The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh will serve as host for the inaugural JCC Maccabi Campus Games next summer at Pitt.
The JCC Maccabi Games are the world’s largest in-person Jewish youth sporting event, and more than 6,000 participants from JCC communities around the world are expected to attend.
“The JCC Maccabi mission complements our movement’s continental approach to teen engagement, offering Jewish youth a supportive environment that fosters mutual respect and healthy competition and where they can interact in an atmosphere of sportsmanship, peoplehood and celebration,” JCC President and CEO Jason Kunzman said in a statement.
“We couldn’t imagine better community partners than our friends at the University of Pittsburgh and a collection of regional civic, corporate and government leaders working together with our remarkable Jewish community to make this dream a reality.”
Athletes will live, eat and compete on the Pitt campus in an Olympic-style atmosphere.
“This model offers top-notch facilities and a transformative experience for Jewish teen athletes from all over the world while enabling hundreds more to experience the magic of JCC Maccabi than has been possible in its 40-year history,” said Samantha Cohen, senior vice president and director of JCC Maccabi at JCC Association of North America.
In addition to the competitions, athletes will engage in volunteer and community support experiences through JCC Cares, the service arm of the JCC Maccabi that highlights the value of tikkun olam (repairing the world).
All people are invited to come and watch with JCC Macabi. Over the next several months, JCC of Greater Pittsburgh will look to connect with the communities in the city of Pittsburgh to bring excitement for the event among everyone.
The Games are a partnership between JCC Association of North America, Maccabi World Union, Maccabi Canada and Maccabi USA.
PHOTO: SHANE DUNLAP | TRIBLIVE The bronze panther sculpture is seen outside the William Pitt Union with the Cathedral of Learning in the background on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023 at the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland.
