By Elliot Pototsky
Zachary Viders still remembers what it felt like to compete in his first Maccabi soccer match, even though it was more than 30 years ago.
“I did my first Maccabiah as a [high school] junior. I was about [my son’s] age,” said Zachary, who turned 49 in March. “That was in 1993, and it was an amazing experience for so many reasons.”
At the time, his experience was not just about winning a bronze medal as a striker representing the United States. It was about traveling to Israel, meeting teammates from across the country, and forming friendships that have lasted decades.
“I had been to Israel before, but that trip felt like my own,” Zachary said. “I made great friends, the sports were great, but it was also everything around it—the touring, the whole experience.”
Years passed before Zachary returned to his next Maccabiah. When he did, he was no longer the same teenager with all the freedom in the world. Now, he was a 40-year-old portfolio manager with a wife and children.
“I came back for the Masters in 2017, and my kids were young,” he said. “Just being able to do that as a family was really special.”
Now, 33 years after his first trip and nine years after his second journey, Zachary is making his fourth and likely final excursion to Israel for the Maccabiah this summer. But this time, he’s not traveling alone. Three decades after his first Maccabiah, Zachary is preparing to go back to play for the Masters Men’s 45+ Soccer Team, and he’ll be travelling with his son, Judah, who will play on the U17 Boys’ Soccer Team.
For Judah, the significance of the Maccabiah does not come from a single story or moment, but rather from something he has watched grow over time. He has his father to thank for building relationships with the other dads and their sons.
“It’s like a big extended family,” Judah said.
His dad sees it the same way.
“It’s become more than just the games,” Zachary said. “It’s a whole ecosystem of people from all over the country.”
That community has followed both father and son to so many different places, including tournaments and family trips. That latest get-together included 13 of Zachary’s Maccabiah current teammates and the head coach, plus six former teammates and five kids.
“We just did a trip to Italy—25 of us,” Zachary said. “Some guys brought their sons. It’s become generational.”
Judah sees this year’s Maccabiah as a chance to build chemistry with his MUSA teammates, much like his father did when he was around his son’s age.
“Relationships are a huge part of playing,” Judah said. “That’s half the joy of it.”
Now, Judah will also have the opportunity to bond with his dad like never before, beginning with one of his favorite events.
“The opening ceremonies are one of the coolest parts,” Judah said. “The way my dad’s described it—it feels surreal.”
His father knows that feeling well.
“It’s really emotional every time,” Zachary said.
But this time will have a lasting impact like no other.
“This will likely be the last time I do it, and it’ll be his first,” Zachary said. “Being able to share that with him means everything.”
Elliot Pototsky is a graduate student at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communication. This is his first year in the Maccabi Media Program.