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Leon Lifschutz first became involved with Maccabi USA in 2013 as an Accommodations Manager at the 19th World Maccabiah Games working primarily with the Open teams. Prior to 2013, he had been to Israel a handful of times but recalls the Maccabiah Games as being a completely different experience. The Maccabiah Games allowed Leon to connect two pieces of his background – sports and Judaism; he was truly touched to be interacting with so many people who shared a similar background to his.

Leon’s involvement with Maccabi USA continued as a member of the USA delegation to Chile in 2015 for the Pan American Maccabi Games and most recently as an Accommodations Manager in charge of the Juniors teams at the 20th World Maccabiah Games in 2017. As a result of his passion and dedication to Maccabi USA, Leon will once again join the Maccabi USA family as USA Team Manager for the International Maccabi Youth Games which will take place July 22-August 1, 2018 in Israel. He is excited to be the USA Team Manager so he can help athletes strengthen and for some, discover their Jewish and athletic endeavors.

The inaugural International Maccabi Youth Games is a competition of male and female athletes (born between 2002-2004) who will compete in basketball, futsal, soccer, and volleyball. The Games will take place in and around Haifa. Team USA will compete alongside their Jewish teen counterparts from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, South Africa, and more. Additionally, they will participate in touring, and Israeli cultural and educational experiences based in Jerusalem. “The combination of athletics and culture are one of a kind,” said Leon. “The Games will help to enrich athletes through competition and the relationships they develop. The spirit of the Games cannot be put into words, you will have to come experience it to know for yourself.”

Leon is excited to witness the various sporting competitions and is looking forward to the lifelong friendships and bonds that will form between teammates and competitors. He hopes to provide structure for Team USA members to be their best and get the most out of the sporting events, prepare the management team, and support the delegation in problem-solving so nothing gets in the way of Maccabi USA accomplishing its mission of “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports.”

Do you know of any male or female basketball, futsal, soccer, or volleyball athletes born in 2002, 2003, or 2004? For more information and how to apply for the International Maccabi Youth Games, click here and be sure to read our FAQ’s!

Previously:

Medals and Memories from the 20th Maccabiah Games

The Magic of Maccabi with USA Team Rabbi Daniel Greyber

Maccabi World Union Internship: Jessica Goodkin

20th Maccabiah USA Mission: Passport to Israel

Maccabi USA: A Transformational Experience with Dan Kurtz

Harry Swimmer – A CNN Hero

Keep Calm and Smash Hard: Maccabi USA Badminton with Nicole Frevold

Dan Kurtz: Maccabi USA’s Alumni Relations Director

Emily Seelenfreund: A Maccabiah Trailblazer

Ellie Greenberg: In Her Own Words

From Maccabi Canada to Maccabi USA: Ice Hockey with Greg Gardner

From Running in to Coaching at the Maccabiah with Jordan Schilit

Building Maccabi USA’s Lacrosse Program with Eve Levinson

Maccabi USA Baseball with Eric Holtz

From the Maccabiah to Maccabi Young Leadership

Maccabi USA Cricket led my Former Israeli National Team Cricketer

Judo: A Family Affair with Adam Moyerman

Tennis in Santiago with Natasha Dabrowski

Maccabi USA Golf with Dan Frankel

Swimming for a Purpose with Sarah Solomon

Maccabi USA Field Hockey with Rebekah Abrams

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

Like Maccabi USA on Facebook and follow Maccabi USA on Twitter and Instagram!!

Join us at the 2025 Maccabiah in Israel (July 1-22, 2025)
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