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The day Rebekah Abrams returned from the recent European Maccabi Games in Berlin, she immediately asked her parents if she could “pretty please” attend the upcoming Pan American Maccabi Games.  “I just wanted to do it again so badly,” said Rebekah. “My parents were very supportive and I am very thankful to them for that.”

Rebekah, currently studying to be a Biomedical Engineer with a minor in Judaic Studies at the University of Rochester, hadn’t heard of Maccabi USA until speaking with her good friend Daniella Rabin, who competed at the 2013 Maccabiah Games as a Juniors Gymnast.  Daniella knew how serious Rebekah took Field Hockey (she plays on Rochester’s Field Hockey team), and suggested she look into participating at the 2015 European Maccabi Games. “I started to really look into the opportunity,” recalled Rebekah. “And the more I learned, and the more I spoke with Daniella, the more I knew I had to go to Germany.”

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Although Maccabi USA’s Open Women’s Field Hockey team at the European Maccabi Games did not achieve their goal of winning a medal, Rebekah described her time in Germany in glowing fashion.  “Not only did I become a better Field Hockey player, I made so many real friends that I am in touch with constantly!”

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As a newly minted Maccabi USA alum, Rebekah knows what she’d like to do the same and differently at the Pan American Maccabi Games.  Unsurprisingly, they involve building relationships. She plans on interacting with her International counterparts on a more personal level.  “I wish I had talked to more of the International players, to learn more about them and their culture,” she said.  “It’s fascinating, the opportunity to meet all these Jews from so many different parts of the world. How cool is that?”

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As the interview is coming to an end, it is casually mentioned that there are roughly 40 days until her departure to Chile; she can barely contain her excitement. “There were so many moments from the European Maccabi Games that I can’t forget, and now I get to do it all over again in Chile? How fantastic! I can’t wait!”

 

Previously:

Breaking the International Maccabi Games Golf Scoring Record at the European Maccabi Games

Ori Hoffer on Preparing for his First Maccabi USA Experience

Half Marathon with Melissa Perlman

Women’s Soccer with Catie Chase

Coaching at the EMG with Scott Garson

Maccabi USA Soccer with Morry Steinbach

Prepping for the European Maccabi Games with Zak Elfenbein

Maccabi Memories with Caroline Post

Maccabi Memories with Dallen Stanford

Maccabi Memories with Matthew Halpern

Maccabi Memories with Charly Santagado

Maccabi Memories with Matthew Monheit

Maccabi Memories with Lenny Krayzelburg

Maccabi Memories with Rachel Magerman

Maccabi Memories with Noah Springwater

Maccabi Memories with Stuart Weitzman

 

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