The "Maccabi" Sports Association in Vilna ran soccer, cycling, sailing, athletics, chess and even drama groups. The Association held courses for instructors and gymnastics teachers, and set up branches in the outlying towns of Swienciany, Lida, Iwje, and Glubokoye. The sailing department received a plot of land by the River Vilia, where they erected a building and swimming pool, and sailed 50 boats along the river.
"Maccabi" established a 70-man choir, as well as wind and mandolin orchestras. The Association also operated a clubhouse and reading room, and held lectures about sport.
![The Maccabi Poland and Kispesti Budapest soccer teams. Vilna, 10 July 1937](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/4068_109.jpg?itok=6NvONooP)
From the photographs found in the pockets of murdered Jews in the Klooga camp after liberation. Most of the photographs were taken in Vilna before the war.
Courtesy of the Central Historic Museum in Estonia
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4068/109
![The Maccabi Poland and Kispesti Budapest soccer teams. Vilna, 10 July 1937](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/4068_109.jpg?itok=zhOWSWbn)
![Young men in a sports tournament, Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/4068_32.jpg?itok=nSHqtgGk)
From the photographs found in the pockets of murdered Jews in the Klooga camp after liberation. Most of the photographs were taken in Vilna before the war.
Courtesy of the Central Historic Museum in Estonia
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4068/32
![Young men in a sports tournament, Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/4068_32.jpg?itok=TRzYGKhZ)
![Group of sportsmen, Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/4068_131.jpg?itok=oF7NyN7Y)
From the photographs found in the pockets of murdered Jews in the Klooga camp after liberation. Most of the photographs were taken in Vilna before the war.
Courtesy of the Central Historic Museum in Estonia
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4068/131
![Group of sportsmen, Vilna, prewar](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/4068_131.jpg?itok=-KoSycl7)
![Shepsel (Shabtai) Prushan with the "Stela" soccer club team at Maccabi sports field. Vilna, 24 August 1929](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/4068_90.jpg?itok=g2LZtE4H)
Shepsel was born in 1914 in Vilna and worked as a car mechanic. He was murdered at Klooga in September 1944.
From the photographs found in the pockets of murdered Jews in the Klooga camp after liberation. Most of the photographs were taken in Vilna before the war.
Courtesy of the Central Historic Museum in Estonia
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4068/90
![Shepsel (Shabtai) Prushan with the "Stela" soccer club team at Maccabi sports field. Vilna, 24 August 1929](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/4068_90.jpg?itok=G_PLiEBS)
![Gymnastics display at the opening of the Maccabi sports field in Vilna, 10 June 1922](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/4068_129_0.jpg?itok=b1IKvu1z)
From the photographs found in the pockets of murdered Jews in the Klooga camp after liberation. Most of the photographs were taken in Vilna before the war.
Courtesy of the Central Historic Museum in Estonia
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4068/129
![Gymnastics display at the opening of the Maccabi sports field in Vilna, 10 June 1922](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/4068_129_0.jpg?itok=Zh4Qq3-w)
![The "Stela" soccer club team in Vilna, 24 August 1929](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/4068_91.jpg?itok=hNMdQ3_x)
Among the team: Hershman, Natke Berke and Michke Chanke
From the photographs found in the pockets of murdered Jews in the Klooga camp after liberation. Most of the photographs were taken in Vilna before the war.
Courtesy of the Central Historic Museum in Estonia
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4068/91
![The "Stela" soccer club team in Vilna, 24 August 1929](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/4068_91.jpg?itok=bjLTp-aG)
![Shepsel (Shabtai) Prushan, prewar. Shepsel played for the "Stela" soccer club team in Vilna and worked as a car mechanic.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/4068_88.jpg?itok=lCUrBOrd)
He was born in 1914 in Vilna, and was murdered in the Klooga camp.
From the photographs found in the pockets of murdered Jews in the Klooga camp after liberation. Most of the photographs were taken in Vilna before the war.
Courtesy of the Central Historic Museum in Estonia
Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4068/88
![Shepsel (Shabtai) Prushan, prewar. Shepsel played for the "Stela" soccer club team in Vilna and worked as a car mechanic.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/4068_88.jpg?itok=m4ju4uKj)