The Maccabi Games Return

COMMUNITY

By Beth Milograno Berry, Jewish Community Alliance Jewish Community Alliance

Coach Rio Robinson with the athletes who competed on the JCA Jacksonville basketball team at the 2011 Maccabi Games.

The Jewish Community Center Association (JCCA) is thrilled about the return of the JCC Maccabi® Experience and so are we! Excitement is in the air at the JCA as we prepare a team of young Jewish athletes for the JCC Maccabi Games® and JCC Maccabi Access in San Diego, California, on July 31 – August 5, 2022.

“I have worked with young people from several communities in the JCC Maccabi Games. It is wonderful to watch the joy as young athletes participate and grow their Jewish identity,” says Jewish Community Alliance CEO Adam Chaskin, who has coached and mentored Jewish athletes at the Maccabi Games since 1988. “The experience fosters a greater Jewish identity and instills core Jewish values in young athletes.”

When the JCCA announced the 2022 games and its new Access experience for young Jewish athletes with disabilities, our JCA staff was inspired to off er young Jewish athletes in our community the opportunity to compete. With more than 1,500 participants expected, the San Diego games will feature sports like baseball, basketball, dance, esports, fl ag football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball.

“The overall experience is extremely rewarding,” says JCA Sports and Recreation Director Rio Robinson, who is actively recruiting Jewish athletes to compete on the Jacksonville JCA team. Having

attended two Maccabi Games in his career with the JCA, Rio says the Maccabi Games is an experience of a lifetime. “To see the scope of how many JCCs exist and participate is eye-opening. To gather that many young Jewish athletes in a sporting event is truly humbling.”

The 2022 JCC Maccabi Experience includes Olympic-style opening and closing ceremonies, and a community service day of caring. Every Maccabi event is aimed to bring the Jewish community together for a week of spirit, friendship and celebration.

“It’s a place where children realize they have Jewish peers across the country. Although we may look and sound diff erent, we are all Jewish - that is the wonderful, bonding thing about the Maccabi Games,” says Adam.

If your children, ages 13 – 16 by July 31, 2022, are interested in being on the Jacksonville JCA Maccabi Games team, contact Coach Rio Robinson via email: rio.robinson@jcajax.org or phone, (904) 730 – 2100 ext. 250.

THE JOY THAT IS JUDAISM

By Ellen Berson, Congregation Ahavath Chesed

Everyone is welcome in our Temple family, the young and the young-atheart; the single and the partnered; the Jew by birth and the Jew-bychoice; the able-bodied and the challenged. No matter where you have been or where you are going, rediscover the joy that is Judaism here at Congregation Ahavath Chesed! Those words are on the Temple website and refl ect Congregation Ahavath Chesed’s new Temple Board President, Miriam Greenhut’s vision to bring excellence to our long standing congregants and to connect with young and interfaith families. “We are Reform Judaism in Jacksonville. We are home to the full spectrum of inclusive Judaism.”

Miriam joined the Temple after hearing how wonderful Temple’s Sunday school, Temple Institute of Religion (TIR), is. She watched her sons grow up at Temple and become bar mitzvot, making the Temple the religious home for her family. “I believe in Jewish institutional life. I believe in the value of being part of a congregational community." She was then invited to join the Temple’s Education Committee. “That was a turning point for me. It was the fi rst time in my career when I could take on volunteer work.” Miriam relished this opportunity. Volunteering held “all the good things you could hope for…it was fun, social, collaborative, and creative.” The experience showed her “that active volunteers could have a positive impact on the engagement experience at Temple.”

Two years ago Miriam was asked to join the board and later to cochair both the interim and permanent rabbinic search for the Temple. After that she was named the board secretary and this year she begins her role as board president. Her kind demeanor and soft voice balance her drive and determination. Miriam is helping support the new professional team at the Temple and looking to the future. “Building on our historical strength, we can take a fresh look at the future to create a new vision for Jewish life in the 21st century. Our potential is unlimited.”

Miriam Greenhut, Temple Board President (left) with Goldie Lansky (right) at Tashlich

COMMUNITY

THE SHABBAT PROJECT

By Rabbi Menashe Uhr, Jacksonville Community Kollel

Musical Havdalah concludes an uplifting weekend

The Shabbat project is an international grassroots movement encouraging Jews around the world to uplift the way they experience Shabbbat, for one weekend a year. The Kollel was privileged to bring this worldwide program to Jacksonville this past month!

On Shabbat parshat Vayeira, October 22-23, The Kollel hosted a beautiful gourmet dinner (catered by none other than my wife Shayna!) and we were honored to have over 75 people join the meal. The program started with Candle lighting, Kabbalat Shabbat prayers, and continued on to a delicious meal, accompanied by beautiful singing and inspirational words of Torah. Following the meal, we were joined by many friends from the Mandarin area, who came for dessert and an Oneg, which lasted well into the night.

On Shabbat day we partnered with Etz Chaim Synagogue for extra programming, including special classes, an enhanced Kiddush and Seudah Shlishit, and ended off with an inspirational musical Havdalah around a bonfire at the close of Shabbat. We were joined by an energetic group of young musicians who elevated the singing and spirit, and brought a shipment of specialty kosher foods that aren’t (yet) available in Jacksonville!

Overall, many people were impacted by this special weekend, and we hope everyone who participated took the inspiration with them by trying to make a small commitment to enhance the way we celebrate every Shabbat, even the “regular” ones. This weekend increased our appreciation for special gift of Shabbat in our lives!

The Kollel frequently hosts free Shabbat dinners open to the entire community. It’s a great place to come for a delicious meal and a meaningful Jewish experience. With participants from all walks of life and all areas of Jacksonville, it’s an amazing opportunity to network and connect with other local Jews. Learn more at jacksonvillekollel.com/ shabbat-dinners