VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 2 | FALL 2018 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MACCABI USA Matt Finesilver 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MACCABI YOUTH GAMES THANK YOU 3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE UPCOMING EVENTS 4 RECENT EVENTS 5 FUND-A-DREAM 2018 INTERNATIONAL MACCABI 6 YOUTH GAMES 2019 PAN-AM MACCABI GAMES 7 2019 EUROPEAN MACCABI GAMES LEGENDS OF THE MACCABIAH 8 LEGACY LISTING DONOR PROFILE 9 VOLUNTEER PROFILE INSIDE THIS ISSUE THIS INSIDE the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. He 2013 he encouraged Mitchell, along with his 10 & 11 NEWS also took part in basic training for the Olympics other brothers to apply for the Maccabiah and was ranked top 5 in his weight class in the Games. Both Mitchell and Matt excelled at the U.S. He is a world-class athlete, literally and Wrestling Trials and were selected as members Wrestling Spotlight figuratively. of the Open Team. Their dream of competing internationally became a reality in the summer Wrestling has been a right of passage for Nate The 2013 Games had a tremendous impact on of 2017. Engel, Mitchell Finesilver, and Matt Finesilver, Nate as an individual and an athlete. He was all of whom have been wrestling practically competing at a high level, and when he first Mitchell had an unbelievable experience that since they could walk. Nate’s father was a got to Israel he was only concerned with the summer. When asked about the impact the high school wrestling coach so he was born competitive nature of the Games. Flash forward Games have had on his life he said, “you do into the sport. Whereas, the Finesilvers are to 2017 when as a veteran wrestler Nate not get a lot of opportunities to be able to do each part of two sets of twin brothers whose served as a role model for the Open Wrestling something you love to do [wrestling] and have parents signed them up for wrestling, a sport team. He understood that the bigger picture of it tied to your heritage, religion, and ancestry, that channeled their “rowdy” energy. The 20th the Maccabiah Games is the “experience that but through the Maccabiah Games you get it World Maccabiah Games were Nate’s second individuals have in addition to the training”; it all.” The Games are a memory that he will keep time as a participant with Maccabi USA and was important for him to win but also to be a forever; they have changed his life. They have the first time for both the Finesilver brothers. mentor to his teammates. given him the itch to travel, a love for competing internationally, and a newfound confidence Nate first got involved with the Maccabiah Mitchell and Matt Finesilver first heard about the going into future competitions. Games because of his grandparents, Holocaust Maccabiah Games from other Jewish athletes survivors, who when liberated from the camps and were always interested in competing. Matt’s fondest memory from the 2017 in Germany walked by foot back to their home While the brothers come from a large Jewish Maccabiah Games were the friendships he in Hungary. Both their influence and his family, their Jewish community in Colorado is developed with his teammates. He notes that wrestling status in college as an elite athlete small. Ironically enough, when Mitchell was he felt a big difference in being part of Team led him to apply and compete at the 19th World competing at Duke University his senior year USA at the Maccabiah Games versus being Maccabiah Games in the summer of 2013 in of college, Coach Nate Engel reached out to part of his college team at Duke University. Israel. In addition to joining the Open Men’s him, and through sharing his experience from The Open Team genuinely cared about Matt’s Wrestling Team in 2013, Nate was training for (continued on page 2) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Wrestling Spotlight (continued from front page) After the largest and We develop, promote and support most successful international, national and regional athletic- Nate Engel Maccabiah in 2017, based activities and facilities. We strive to with nearly 10,000 provide Jewish athletes all over the world participants from the opportunity to share their heritage and almost 80 countries, customs in competitive athletic settings. We both Maccabi USA support programs that embody the Maccabi and Maccabi World ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and Union deserved to excellence in sport. take a breath. But, with 2018 being an open Mission accomplished! year in the Maccabi calendar, the inaugural Maccabi Youth Games (MYG) were born. If ever there was a feel-good program, this was it. Jewish youth from the Diaspora Initially, this was met with trepidation joined their brothers and sisters from Israel from many members of the Movement, in hard-fought competition, while getting to for reasons ranging