Whether it’s pick-up basketball in the Jewish Community Center (JCC) gym, or attending water aerobics classes, JCC’s across North America were founded upon the idea that Jewish people need a place to recreate. One of these beloved forms of fitness is the JCC Maccabi Games. Modeled after the Olympics, the JCC Maccabi Games are sport competitions for teenagers where delegations of teams travel from JCCs around the world to connect, compete, and build a global Jewish community. This is communicated through a language that surpasses cultural barriers, race, and age: sports. 

Two cities in North America host the Maccabi Games on a yearly basis with an additional set of games in Israel every four years; the chosen cities this summer were Pittsburg and Tuscon. The 2025 Colorado Delegation consisted of teenagers from Denver, Carbondale, Fort Collins, Telluride, Colorado Springs, and Castle Pines. Thirty-five athletes competed in Tuscon, Arizona from July 27 – August 1 alongside their four coaches (two of which are Maccabi alumni, and two are JCC Fitness employees) as well as the Colorado Delegation Head and JCC Denver Interim Director of Engagement and Jewish Life, Daniel Siegel.  

The JCC Denver sent full teams of athletes to compete in both basketball and volleyball, and the athletes who play baseball, 3 v. 3 basketball, and flag football competed as “mixed teams.” Mixed teams allow athletes from various delegations to compete as a united team. The Colorado Delegation Head, Daniel, says that mixed teams are “a different but very cool experience. Although the athletes haven’t met before, it builds amazing comradery.” This intentional teambuilding fosters Jewish community across state and country lines. For approximately 63% of these young people, the Maccabi Games is the only organized Jewish programming in which they engage (JCCA Press Release, 2024). Therefore, the Maccabi Games connects teenagers to Jewish life, culture, history, and community. Sport may be the medium, but the impact invokes longstanding Jewish identity and fosters development of the next generation of Jewish leadership. 

Throughout the day, the Colorado delegation athletes competed against the other delegations in their chosen sport. In the evenings, they participated in social activities such as the opening and closing ceremonies, an arcade party, and a host family outing. As another unique component of the Maccabi Games, athletes are housed by families who reside in the host city. Daniel explains, “The host family experience is vital to the Maccabi Games. Being taken care of by another Jewish family is a beautiful way to cultivate world community and see the city through an individual family’s favorite local spots.  

Jewish identity is formed in rich and meaningful ways across diverse spaces. For some, connection to Judaism is felt atop the bimah (Hebrew for stage) in shul (Yiddish for synagogue.) For many, Judaism is found inside the neighborhood deli while savoring the comforting flavors of lox on a bagel. And for others, Jewishness is felt most when surrounded by a team of new Jewish friends from Ukraine and Montreal under the bright lights of a basketball court in Tuscon.