Shavua Tov
With just 15 days to go until we welcome the world to Tucson for the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each of you—our board members, donors, community leaders, partners, and of course our incredible staff—whose vision, dedication, and partnership have brought us to this extraordinary moment.
Together, we have worked hand in hand to build and strengthen a community rooted in Jewish values and committed to welcoming all. Every step forward—every connection made, every dollar raised, every volunteer recruited—has brought us closer to realizing our shared goal: a more vibrant, inclusive, and resilient Jewish life here in Tucson.
The JCC Maccabi Games are more than an athletic event. They are a celebration of Am Yisrael—the global Jewish family—gathering in the spirit of friendship, competition, and unity. For one unforgettable week, more than 1,000 Jewish teens and their supporters will come together from across North America, Israel, Ukraine, and Moldova. We will host them not just in our homes and facilities, but in our hearts and community.
As it says in Pirkei Avot (2:2):
“Great is study, for it leads to action. But greater still is action when done in partnership with others.”
The success of this moment is a testament to what is possible when we come together with shared purpose and collective spirit.
There is also a beautiful teaching from Kohelet Rabbah (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 4:9):
“Tovim hashnayim min ha-echad” – “Two are better than one, for they get a greater return for their labor.”
This is the power of community. This is what we are building—together.
I invite you to listen to One Day by Matisyahu—a song that has become an anthem of hope, unity, and the dream of a better world. It reminds us of the future we’re building not just for this week of Games, but for many years to come.
Thank you for being on this journey with us. The impact of these Games will resonate far beyond the competition fields. It will live in the friendships formed, the Jewish pride ignited, and the community bonds deepened.
Let’s finish strong—together.
Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.
Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי
Bring them Home Now I מחזירים אותם הביתה עכשיו
Todd Rockoff
President + CEO, Tucson J
