Munich 1972
The Olympic Games in Munich, Germany, in 1972 – which were supposed to be remembered for the glorious achievements of Kip Keino, Lasse Viren, Olga Korbut, and others, will forever be remembered for the murder of eleven athletes from the Israeli delegation.
On September 5th, in an attack by a group of terrorists from the “Black September” organization. The cell murdered the wrestling coach Moshe (Moni) Weinberg, may his memory be blessed, and the weightlifter Yosef Romano, may his memory be blessed, and took nine hostages.
Fruitless negotiations and a failed assassination attempt by the local authorities led to the murder of the other nine hostages. The games were suspended for only one day despite the Israeli delegation’s request to stop them entirely.
The International Olympic Committee decided to continue them on the grounds that “the Olympic spirit is stronger than acts of terrorism.”
Eliezer Halfin, may he rest in peace, wrestler, 24 years old at the time of his death.
Kehat Schor, may he rest in peace, a shooting coach, was 53 years old at the time of his death.
David Berger, may he rest in peace, weightlifter, 28 years old at the time of his death.
Mark Slavin, may he rest in peace, wrestler, 18 years old at his death.
Andrei Shpitzer, may he rest in peace, fencing coach, 27 years old at the time of his death.
Yossef Gutfreund, may he rest in peace, wrestling referee, 40 years old at his passing.
Ze’ev Friedman, may he rest in peace, weightlifter, 28 years old at the time of his death.
Amizur Shapira, may he rest in peace, an athletics coach, was 40 years old at the time of his death.
Moshe Weinberg, may he rest in peace, wrestling coach, 33 years old at his death.
Yosef Romano, may he rest in peace, weightlifter, 32 years old at the time of his death.
Yaakov Springer, may he rest in peace, weightlifting judge, 50 years old at the time of his death.
