On Sunday, May 7, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore hosted the 2023 Mini & Jr. Maccabi Games, a one-day tournament for Jewish athletes ranging in age from 9-12.
Nearly 500 Jewish athletes from a dozen JCCs around the Mid-Atlantic region competed in the Jewish youth olympics, including about 100 athletes representing the Baltimore delegation.
Athletes competed for medals and awards in baseball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, swimming and tennis.
Games were held at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills JCC, Garrison Forest School, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School and Woodholme Elementary School.
The games help prepare the athletes for the JCC Maccabi Games. Mini Maccabi is for ages 9-10, and Jr. Maccabi is for ages 11-12. Baltimore last hosted the games in 2018, and in recent years the games were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Besides the young athletes, the tournament brought together local volunteers, families from all over the region and spectators to view the competitions. The day began with opening ceremonies that included the “Parade of Athletes”; appearances by Poe the Baltimore Ravens mascot and the Ravens cheerleaders; performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national anthem; and opening remarks before the athletes participated in the games.
The JCC Baltimore Delegation won gold medals in Mini Boys Soccer, Junior Boys Soccer, Junior Girls Soccer and Junior Boys Baseball; and bronze medals in Mini Girls Basketball. Tennis and Swimming were medal winners as well.
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Lighting the torch of the Games are the JCC’s Rebecca Chinsky (far left) and tri-chairs of the games (left to right) Will Minkin, Melissa Peters and Darrell Braman. (Provided photo) 
Local athletes hold up the Baltimore delegation banner. (Provided photo) 
Boys Junior Basketball (Provided photo) 
Girls Junior Basketball (Provided photo) 
Teammates of Boys Junior Baseball high-five each other. (Provided photo) 
Girls Junior Soccer (Provided photo) 
The Baltimore delegation celebrates during the opening ceremonies. (Provided photo) 
Poe the Ravens mascot cheers on the Baltimore delegation. (Provided photo) 
JCC of Greater Baltimore CEO Barak Hermann (right) and Laura Rubenstein, the JCC’s chair. (Provided photo)
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