Maccabi World Union honours SA’s Garrun

For more than four decades, Cliff Garrun has helped shape Jewish sport, mentoring generations of athletes and volunteers while strengthening South Africa’s place within the global Maccabi movement. That lifelong commitment was recognised on 6 July with the Yakir Maccabi Award. 

The award is the highest honour presented by the Maccabi World Union. It recognises individuals who have dedicated decades of exceptional voluntary service to the Maccabi movement and made an outstanding contribution to Jewish sport and community life worldwide. The union presents the award only every four years, coinciding with the Maccabiah. Garrun was one of 11 recipients this year and the only South African at the award ceremony. 

Garrun first represented South Africa in swimming at the Maccabiah in 1974. He would go on to compete for his country many more times. In 2010, he took up the role of chairperson of Maccabi South Africa and has grown the organisation exponentially. 

He stepped into leadership as the community faced real challenges: a shrinking population, rising costs, and growing hostility towards Israel. Garrun’s response was to show up and build forward. He built pathways for young Jews to connect through sport, through Israel, through something larger than themselves. He’s nurtured Jewish athletes from Nigeria to Uganda, broadening the meaning of Jewish belonging. At the 2022 Games, he proudly watched South Africa’s rugby team take the field, led by a Jewish-Nigerian captain. 

During Garrun’s tenure at the helm of Maccabi South Africa, the country has enjoyed one of the most successful periods in its history at the Maccabiah Games, winning 131 medals across the 2013, 2017, and 2022 Games, while growing participation and strengthening South Africa’s standing in the global Maccabi movement. 

“I was in very auspicious company. Some really senior Israeli guys do the hard work and put the Games together, dealing with the multiple crises that come our way,” he said. “It is really special that I was able to fly our flag high.” 

He explained that when he was told last year that he would be getting the Yakir Maccabi Award at the Maccabiah, he felt extremely honoured as he had been involved in Maccabi leadership for a relatively short time. “Most of the other recipients were Israelis who have been 30- to 40-year contributors to the movement, so I kept the flag flying high for South Africa,” he said. 

The recognition comes in a year when the South African flag isn’t as prominent at the Maccabi Games, with only three athletes competing. Master’s tennis player Jacqui Boyd has won all of her tennis matches so far, and Padel doubles team Yechiel Hummel and Chad Gaddie unfortunately didn’t progress to the knockout stages of the tournament after losing to a strong Israeli side. 

After being disappointed at not having a South African junior delegation at this year’s Maccabiah, Garrun plans to give those who could have gone an unforgettable experience by holding the Maccabi SA National Junior Games in September. 

“The Junior Games are an investment in the future of our community. Our responsibility extends beyond international competition. It is about creating opportunities for young people to grow, lead, compete, and build lasting connections through shared experiences. We are incredibly proud to launch what we believe will become a cornerstone event on the Maccabi calendar and look forward to welcoming athletes, families, and supporters to this exciting inaugural event,” said Garrun.