This week, we read the final two portions in the Book of Numbers: Matot and Masei. Together, they close out the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and prepare them to enter the Land of Israel. Masei, in particular, offers a recap of the 42 different stops made along the journey—a spiritual scrapbook or travelogue of sorts. But it’s more than just a list of places. It’s a reminder that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Each stop, even the difficult ones, is named. Each experience is acknowledged. Some were full of joy, some were marked by challenge, but each step along the way helped shape who the people became.

It’s a powerful idea: the path we take—where we pause, where we stumble, where we grow—is as defining as where we’re trying to go.

This message feels especially resonant as we prepare to welcome thousands of Jewish teens, families, and volunteers from around the world to Tucson for the JCC Maccabi Games & Access.

For the athletes, this will be more than just a week of sports and competition. It will be a journey—one that begins in their home communities and brings them here, to the desert, to form bonds, build Jewish identity, and create lasting memories.

For the volunteers, this is a chance to show up with generosity and presence, becoming the faces and helping hands that turn a big event into a welcoming experience.

For the host families, it’s the act of opening their homes—and hearts—to teens from around the world, creating connections that will last far beyond a single week.

For the staff and volunteer leaders who have worked tirelessly to plan and prepare, this is the culmination of months (and years) of vision, dedication, and belief in the power of Jewish peoplehood and teen engagement.

And, generally, for us as hosts, our journey has already begun. It started with dreaming, planning, meeting, and preparing. Each moment we’ve invested is one of those “stops along the way” that, when we look back, we’ll remember not just as part of the work, but part of the meaning.

In Matot, there’s also another timely message: the importance of vows and commitments—how our words and promises shape reality. At JCC Maccabi, we make a collective commitment: to hospitality, to safety, to joy, to inclusion, and to ensuring that each participant feels like they belong. That’s the vow we take, and the legacy we build.

As we enter Shabbat and prepare for the week ahead, may we reflect on our journeys—past and present—and recognize that every stop along the way, every challenge faced and overcome, every person welcomed into our midst, helps write the story of who we are.

Shabbat Shalom—and we’ll see you at the Games.