Seattle recruits NW team for Maccabi Games
By Deborah Moon
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After a four-year break, Portland teenagers once again have the opportunity to participate in the JCC Maccabi Games.
The JCC Maccabi games are an Olympic-style athletic competition for Jewish teens from around the world. In addition to sports, the athletes experience home hospitality and participate in Jewish programming such as Hangtime, Munich 11 Tribute, Rachmanus and Days of Caring and Sharing. The national Web site is www.jccmaccabigames.org.
The Strom JCC is taking a delegation of athletes and coaches from the Pacific Northwest region to the Maccabi games in Detroit Aug. 17-22. Organizers are seeking athletes from across Washington and Oregon.
The team still has space in many sports, especially girl’s basketball, which will be coached by David Michaelis of Portland. Michaelis participated in the Maccabiah games in Israel three years ago. He now coaches at Catlin Gabel School.
Mara Shlachter, who served as the Portland delegation head from 1995 to 2004, said she is thrilled Portland teens will have this wonderful opportunity again.
“It’s a great way to engage kids in their Judaism,” said Shlachter. “The first year (husband) Rob and I went, seeing thousands of kids march into an arena was so powerful and exhilarating. It’s exciting to see that energy, comraderie and sense of community.”
Noting that her son David first participated in the Maccabi games as part of Seattle’s basketball team in 1994, Shlachter said this regional team marks a full circle for Portland participation. From 1995-2004, Shlachter headed a Portland delegation that grew from 12 athletes in 1995 to 29 teens in 1999. Portland reached its highest participation in 1997, with 42 athletes bringing home more than 40 medals.
Shlachter said the main benefit of the games is the sense of belonging and the long-term connections the athletes make at the games.
“A lot of relationships are formed that they keep,” she said.
For information on joining the team, go to the Stroum Jewish Community Web site at www.sjcc.org or call Lisa Kutzke at 206-232-7115 ext. 3.