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Jack Jedwab: Maccabi Tel Aviv return home after nearly two seasons of post-October 7 exile

Emotional Tel Aviv homecoming restores fragile normalcy for fans and a Canadian ex-Raptor

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In Jewish memory, the story of Judah and the Maccabees is not simply about victory. It is about return — return to home and to the rhythms of ordinary life. It is about resilience in the face of disruption and the restoration of connection after rupture.

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For nearly two seasons, one of Israel’s two EuroLeague professional basketball teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv, lived through its own, far more modest version of exile. Following the events of October 7, EuroLeague games were played far from Israel, in Belgrade, Serbia — warmly hosted, but far from home. The bond between team and fans — one of the most emotional connections in sport — was interrupted. Players competed as Israeli supporters watched from afar. Something important was missing.

Jack Jedwab: Maccabi Tel Aviv return home after nearly two seasons of post-October 7 exile Back to video

When the EuroLeague voted two years later in October 2025 to allow the return, many fans cried with joy —........

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