JCA Athletes Prepare for a National Spotlight!

Pittsburgh or bust! Jewish athletes from Jacksonville are headed to the JCC Maccabi Games®, Aug 3 – 8! We are ecstatic to announce the names of the 34 Jewish teenagers competing on our Jacksonville JCA Maccabi Games team this year!

Mazel Tov, athletes! These young athletes are competing for the gold in basketball, hockey, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and baseball.

Noam Akilov, Romy Akilov, Judah Algee, Talia Algee, Chloe Anders, DJ Becker, Micah Bozoff, Josiah Chaitovicz, Ronan Curley, Max Dorrian, Baylee Finklehoffe, Taylor Finklehoffe, Tova Goldshmidt, Zev Goldshmidt, Micah Jaffa, DJ Kempner, Eli Kuvin, Riley Kropp, Russell Kropp, Jonathan Landmann, Juliet Leonard, Sean Leonard, Ben Levinson, Lucas Lieberman, Jonah Newman, Andan Ordile, Chase Rachet, Brody Rice, Trevor Rice, Landon Schlossman, Zachary Setzer, Mason Smith, Shajar Stein, and Nuriel Stoil

Eli Kuvin, a swimmer who is headed to his third JCC Maccabi Games this summer, says he is ready for the competition. Eli was training to swim with Team USA at the Maccabiah Games in Israel this summer until conflict in the Middle East postponed the event. Now, Kuvin says, his training will pay off in Pittsburgh and the games will prepare him for competition in Israel come 2026.

“I love just being in the water – it is nice, especially when it is hot outside. This competition will be a chance to compete against other Jewish athletes on a smaller level before I go to Israel,” said Kuvin. “I am excited to go to Pittsburgh for the games, and to meet Jewish people from other cities.”

We will be watching and cheering for our JCA athletes on social media. Follow the JCA on Facebook and Instagram, and the official JCC Maccabi hashtags, #JCCMaccabiPitt and #WeAreMaccabi, so you don’t miss out on any of the action!

The JCC Maccabi Games® is the largest Jewish youth event in the world. Each year, thousands of Jewish teens and families join for a week immersed in sports, recreation, and programs instilled with Jewish values and experiences. Established in 1982, the JCC Maccabi games instill cultural pride, health, fitness, wellness, teamwork, integrity, and so much more.