Wednesday, April 05, 2017

Film Shows How Maccabi Tel Aviv Put Israel "On The Map"

Dani Menkin, who made the documentary film "On The Map", stands on the right at the Jewish Community Center on Mercer Island where his work was shown to a full house.
 Sports films usually are based on a David vs Goliath theme, this movie was a true story. After
 World War II, basketball gained popularity in Europe.  European basketball was dominated by teams from Spain, Italy, and Russia.  In 1977, the Maccabi Tel Aviv team, from a country not known for it's sports successes, showed it's ability to compete for the championship. 
It had been a dark time for Israel, not long after the Yom Kippur war and the Munich Massacre.  The country itself was enduring a government scandal.  The country's moral had been dismal, but the rise of the Maccabi team, captivated the country.  Featured in the film were Hall Of Famer Bill Walton, former NBA Commissioner David Stern, and members of the team.
The film was extremely captivating and moving.
The film was shown as part of the the Seattle Jewish Film Festival.

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