israeli Defense Forces, integrating its members as employees, volunteers and speakers at official ceremonies. Paralympic competitions will feature swimming, tennis, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and hand biking.
Also, the Maccabiah is anticipated to expand to a record number of host cities across Israel with Jerusalem hosting the Open Category, Haifa hosting the Junior Category for teen athletes, and Herzliya hosting the Masters Category for senior athletes. For the first time in Maccabiah history, a massive experiential complex called "Maccabiah City" will be established at the Tel Aviv Expo, transforming it into a bustling sports city filled with attractions, performances and interactive competitions for all ages.
All of this will have to wait one more year. Until then, to all athletes who were supposed to participate in the Jewish Olympics - the Maccabiah - I’m sure you’re disappointed. So are we, here in Israel. We’re patiently waiting to see you in July 2026.
My name is Tomer Chelouche and I've been guiding tours in Tel Aviv since 2008. I started out of fascination with my family history - the Chelouche family was one of the founding families of Tel Aviv. My ancestors built this city - and I'm telling its story.
The best way to get to know Tel Aviv better is by purchasing one of my audio tours. I also have one more audio tour that’s in Jerusalem. Here's one way to experience it -
The David Citadel Hotel has earned its reputation as one of Jerusalem's most prestigious addresses, welcoming world leaders and celebrities from Bill Clinton to Kim Kardashian. This architectural marvel sits prominently on King David Street, just steps from the Mamilla Avenue shopping district - a European-style promenade filled with luxury brands that rivals any international shopping destination. The hotel's design offers front-row views of the Old City walls and the Tower of David.
The most remarkable feature of the hotel is probably its vast children's club, which makes this establishment great for families who want to indulge themselves while visiting the Holy City. Its supreme location, stylish architecture, fine dining and high standard amenities blend together to make the David Citadel Hotel into an upscale choice for those who are looking for a top notch Jerusalem experience.
After savoring the hotel's rich buffet breakfast, you'll be perfectly positioned to embark on my Old City of Jerusalem audio tour. The journey begins just minutes away from the David Citadel Hotel, right beside the Jaffa Gate, one of the ancient entrances through Jerusalem's walls. This 90-minute self-guided exploration takes you through all four quarters of the Old City, unveiling three thousand years of history where Judaism, Christianity and Islam converge.
My narration will guide you through the Armenian Quarter to the Jewish Quarter and all the way to its centrepiece - the Western Wall. Continuing on the edge of the Muslim Quarter, you’ll find yourself walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, along the Christian Quarter’s Via Dolorosa, culminating in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Along this audio tour, you'll discover the layered history of emperors, sultans and other leaders who shaped this sacred space.
You'll navigate the maze of market streets with confidence, understanding not just where to look but why each stone matters. The route will bring you full circle back to the starting point, from which I’d recommend getting back to the swimming pool at the David Citadel Hotel for a mid-day refreshing dip.
You can make sure you've downloaded my Old City of Jerusalem audio tour before you head out, or you can download it on the go if you're set with a data package allowing for uninterrupted internet access. There's a link in the show notes to purchase my audio tour -
The Four Corners of the Historical Old City: A Self-Guided Jerusalem Tour
If you have any questions - you’ll find all the ways to contact me on telaviv.tours (telaviv as one word, no space, no hyphen) and there’s a link in the show notes for your digital convenience.
Travellers arriving in Tel Aviv in August 2025 will see what in Israel is known as “cucumber season” - a somewhat dull time period during peak summer, when the number of public events declines and news channels have less on which to report. Two reasons account for this annual phenomenon - (1) Israelis tend to stay home because of the extreme heat, so it’s less likely to draw people out for special events; (2) With no schools and only a small selection of summer camps in August, families usually choose to travel abroad during the month, making Israel feel a little more vacant than usual.
Be advised that there is one specific date marked in the Israeli calendar in the next month - on August 2nd, in the evening hours, starts the day of remembrance for the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. This day, commemorated annually for almost two thousand years on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, is called in Hebrew Tish’a be’Av. In Tel Aviv, with its secular ethos, some would be completely unaware of this day of remembrance, though it is very much felt in religious communities across Israel. Still, some places in Tel Aviv will not operate as usual starting Saturday August 2nd in the evening hours and throughout Sunday August 3rd, so take note of that. Also, consider travelling to Jerusalem on Tish’a be’Av to witness the customary prayers at the Western Wall - considered the holiest site in Judaism since the desecration of the Temple by the Roman Empire in the year 70 AD.
Perhaps this is a good opportunity to dive a little deeper into what makes Tel Aviv a bit different than the rest of Israel, using data from a recently published report, called Tel Aviv by the Numbers. According to the report, for example, less than 60% of households in Tel Aviv are family households, with children, while the percentage all across Israel is closer to 80%. This shows you that Tel Aviv is a playground for young adults, still in the singles market. It’s even more apparent when strolling the city streets in the evening hours when pubs and restaurants are filled with couples going on a first date, a shy grin on their faces.
Tel Aviv is also a city in which more than half of apartments are rented, while across Israel less than a third are rented out. This means that life in Tel Aviv is a little more chaotic and temporal, with young people moving between apartments quite often. It’s a more erratic form of life, but probably one that is more suitable for young people still searching for their own path in life.
Tel Aviv is also the business capital of Israel - one of the only cities in the country to draw more of its workforce from other cities. Only a third of employees in Tel Aviv are also residents of the city, while the rest commute from other places. It’s also a cultural magnet that draws Israelis and tourists to the city’s museums - about two million entries per year. The number of yearly visits to the Tel Aviv opera house and Tel Aviv’s theatres almost reaches a million and a half. Taking into account that the city proper is only half a million strong, it goes to show how Tel Aviv is a sort of axis around which Israel turns.
The report, Tel Aviv by the Numbers, published by the local government also offers a pick into the Israeli secular-religious divide - more than 80% of pupils in the city study in the secular schools of Tel Aviv, while this percentage across Israel is around 40%, with many pupils in other cities studying in religious schools. This is the reason that Tish’a be’Av is hardly felt in Tel Aviv with its more secular and liberal population, while for religious communities, in Jerusalem for example, this day carries a deeply emotional meaning.
Thanks for listening and you’ll hear from me again when the next episode comes out next week.Until then - I am Tel Aviv tour guide Tomer Chelouche, signing off and hoping to see you soon in Tel Aviv.
Show note:
• The Four Corners of the Historical Old City: A Self-Guided Jerusalem Tour
• David Citadel Hotel (Booking.com affiliate link)
