32 | JULY 1 • 2021

T

here will be a JCC
Maccabi Games in 2021.
It won’t look like a
traditional Maccabi Games,
and the event was organized far
more quickly than normal.
But nobody is complaining
after the Maccabi Games were
canceled in 2020 because of the
COVID-19 pandemic, and it
appeared the same thing would
happen in 2021.
Here’s the best news for local
Jewish teens: Detroit athletes
have been invited to participate
in the 2021 Maccabi Games.
Barshop JCC of San Antonio,
Texas, is hosting the Texas JCC
Maccabi Regional Games from
Aug. 8-10.
The JCC Association of North
America opened the event in
mid-June to athletes from across
the country because there’s
room, COVID restrictions have
eased and vaccinations for teens
have become more available.
Detroit Maccabi delegation
heads Karen Gordon and Franci

Silver are scrambling to get
the word out about the Texas
Maccabi Games to prospective
Detroit athletes, sending emails
to past Detroit Maccabi athletes
and posting information on
Facebook.
Gordon said about six pro-
spective Detroit Maccabi ath-
letes responded initially. Those
interested should send her an
email as soon as possible at

karengordon44@icloud.com.
For Gordon, who has been
involved in the Maccabi Games
in multiple capacities since
1986, news that Detroit athletes
could participate in the Texas
Maccabi Games was a very
pleasant surprise.
“It was super last-minute,
but I’ll be thrilled if only one
kid from Detroit gets to have a
Maccabi experience,
” Gordon

said.
“
At least something is hap-
pening this summer. The
Maccabi Games are still in peo-
ple’s minds. It’s still relevant; it’s
still happening.
”
About 100-150 athletes are
expected to participate in the
Texas Maccabi Games. The ath-
letes won’t stay with host fami-
lies. They’ll spend two nights in
the same hotel.
Five sports are offered. They
are tennis, golf, swimming, 3 vs.
3 soccer and 3 vs. 3 basketball.
Soccer and basketball teams
from different delegations will
be put together if needed. Those
are the sports that need the
most athletes.

MACCABI EXPERIENCE
In addition to the sports
competitions, there will be a
Maccabi Games experience of
social events, hang time and
JCC Cares community service
work in Texas.
“This will be more of a

Detroit teen athletes are invited
to regional event in San Antonio.

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Surprise: There will be
JCC Maccabi Games!

TOP: Participants in the JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest in
Detroit in 2019 filled a blank wall at the closing party with
thoughts on what Maccabi means to them.

KAREN GORDON

SPORTS