JCC of Mid-Westchester Taking Part in 30th Annual Maccabi Games

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The is excited to be participating in the 2012 JCC Maccabi Games®. The JCC will be bringing a total of 82 athletes to the three sets of games in Memphis, Houston and Rockland. 

“We are delighted to be able to participate in all three locations this summer.  The JCC of Mid-Westchester always has a large delegation and our athletes are looking forward to competing again this year”, said Steven Weisbrot, Director, JCC Mid-Westchester Maccabi Games. 

The JCC Maccabi Games are organized by JCC Association, in partnership with Maccabi World Union, Maccabi Canada, and Maccabi USA.

This summer is the thirtieth anniversary of the JCC Maccabi Games, the largest gathering of Jewish teens in North America. Almost 3,500 Jewish teens from all over the U.S., Canada, Israel, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, and Great Britain will share in the fun of competing and the pride of being part of a world-famous Olympic-style event filled with Jewish content and values. The host communities for the 2012 JCC Maccabi Games are:

Houston, TX (August 5-10)

Memphis, TN (August 5-10)

Rockland County, NY (August 12-17)

The JCC Maccabi Games have been offering a life-and personality-shaping experience to Jewish teenagers since 1982.  Those first Games took place in Memphis, which is hosting again this year. At this Jewish mini-Olympiad, each athlete has the chance to participate in one of 15 sporting events, including boys’ lacrosse for the first time.  This summer, the JCC of Mid-Westchester is sending athletes who will participate in boys soccer, girls soccer, boys basketball, girls basketball, baseball, golf, in-line hockey, table tennis, track and field, and tennis. 

The JCC Maccabi Games can be called the Olympics for Jewish teens, but they serve a larger purpose than athletic competition.  The Games  also promote community involvement, teamwork, and pride in being Jewish.  For example, athletes visiting host communities stay with local Jewish families.  This "home hospitality" is vital to the experience, representing the extended Jewish family and the value of welcoming the stranger.

Also, every set of Games has a volunteer program called JCC Cares, when teens join with local community organizations to work on social-action projects.  Past activities have included building homes for the poor, holding carnivals for handicapped children, cleaning parks, and packaging food to be given to the hungry.  The purpose is to teach tikkun olam (repairing the world) by example, so that these young people incorporate these values into their daily lives once they return home.

The Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester, a proud beneficiary of UJA-Federation of NY, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community by providing cultural, social, educational and recreational/fitness programs, human services and Jewish identity-building opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds.  For more information about the JCC Maccabi Games, contact Steven Weisbrot, 472-3300, x 362, weisbrots@jccmw.org.  For more information about the JCC of Mid-Westchester and details on all its offerings, please visit www.jccmw.org