TEEN ATHLETES (from left) Leiba Swartz-Brownstein, Anna Steckel, Ilan Swartz-Brownstein, Joseph Spector and coach, Ben Glauber get some BBQ at the Portland Maccabi Club kickoff event.

Not too late to join Maccabi Club

By JEWISH REVIEW

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

About 50 participants turned out for the April 26 barbecue to kickoff this year’s Portland Maccabi Club program, which offers youth in fifth to 12th grade in Oregon and Southwest Washington the opportunity to compete in sports and socialize with their peers in a program modeled after the JCC Maccabi Games held in America each summer and the Maccabiah in Israel every four years.

Organizer Jodi Berris said many of the soccer players were delighted to meet their coach—Shai Palachi, who played on the national team in Israel before moving to Portland.

Players in other sports also had the opportunity to meet their coaches and learn why they are donating their time to coach area Jewish youth this summer. Practices start in May.

Registration is still being accepted through the first week of May. The $36 registration fee covers t-shirts, monthly social events, practices and the tournament.

“I was happy to see such a large crowd at the kickoff event with so many new faces,” said Berris.

Portland Maccabi Club is a program of Portland Jewish Events in partnership with the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and the Jewish Review.

For more information, contact Berris at jodiberris@aol.com or 248-760-0743. Register online at www.portlandjewishevents.com.