B’hatzlacha!

lifetime.”

By Beth Milograno Berry Jewish Community Alliance

Our Jacksonville JCA Maccabi Games Team is Fort Lauderdale-bound this summer and our athletes are ready for competition! With just weeks until the trip to South Florida, we have some kvelling to do about the 15 Jewish athletes headed to the 2023 JCC Maccabi Games® hosted by the David Posnack JCC.

Join us in congratulating these local athletes for representing our JCA and the City of Jacksonville at the largest annual gathering of Jewish teens in the world:

Talia Algee, Taylor Finklehoffe, Micah Hirsch, DJ Kempner, Eli Kuvin, Juliet Leonard, Ben Levinson, Joey Morgenthal, Gabe Morris, Noah Niehaus, Chase Rathet, Zev Shapiro, Zach Trest, Avner Tzbari, and Brennan Zaner!

Our Jacksonville JCA Team will compete in three sports led by our Sports & Recreation Director, Coach Rio Robinson, and longtime JCA Coaches, Andrew Jaffa and Benjay Kempner. Noah, Ben, Avner, Micah, Zach, Brennan, and Zev will compete on the 16U Flag Football team at the games. Eli, Taylor, Talia, and Juliet will be in the pool, swimming in a variety of individual and team races. Gabe, DJ, Joey, and Chase will team up on the court, playing on our JCA’s 3-v-3 basketball team.

“I am stoked for these teens to attend their first set of Maccabi Games this summer. Words cannot accurately paint the picture of what they will experience,” explains Coach Rio. “The athletes get so hyper-focused about the sports competition; they do not fully embrace what the games are until they are immersed in the energy and camaraderie of being in Fort Lauderdale. It is an eye-opening experience. This event brings so many Jewish teens into one venue and they all make memories that will last a

The Maccabi Games® take place at the Fort Lauderdale JCC, August 6-11, with more than 2,000 athletes competing from more than 70 Jewish Community Centers from around the world. This summer, teens will travel from Canada, Israel, Argentina, Great Britain, Mexico, South Africa, and Ukraine to compete at the games. The 2023 JCC Maccabi experience includes Olympic-style opening and closing ceremonies, medal ceremonies, and a community service day of caring. Aimed to bring our young Jewish community together, the Maccabi experience promises our athletes a week of inspiration, friendship, and celebration.

The Jewish community in Northeast Florida can support our athletes traveling to Fort Lauderdale this summer with a donation to the JCA’s Send a Kid campaign. Make a pledge to support our Maccabi team today; visit bit. ly/JCASendAKid to learn more details about our efforts to help local families afford summer experiences at the JCA.