Turning Teens into Family: JCC Maccabi Games

This summer, we all sought positive, unifying Jewish experiences that celebrate our collective strength, resilience, and connection. In Detroit and Houston, the JCC Maccabi Games, including a distinguished Israeli delegation, delivered exactly that. 

 Detroit’s Games, held for the seventh time, welcomed 1,200 Jewish teens and thousands more families, volunteers, and spectators from around the globe for a week of Jewish pride and community. By the end of the games, after enjoying the competitions, the events and the hang time led by MWU Shlichim, the attendees didn’t just say "goodbye" but shared a heartfelt "see you soon", heading home transformed by the experience and with Jewish friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

Ziv Cohen Shalit, our Shaliach in Houston, shared his excitement about the games, which were hosted there for the sixth time. This year’s event also featured the Access Games, providing special needs athletes with the opportunity to experience the JCC Maccabi magic: "At the opening ceremony, I performed 'I’m Coming Home' as a tribute to the hostages. The backdrop featured a powerful video telling their stories, and the entire audience wore blue and white bracelets and held signs with their pictures. The ceremony peaked when the next song, 'One Day' seamlessly blended into "Yom Yavo." As the Hebrew part began, Israeli participants rushed to the center, and soon, all 5,000 attendees joined in. It was an electrifying moment of unity and connection, and I am deeply grateful for this experience!

The activities were incredibly moving, emphasizing the deep connection to Israel and Judaism and honoring October 7th events. The first day at HANGTIME was magical—dim lights, special effects, and an Israeli playlist set a captivating scene. Participants made wishes on golden stars and watched a video celebrating Jewish achievements, with a special yellow beanbag holding a prayer for the hostages.

Over the next two days, vibrant stations celebrated Israel's richness, each run by an Israeli Shaliach. Highlights included: MWU History Station, Personal "Connection Chain" Station, offering to create your own link to Israel; Hebrew-Israeli Name Station, offering to craft a beaded bracelet with your chosen Hebrew name and symbols of sports and Jewish heritage;  Pita Making Station;   "Red South" Station, offering to write messages of support for Israel and the southern region on red origami flowers;   Letters of Support Station, offering to pen letters for bereaved families and Special Activities Station for athletes with disabilities, including creating special decorated hamsas.  

A standout moment was the heartwarming Bar Mitzvah celebration for a boy marking this milestone for the first time. A Chabad rabbi and his daughter created a beautiful setting with a Western Wall backdrop. The ceremony was joyful, with an excited crowd and the boy’s family watching via Zoom. The rabbi delivered an inspiring message, and his daughter shared Shabbat candles. Several boys also put on tefillin, making the event deeply meaningful for everyone involved. Seeing the boy’s joy was genuinely unforgettable".

The JCC Maccabi Games are an Olympic-style sporting competition for Jewish teenagers held each summer since 1982 in North America. This week-long competition provides teens, many of them for the first time, a chance to meet other Jewish youth while participating in sports they love and feel part of k’lal Yisrael, the greater Jewish people, with a love of Israel at its core.