from “it was too soon embrace their heritage and strengthen their after the Maccabiah” to “there might not be Jewish identity. enough interest.” The Games were primarily held in Haifa. Candidly, some of the leading countries did Our Team was housed at the same facility not send Teams to the MYG, and others as Great Britain, and Canada. The young only a skeleton crew. But, as a leader in the success on and off the mat. While he athletes were able to bond with both wanted to prove himself, the support Maccabi Movement, we had an obligation to members of their own Team, as well as the was always authentic. Another highlight support this new event and never wavered others. for him was the elite level of his team in our resolve to send the largest Team members, “some world-renowned, some possible. When the competitions were over, we went veterans of the Maccabiah Games, but all touring in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The tour incredible wrestlers who had excelled in Dr. Marc Backal, Maccabi Youth Games of the Old City culminated with the moving tough competitions from other countries,” General Chair, worked tirelessly on the B’nai Mitzvah Ceremony at The Kotel, led said Matt. “When you train with other elite athletes you soak up what they are doing, project. We would like send a big thanks by the beloved MWU Rabbi Carlos Tapiero. to our devoted volunteers and professional you learn from them, and you look to them staff. As is always the case, the tour of Yad for guidance to help you be the best you Vashem was the ultimate reality check can be.” I am proud to say that the inaugural Maccabi and put everything else in the proper As individuals, Nate, Mitchell, and Matt, Youth Games were an unquestioned perspective. As the generation of survivors as well as all their other teammates success. There were 800 athletes, ages is rapidly dwindling, never has it been more brought home multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. The success of the 14-16, representing 12 countries. Other important to expose Jewish youth to the than Israel, we had the largest contingent international wrestling program has incomprehensible horrors of the Holocaust. also led to domestic success as both with a team of 200. But, at the end of the day, nearly 200 Jewish Finesilver brothers competed in the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Tournament in multiple That success was not determined by medals youngsters returned to the United States as won, but rather by successfully fulfilling our rounds; they were ranked among the top the next generation of ambassadors for the 16 seeds in their weight classes. Nate mission: State of Israel. was named Assistant Wrestling Coach at Stanford University in July 2018 and will Maccabi USA, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Mission accomplished, indeed! organization, endeavors, through sports, also serve as the Director of the California to perpetuate and preserve the American RTC program. Jewish community by encouraging Jewish These athletes experienced the “Magic pride, strengthening Jewish bonds and of the Maccabiah.” Something that they encourage any eligible athlete to by creating a heightened awareness of partake in as well; if the athlete has the Israel and Jewish identity. The volunteer opportunity to compete they should “make organization seeks to enrich the lives of it happen” said Mitchell. Jewish youth in the United States, Israel and Jeff Bukantz, President the Diaspora through athletic, cultural and educational programs. 2 | sportscene | Fall 2018 Wrestling Spotlight Maccabi Youth Games Thank You (continued from front page) “My favorite part was meeting people from “My favorite part of the Games was playing my “The high level of competition, ability to meet around the world, and of course playing against favorite sport in the most spiritual country.” new people, and to play a sport I love were all people from all over the world.” – Anna Voskoboynik, Junior Girls’ Volleyball amazing parts of the Youth Games.” – Samantha Edelman, Junior Girls’ Soccer “I have played basketball since I was a little kid – Charles Presser, Junior Boys’ Basketball “My favorite part of the Games were the and have been in many tournaments, but this “Playing rugby with kids from other countries friendships that were made and representing wasn’t like any other tournament. As much was really an awesome experience, and I team USA internationally.” as I enjoyed the competition and winning the became good friends with a bunch of them – Hannah Margolis, Junior Girls’ Soccer gold, nothing could compare to the emotions - now we connect on Instagram and hope to “Meeting new people from around the world I felt playing in Israel alongside other great meet up again sometime in the future. Playing was the best part of the trip.” Jewish athletes from around the world.