Maccabi BY
In January 2026, a sporting movement with a history spanning more than a century was revived in Belarus. Maccabi BY — the official representative of the Maccabi World Union in the country — once again brings together Jewish athletes across Belarus, with the project initiated and organised by the Jewish Religious Union in the Republic of Belarus.
A club that belongs to everyone who wants to play
Maccabi BY is the sole official representative of the worldwide Maccabi movement in Belarus. It brings together athletes who want to represent their country at international Jewish sporting competitions and who share the movement's core values: sport, a healthy lifestyle, and cultural diversity.
The project was launched on the initiative of the Jewish Religious Union in the Republic of Belarus. Today, Maccabi BY is open to players of any skill level and brings together eight sports: futsal, flag football, basketball, boccia, hockey, chess, table tennis and billiards.
From 1920s Grodno to revival in 2026
The first Maccabi clubs appeared in the territory of present-day Belarus in the 1920s, shortly after the Maccabi World Union was officially founded in Karlovy Vary in 1921. One of the best known was Maccabi Grodno, established in 1922, when Jews made up around 40% of the city's population. The club wasn't limited to football — it also offered gymnastics, athletics, swimming, cycling and boxing.
In 1924, the Polish authorities forced the club to change its name to Hasmonea, but by 1925 Maccabi Grodno had reclaimed its original name. The club's football team competed regularly in championships and played against teams from Vilnius and Warsaw, taking bronze in 1932 and 1937 and silver in 1938. Similar clubs existed in other towns too — Brest, Pinsk, Slonim, Vitebsk and Minsk.
This sporting life came to an end with the start of the German occupation — Jewish sports clubs in Belarus fell silent for almost a hundred years. Now, in 2026, the movement is being revived, and very soon a team from Belarus will once again take its place within this large worldwide community.
Eight sports — and a place for everyone
At Maccabi BY, two disciplines are already playing regularly, while teams for the remaining sports are currently being formed.
Active teams
Teams currently forming
Maccabi BY is currently putting together squads for these sports — if you'd like to be among the first, get in touch using the contact details at the end of the page.
If you live in Belarus and want to play, train, or simply find out more about Maccabi BY, get in touch with the team at maccabibelarus@gmail.com, or through the club's Instagram and Facebook. The quickest way is to fill in the short form on maccabi.by, and someone will contact you to discuss opportunities and upcoming events.
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revive Jewish life in Belarus.