Ciarán Fahey

On Sunday, Makkabi Berlin will be the first Jewish team to play in the German Cup – a competition started under the Nazis, who prohibited Jewish participation.

Makkabi was founded in 1970 by Holocaust survivors. The team lost its first game 15-1. Co-founder Marian Wajselfisz still laughs about that. He’s been keeping a scrapbook with newspaper clippings about the team from the start.

My story for AP.
#MakkabiBerlin #DFBPokal #Berlin

https://apnews.com/article/4eccfe349e3b3fdd360c26b9624c2bd8

Makkabi Berlin, founded by Holocaust survivors, to be 1st Jewish team in German Cup

When Makkabi Berlin takes the field this weekend, the soccer club founded by Holocaust survivors will become the first Jewish team to play in the German Cup. Wolfsburg, which competes in the top tier of German soccer, will be the clear favorite against the office workers and other amateurs who play for Makkabi. But the small club whose blue and white crest features the Star of David made history just by reaching the tournament started under the Nazis. One of the co-founders, 85-year-old Marian Wajselfisz, still attends Makkabi’s games and says the team's qualification for the tournament is “a wonderful, wonderful thing, and all Jewish people are proud of it.”

AP News
Aug 11, 2023 at 6:20pmWeb
Show threadCiarán FaheyAug 12, 2023

I made a short film on Makkabi Berlin, the first Jewish team to play in the German Cup, and it's now on YouTube.

#MakkabiBerlin #DFBPokal #Berlin #MakkabiWOB

https://youtu.be/yMouevTtUNc?si=Oc1DjW68iA6-P9Mu

Makkabi Berlin, the first Jewish team to play in the German Cup

YouTube
Show threadCiarán FaheyAug 13, 2023

"We would have liked to win the game," Makkabi coach Wolfgang Sandhowe said after his team's 6-0 loss to Wolfsburg.

But Makkabi still made history today. (AP) #MakkabiBerlin #DFBPokal #Berlin #MakkabiWOB

https://apnews.com/article/german-cup-makkabi-berlin-wolfsburg-dfe02f953dfcf75de3c6b08d815de13a

Makkabi Berlin becomes the first Jewish team to play in the German Cup in a loss to Wolfsburg

Makkabi Berlin has become the first Jewish team to compete in the German Cup with a 6-0 loss to Wolfsburg. The fifth-tier team swiftly went behind with the visitors scoring two early goals through Lukas Nmecha and Jonas Wind to dampen hopes of an upset. Makkabi was founded by Holocaust survivors in 1970 and had already made history just by qualifying for the 64-team German Cup. Augsburg became the third top-division team to be knocked out in the first round after losing 2-0 to third-division Unterhaching.

AP News
Show threadPólóAug 12, 2023

@cfahey

Nice one. I'd say you enjoyed doing that one.

Show threadCiarán FaheyAug 12, 2023
@poloduibhir I did! Lovely people, important story. There’s so much more I wrote that was cut from the final version unfortunately. It was still one of the longer AP stories. Usually the limit is around 600 words but there’s just so much history to this, Lilli Henoch, Julius Hirsch and so on. Will have a video to post later after I finish subtitles after I bring the kid to bed. If he ever sleeps, he’s full of beans right now.
Show threadPólóAug 16, 2023

@cfahey

Good for you.