Local Jewish teen athletes recently returned from the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games in Tucson, Arizona with medals, memories and a renewed sense of pride with Jewish teens from around the country.
The JCC Maccabi Games are an Olympic-style sporting event, and the world’s largest annual gathering of Jewish teens. This year, Team San Jose competed alongside over 1,200 participants from around the nation.
Its eight athletes competed with heart, showed outstanding sportsmanship, remarkable ruach (spirit) and brought home multiple medals—including in 17U Boys Soccer (Bronze), 17U Girls Soccer (Bronze) and 17U Flag Football (Silver).
Two Team San Jose athletes, Ethan Mutchnik (Star Reporter) and Hannah Sherman (17U Girls Soccer), were honored with the esteemed Midot Medal, the highest recognition a JCC Maccabi participant can receive.
- Only about 4% of the 1,200 athletes receive a Midot medal, yet 25% of the local delegation earned this incredible honor, reserved for those who embody the core Jewish values and spirit of the Games.
- The JCC Maccabi experience is rooted in six guiding Midot (values): Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Kavod (respect), Rina (joy), Ga’ava (pride), Lev Tov (a generous heart) and Amiut Yehudit (Jewish peoplehood), which shape the deeper meaning and mission behind the competition.
More than just an athletic competition, the JCC Maccabi Games are a celebration of Jewish identity, teamwork and community. The idea is to unite Jewish teens through sport, and offer a powerful way to create meaningful connections for both teens and their families. APJCC Los Gatos has been a proud supporter—and delegation leader—for more than 20 years.
