The JCC Maccabi Games is an Olympic-style sporting competition held each summer in North America and is the second largest organized sports program for Jewish teenagers in the world. Over 6,000 teens, ranging from 13 to 17 years of age, participate in the JCC Maccabi Games every summer. 

This program is extremely valuable for teens from small communities like Edmonton. The week-long event provides an opportunity for these youth to get a glimpse into the larger Jewish world and feel a sense of belonging, fun, camaraderie and Jewish citizenship. The program encourages participation in community events through fundraising efforts as well. 

Although the central activities are sports and athletic endeavors, the broader context of the games embraces Jewish expressions of pride, peoplehood, identity, and values. JCC Maccabi medals are awarded not only for sporting achievements but also for expressions of six core midot (values) that underpin all aspects of the JCC Maccabi experience: Repairing the World, Respect, Joy, Pride, Big-Heartedness, and Jewish peoplehood.

JCC Maccabi is a unique and vital part of Jewish youth programming in Edmonton that has been offered in our community since 1982. The program is volunteer-run and is supported by the Jewish Federation of Edmonton and the Edmonton Jewish Community Charitable Foundation, as well as numerous fundraisers throughout the year. 

We encourage you to consider this opportunity for your teen next summer. It is the trip of a lifetime and is not exclusively for the most talented athletes. There is something for everyone at JCC Maccabi. Let your teen experience the magic!