JCC Maccabi Games... An athletic competition for Jewish Teens ages 13-16.  This year Team Phoenix is traveling to San Francisco August 2-7th. Contact Jeff Knoll jeffk@vosjcc.org or ext. 1280 for any questions.

The Olympic-like event for Jewish teens from around the world gives participants the chance to compete in one or more of 14 team and individual sports. Since they were established in 1982, the JCC Maccabi Games have offered a life-changing experience, not just to the athletes themselves, but also to their parents and coaches and the legions of volunteers in host communities who work hard all year to plan a busy week of events on the field and off. In fact, our own community successfully hosted the Games in summer 2006.

The Games teach our youth the value of new friendships, fair play, and how to participate on a team. Supplementing the sports competitions, there are fun and engaging social programs that promote friendships, community service projects that instill the Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah (social justice). There is also informal educational instruction that fosters a personal connection to the state of Israel.