Community split on non-Jewish Maccabi players
MACCABI Australia’s (MAI’s) decision to allow non-Jewish players, under certain circumstances, has split the community.
The organisation’s board unanimously voted to change its constitution last Sunday to allow non-Jewish players to play at Maccabi clubs, but not to be members of MAI.
Australian delegations to Maccabiah and other international sporting events will not accept non-Jewish competitors.
At the local level, non-Jewish players will be permitted when a club is struggling for survival; when a sporting association’s rules or constitution do not allow for qualification of individual club member; when a club or team is operating at an elite level and needs some additional players to support its position in the league.
MAI president Lisa Borowick and chairman Barry Smorgon wrote to members after the decision was announced in The AJN last week.
“Given that a clear expression of our values had been developed and adopted to the point that these are embedded in the membership sign-on process, and given that our membership is overtly based on Jewish principles, the MAI board felt it was time to deal with an issue that has been subversively around for many decades,” the letter said.
It stated that the practice of playing non-Jewish players, which was not condoned by MAI, had been occurring for several years and it was time to confront the matter.
“The MAI board at its recent AGM decided to put the issue on the table and provide clarity, leadership and consistency around this issue.
“The MAI board, taking a strategic view of the role it plays in the community, coupled with the changing dynamic of the community decided to provide some clear leadership on its position in the community and fulfil on its mandate – to connect the Jewish community through sport.” the letter said.
Maccabi Victoria president Miles Clemans said the states supported the change.
“Maccabi Australia has consulted with the states and the clubs in leading to their decision,” Clemans said.
“This decision recognises the reality of our community and works with the clubs and the states to navigate and work out the best outcome for all of its members.”
But MAI life member and former president Louis Platus said he did not agree with non-Jewish players at Maccabi clubs.
“The Maccabi clubs were designed to allow Jewish people to meet through sport,” Platus said.
“When my kids played Maccabi we got a hiding a lot of the time and sometimes we were able to hold our own on the pitch but a lot of the Jewish kids still made rep teams.
“I didn’t need to win the competition by having non-Jewish players because we were there to meet Jewish kids.”
AJN STAFF
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