Maccabi USA going beyond the game

Through an initiative called Lev L’Lev (Heart to Heart), the US Maccabiah team is visiting various hospitals and youth facilities around Israel equipped with tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts as well as an immeasurable amount of good will.

On Sunday, July 12th, 64 US athletes visited Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center where they toured the hospital and spent considerable time meeting with patients while presenting them with gifts that they had individually brought from America. In the Pediatrics Department, the US Karate and Tae Kwan Do squads conducted a martial arts demonstration that elicited huge smiles on children’s faces when they were invited to take part.

Smiles at the hospital (Photo: Jeremy Wimpfheimer)

Alberto Friedman, 41, who said he came out of retirement to participate in the Maccabiah, commented that these opportunities supersede anything that can be achieved in actual competition. “I’ve won gold medals at the highest levels,” said the St. Louis native who was on the US 2004 Olympic Team and was a world champion in martial arts in 2000, 2004 and 2006.

“But as nice as it is to win golds and see them hanging on the wall, it’s these types of experiences where you can put a smile on a sick child’s face that I’ll always remember.”

'What it means to be a true athlete'

Over the course of the Maccabiah, nearly 350 of the Maccabi USA competitors will join the visits to the various medical and specialized care facilities that are included on the Lev L’Lev itinerary. Deb Lichtenfeld, who directs the program, said that all US participants were asked to contribute a toy or other gift that will be delivered to a patient or child in need. “These ideals of giving back are a real cornerstone of what it means to be a true athlete,” she said.

Ron Carner, the General Chairman of Maccabi USA, describes Lev L’Lev as an integral component of the overall Maccabiah experience. “By having the chance to give something back to the people of Israel, we know that this program allows us to make the Maccabiah into an opportunity to significantly contribute to the land and its people and we know this must be a central mission of the Games.”

While making their way through the hallways of Shaare Zedek, it was clear that the gesture was much appreciated. “The Maccabiah is a beloved institution here in Israel and it is great to see that these athletes are showing their love for Israel in this special way,” said Uri Schwarz, Director of International Operations at Shaare Zedek. “These athletes can know that their tour will be remembered long after they return home.”