30 | AUGUST 12 • 2021
SPORTS
A
lex Lustig’s dream of participating
in the JCC Maccabi Games this
summer as Detroit’s lone represen-
tative was dashed at the 11th hour.
The quickly organized JCC Maccabi Texas
Regional Games in San Antonio were can-
celed July 28, less than two weeks before the
Aug. 8 opening ceremony, because of a surge
in COVID-19 infections in Texas.
The JCC Association of North America,
along with Barshop JCC of San Antonio,
Evelyn Robinson JCC of Houston, Shalom
Austin and Aaron Family JCC of Dallas,
made the cancellation announcement, citing
concerns about the “health and well-being of
our participants and communities.
”
Lustig, 14, hoped to compete in golf for
Detroit in San Antonio after working hard
on his game at Plum Hollow
Country Club in Southfield.
He also was looking forward
to taking part in other Maccabi
Games activities like JCC Cares
and Hang Time social and cul-
tural events.
Lustig played hockey for
Detroit in the 2019 Maccabi Games held in
Detroit, so he knew what would be taking
place in Texas, albeit on a much smaller scale
than in Detroit.
“It’s disappointing not to be able to go to
the Maccabi Games in Texas, but
there’s nothing you can do. Safety
is safety. I’m excited to go to the
Maccabi Games next year. I’m hop-
ing they’ll be held,” he said.
The incoming Birmingham
Groves High School freshman
from West Bloomfield didn’t know
when he made those comments
that a Maccabi Games is planned
for 2022 after cancellations in 2020 and
2021 because of the pandemic.
He has two years of Maccabi Games eli-
gibility remaining.
Next year’s Maccabi Games will be held
July 31 through Aug. 5, in San Diego. The
announcement was made July 31 by the
host Lawrence Family JCC of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO ADDITION
A new Maccabi Games wrinkle is planned
for southern California.
The San Diego Games will be a pilot for
JCC Maccabi Access, which will provide
Jewish teens with cognitive and develop-
mental disabilities with a Maccabi Games
experience.
“I’m so excited,” longtime Detroit
Maccabi delegation head Karen Gordon
said about the announcement of the return
of the Maccabi Games in the year of the
event’s 40th anniversary.
More than 100,000 Jewish teens have
participated in the Maccabi Games over
the past four decades.
After celebrating the Maccabi Games’
return in 2022, Gordon quickly pivoted to
this year’s Texas Regional Games and the
last-minute decision to call them off.
“It was the right call to cancel them,
especially with kids coming from out of
town. It was just too risky,” she said.
Golf was one of six sports on the docket
for the Texas Regional Games, joining
boys basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer,
tennis and swimming. There also was
going to be a Star Reporter opportunity.
About 100 teen athletes from San
Antonio, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Detroit,
Cleveland, Chicago, Denver and St. Louis
would have competed during the three-
day, two-night event that would have con-
cluded Aug. 10.
JCC Cares involved the teens bringing
school supplies to San Antonio that would
have been donated to Communities in
Schools San Antonio and the Boys & Girls
Club of San Antonio, organizations that
give backpacks and school supplies to
needy youngsters.
Mark Berke was Lustig’s coach in 2019
on one of two Detroit Maccabi hockey
teams. Even though that was two years
ago, Berke remembers Lustig well.
“We had a lot of young players. Alex was
easily the smallest kid on our team, but he
played like a huge kid,” Berke said.
“He played with such heart and passion.
That whole team was a pleasure to coach.
We had a lot of fun. The kids and parents
were great.”
Lustig still went to Texas last week. He
visited his grandparents, Bob and Beth
Noe, who live in Austin, about two hours
from San Antonio. Dov and Allison Lustig
are Alex’s parents.
Anyone interested in participating in the
2022 Maccabi Games as a coach, athlete or
artist from Detroit should send an email to
Gordon at karengordon44@icloud.com.
Detroit athlete Alex Lustig disappointed,
but determined to compete in 2022
JCC Maccabi
Games on Shelf
for Another Year
STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Alex Lustig (right) poses
with a player from an
opposing hockey team
during the 2019 JCC
Maccabi Games in Detroit.
LUSTIG FAMILY
Alex Lustig
LUSTIG FAMILY