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

