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Joy. Pride. Enthusiasm. Electricity. Uplift. Without opening my thesaurus, these are just some of the emotions I took away from Monday evening’s Maccabi Games Opening Event. There could certainly be many more words to offer, but I hope that these opening words convey a sense of the evening. Held in the Pete, aka the Petersen Events Center on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh, team after team representing their local JCC proudly marched onto the floor of the Pete, amidst smoke machine, special lighting and a dj playing a musical selection appropriate to the home city of each team. The audience, comprised of parents of the athletes, athletic staff, local community, people from beyond Pittsburgh, and elected leaders, didn’t greet the teams warmly, but rather, enthusiastically. Of particular note, from my perspective, were the following: the welcome for the team from Idaho, as there most likely was some assumption that there are no Jews in Idaho (wrong); the welcome for teams from abroad, such as Argentina, Mexico, the UK, etc; the expected loud cheer for Team Pittsburgh; the thunderous welcome for Team Israel.

I was quite proud and pleased with such a supportive environment throughout the parade of athletes. All the athletes, regardless of how many Maccabi Games they have participated in, felt embraced, valued, accepted and elevated. The smiles on their faces and their body language belied the excitement of the moment. It is indeed quite a massive feat to pull off a Maccabi Games, and the incredibly long list of those to thank is boundless. Pittsburgh pride abounds.

But even more rewarding was the pride in being Jewish displayed by all of the athletes. At a difficult time such as now, it was a brief and welcome relief to leave the outside world beyond the entrance doors and just celebrate the moment. The welcome that we gave all of the athletes was surpassed by their collective “proud to Jewish” attitudes that was pervasive, something that all who attended felt and took with them as they left, and most likely continue to carry with them. And for that gift, it was something that the veritable doctor ordered.

By the time you read this, our guests will have returned to their homes, but they have granted the city of Pittsburgh a wonderful gift – a youthful, prideful exuberance – that in addition to athletic achievement, will remain in our hearts for a very long time. I’m grateful that I was able to witness it, and I hope that my musings convey to you a bit of the flavor of the experience. It was indeed a Shehecheyanu moment (for those unfamiliar, Shehecheyanu is the name given to a bracha, a blessing that we recite to God that concludes with gratitude for “keeping us alive, sustaining us, and enabling us to reach this moment”.). Amen.