AXEL & HAAS

Axel and Haas to represent U.S. at Maccabiah Games in Israel

By JEWISH REVIEW

article created on: 2009-05-01T00:00:00

Jacob Haas and David Axel, graduates of Sunset High School and Neveh Shalom religious school, have been selected to represent the USA in the 19th Maccabiah Games to be held in Israel this summer.

The Maccabiah Games, held every four years in Israel, are often called “the Jewish Olympics.”

More than 7,000 athletes from nearly 60 countries around the world will participate in 35 sporting events. The Maccabiah is the third largest international sporting event, after the Olympics and the World University Games.

Axel and Haas were both part of Sunset’s Cross Country team that won the 2001 Metro League Championship. Axel went on to run for Rice University and Haas ran for Syracuse University and the College of Idaho. Each was selected for the USA Maccabiah delegation based on their past times in their respective events.

In addition to being classmates at Sunset, they also are members of Congregation Neveh Shalom, where they both became bar mitzvah. They both graduated from Neveh Shalom’s Hebrew High School. They also attended Camp Solomon Schechter in Olympia, Wash., together for many years.

Haas is presently the director for youth activities at Temple Beth Israel in Vancouver, B.C., and is in his second year of the Melton Adult Mini-School there. Axel continues to train in his specialty, the steeplechase, with a goal of qualifying for the U.S. National Championships.

Each Team USA athlete is required to fundraise a percentage of the cost for participation. To help Axel or Haas, contributors need to write a check to “Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel,” with Axel or Haas in the memo field.

For details, e-mail daxel@alumni.rice.edu or jacob.haas@yotes.collegeofidaho.edu.