Today’s Jewish Athlete,
Tomorrow’s Jewish Leader
This summer, close to five thousand Jewish
teens from all over the U.S., Canada, Israel, Mexico, Argentina,
Great Britain, Poland, and Venezuela 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 2006 JCC Maccabi Games® are:
Phoenix, AZ (August 6-11)
Vancouver, BC (August 13-18)
Stamford, CT (August 13-18)
The JCC Maccabi Games have been offering a
life- and personality-shaping experience to Jewish teenagers
since 1982. At this Jewish mini-Olympiad, each athlete has
the chance to participate in one of 14 sporting events, creating
memories that will last a lifetime. "It is an honor to
be a part of the JCC Maccabi Games. Each year, I take pride
in watching teenagers from all over the world come to compete
while developing a sense of camaraderie, good sportsmanship
and Jewish values," said Stephen R. Reiner, continental
chair, JCC Maccabi Games.
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 Days of Caring and Sharing, when athletes join with
local community organizations to work on social-action projects.
Past Days of Caring and Sharing 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 Opening Ceremonies at the Games include
a memorial to the 11 Israeli athletes killed by terrorists
at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. The tribute to the
Munich 11 is even more inspiring considering that recent Games
athletes were not alive when the Israeli Olympians were murdered.
Memorializing the Munich 11 encourages JCC Maccabians to remember
the past, look to the future, and strive to lead a full and
active Jewish life, both on and off the playing field.
Hang Time began in 2001 and has become an
integral part of the JCC Maccabi Games. At each Games site,
in an area called K'Far Maccabi or Maccabi Village, Israeli
Hang-Time shlichim (delegates or emissaries) lead activities
that teach about Israel, and Israeli and Jewish culture. From
trivia games to creative Jewish arts projects to taking a
“tour” of Israel on an enormous map, athletes
and coaches can enjoy Jewish experiences in a fun, relaxed
environment.
Interacting with delegations from around the world, including
Israel, builds a sense of K’lal Israel, the unity of
the Jewish community. A dozen Israeli sister cities are sending
athletes to participate alongside their American counterparts.
Music, signage, a Jewish atmosphere—all contribute to
the unique aura of the JCC Maccabi Games.
Almost eighty thousand teens have benefited
from the JCC Maccabi Games since 1982. The energy and excitement
make it a unique and unforgettable experience for every participant.
###
JCC Association
is the leadership network of, and central agency for the Jewish
Community Center Movement, which is comprised of 350 JCC,
YM-YWHA and camp sites in the U. S. and Canada. JCC Association
offers a wide range of services and resources to strengthen
the capacity of its affiliates to provide educational, cultural,
social, Jewish identity-building, and recreational programs
to enhance the lives of North American Jews of all ages and
backgrounds. Additionally, the movement fosters and strengthens
connections between North American Jews and Israel as well
as with world Jewry. JCC Association is also the U.S. government
accredited agency for serving the religious and social needs
of Jewish military personnel, their families, and patients
in VA hospitals through JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
Miriam
Rinn
Communications Manager
JCC Association
15 E. 26 St., NY, NY 10010
212-786-5092
grounds. Additionally, the movement fosters and strengthens
connections between North American Jews and Israel as well
as with world Jewry. JCC Association is also a U.S. government
accredited agency for serving the religious and social needs
of Jewish military personnel, their families, and patients
in VA hospitals through JWB Jewish Chaplains Council.
The NFL Youth Football Fund (YFF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization
founded by the National Football League and NFL Players Association
in 1998 to use football as a catalyst to promote positive
youth development. Through the YFF, hundreds of thousands
of youngsters have been given the opportunity to learn the
game of football, get physically fit, and stay involved in
productive after-school activities with adult mentors. The
YFF also provides youth football participants with safe and
accessible places to play, as well as programs and initiatives
that address the importance of proper coaching, academics,
health and safety, and life skills development.
fax: 212-481-4174
send an e-mail
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