Over 40 athletes gathered in Chicago on a bitterly cold weekend in December to try out for a coveted position on the USA Open and Juniors Karate Teams.  After several hours of fierce fighting and exhibition of skill, 12 men and women were appointed to the Open Karate Team and 14 boys and girls appointed to the Juniors and Youth Karate Team.  The Teams will be supplemented by three coaches and a manager.  The athletes and managers represent seven states - Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and New York.

The selection of the athletes for the Open and Juniors Judo Teams was based on each applicant's competitive resume.  Ten athletes and two coaches were appointed to the Open and Juniors Judo Teams.  They represent five states - California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. 

Lou Moyerman, Overall Martial Arts Chair, is very pleased with the Teams and mentioned there are still a few positions left for the Taekwondo Team if there are qualified applicants.  The Taekwondo Team should be fully appointed by mid-April.  "I am very excited as all of our Martial Arts Teams are outstanding," said Moyerman, "and I am very excited that these Jewish athletes will have the opportunity to compete in Israel.  As a former athlete, the best part of competing at the Maccabiah is not just the medals we win, but the lifelong friendships we make.  I hope that this group of athletes works hard to win gold medals, but more importantly, I hope they each are able to create lifelong relationships."

If any elite Jewish Taekwondo athletes are interested in applying for the Team, please contact Marc Gitelman at LVELITETKD@msn.com. 

About the organization:

Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel (MUSA) has an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs.  The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American Maccabi Games and the Maccabi competitions in Europe and Australia, as well as a co-founder of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America.  As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.

MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities.  They strive to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings.  MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport. 

"Now more than ever, we need to get involved and commit to building a proud Jewish Identity among our young people in the U.S., Israel and the Diaspora," stated Ron Carner, General Chairman, USA Maccabiah Team. "The Maccabiah (Games) is not just about sports, but about providing for these young people a Jewish awareness of who they are, where they come from and where they are going."

The World Maccabiah Games are a quadrennial event that takes place in Israel.  The 18^th World Maccabiah Games, scheduled for July 12 - 23, 2009 will be the world's third largest international athletic competition.  Over 9000 of the world's best Jewish athletes from six continents and over 60 countries will compete at the Games.

###