Dear Maccabi Friend
We are excited as we move cautiously and safely towards a re-set of community sport across our 22 Maccabi Victoria clubs.

Please find below the latest club and event updates.

To stay informed during the Pandemic, visit : www.MaccabiUpdates.com and stay connected with Maccabi through Sport & Wellbeing - All In One Place .
COMING BACK  STRONG, PROUD,  TOGETHER!

In mid March the Covid pandemic brought the Maccabi world to a staggering halt. The decision to cancel all programs and sports was both logical and necessary and we acted quickly to protect our community.
 
As rates of infection decline and our health systems cope there is a palpable and mounting enthusiasm for return to play. Many of our clubs have commenced training and outdoor, non contact sports for those under 18 will shortly be in full swing, albeit with the necessary protocols in place.
 
The last 3 months have given us all time for reflection and we will all emerge with changed priorities and new ways of doing things.
 
The Maccabi community has remained engaged and supportive. Our clubs have provided online training programs to their members, maintaining fitness and skill levels.
 
As an organisation, Maccabi Victoria has taken this opportunity to upgrade and streamline its systems to better serve the community. We have also recently launched a Hardship Relief Fund to ensure that during these unprecedented times, every Jewish athlete can participate in a Maccabi club with little or no financial stress.
 
It has become more apparent than ever the importance of the role that Maccabi plays in the community.. Providing its membersa healthy and active lifestyle and life long friendships and bonds which are derived from sport. We will respond by continuing to “connect the Jewish community through sport and wellbeing.”
 
As President of Maccabi Victoria, I am extremely proud to have navigated this path with the support of my fellow board members and the Maccabi Foundation.

We as an organisation look forward to the day, when we can walk down to Caulfield Park or any other venue and see hundreds of our children, proudly wearing the little green star, competing to the best of their ability and more importantly openly and proudly representing our community.
 
All information about the resumption of sport or for financial assistance can be seen at our website www.maccabiupdates.com

Maccabi Greetings

BRIAN SWERSKY
President, Maccabi Victoria

All Abilities:
  • Zoom with members to keep them engaged
  • In limbo for contact programs due to COVID regulations

Ajax Senior:
  • Currently training but there is no return to play date as yet.
  • The league (VAFA) is announcing their decision with respect to that on Monday, July 6

Ajax Junior:
  • Ajax JFC is back in Full training and hope games begin on the 12th of July

Athletics:
  • Training re-commenced

  Basketball:
  • Games to resume 18th July
  • Training to resume 20th subject to venues

  • Not in season

Cricket Senior:
  • Not in season
  • Planning on starting indoor cricket training in August (subject to COVID)
  • Season start date – TBA

Hockey:
  • Training – has commenced

  • Competitions:
  • Sunday 19 July – junior competitions start
  • Monday 20 July - masters competitions start
  • Sunday 26 July – senior competitions start

Netball:
  • Training
  • Juniors training full contact, on a 2 week break until school goes back.
  • Seniors not training

  • Competition
  • Re commencing aorund late July for the Spring Competition (July to December) for Juniors and Seniors.

Soccer Junior
  • Training has re commenced (full contact)
  • Competition scheduled to commence on 12th July but could change due to COVID outbreak

Soccer Women’s Senior
  • Training has commenced – non contact

Snooker:
  • Memberships on hold

Table Tennis:
  • Table Tennis Pennant Competition at MSAC is not returning until September

Ten Pin Bowls:

Tennis
  • Practice is on Thursday nights at 7:30pm and Saturday afternoon at 1pm.
  • Competition is set to resume on Saturday 11th July

Water Polo
  • All registrations have been extended to 31 August 2020
  • Any new players will be registered free of charge until that date (come & try and short comp)
  • Planning to have a short comp (6 – 7 weeks) from first week in August (this is dependent on government restrictions being lifted as planned – may now be in jeopardy given the weekend’s events).
  • State Championships begin Oct to Feb/March, with a break in January
On June 1 st  2020, the Maccabi Victoria Sports Foundation launched the  “ Maccabi  Hardship  Relief Fund ”  which has been set up to support our Maccabi family and the entire Victorian Jewish community.

A substantial fund has been established to support those in our community facing financial hardship due to COVID-19, and to provide assistance to enable all family members to join a Maccabi Victoria club or program, ensuring we all “ COME BACK  TOGETHER! ”

Dale Smorgon  - Maccabi Victoria Sports Foundation Chair said:  “We are committed to ensuring that no Jewish child be denied an opportunity to play sport with other Jewish children because of financial hardship - this is a time in history where our community needs to wrap its arms around each other and provide all the support and assistance necessary and available to ensure we come through this crisis stronger, healthier and even more united.”

Maccabi understands that some of you may be concerned or too PROUD to apply. We are all about being  Maccabi PROUD , but not at the cost of leaving anyone behind. Please rest assured knowing that your privacy is taken seriously and ALL applications will be treated confidentially. Applications will be reviewed by a small independent panel (not from Clubs) comprising Maccabi Foundation Chair  Dale Smorgon , former Chair  Ian Davis  and Maccabi President  Brian Swersky.

The application process;

  • will be non-invasive
  • requires a simple registration and application form to be completed online
  • requires only basic club information and member/s details of those applying
  • will ask the level of assistance required
  • is not means tested
  • is confidential, easy and fast
  • will run for at least 12 months to provide assistance for seasonal sports

To begin your application, complete and submit the expression of interest form online and we will then contact you with further instructions.


or REGISTER HERE:   www.maccabirelieffund.com.au

Maccabi Victoria  and the  Maccabi Victoria Sports Foundation  have responded swiftly to the crisis facing our community and are proud to offer this generous gift to our members, clubs and the Victorian Jewish community through the  Maccabi  Hardship  Relief Fund .

Maccabi urge all who have a genuine need to apply .

1. HOW DID YOU KEEP FIT DURING ISOLATION?
During isolation, I maintained fitness by swimming in the bay, riding on my indoor smart trainer and running on my treadmill.

2. WHAT WAS YOUR TRAINING PROGRAM DURING ISOLATION?
Training program during isolation has been interesting. Because I’m home more often there is more eating so it’s important to keep moving... I train 6 days a week with one rest day, although I’m 8 months into recovery from a serious bike accident so I’m still building back my fitness.

3. DID YOU FIND IT EASY TO MAINTAIN YOUR FITNESS DURING ISOLATION?
Yes, I feel like there is so much eating during isolation that it important to keep moving.

4. HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH?
Getting out every day is important as well as zooming friends and family in the evening, especially on the weekend. Have had a couple of zoom drinks with mates too to keep the laughs up.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD TO EAT THE NIGHT BEFORE A BIG COMPETITION?
Pasta. Definitely pasta... usually a light salad to accompany.

6. WHO INSPIRED YOU AS A YOUNG ATHLETE?
As a young athlete I looked up to triathletes like Greg WELSH, short in stature but huge heart. Also liked the way Pat Rafter went about his craft.

7. WHAT IS YOUR BEST MACCABI / MACCABIAH MEMORY?
Winning the world age group sprint distance championship on the Gold Coast in 2018 was my favourite moment as the competition was fierce, closely followed the entire Maccabi Man competition at the 2017 Maccabiah Games.

My favourite Maccabiah moment has to be walking into the opening ceremony 20 years after the infamous bridge collapse. Seeing my family and the entire Australian fan base in the crowd and having thousands of people celebrating us Australians, was a moment I waited for and dreamt of for 20 years.

8. WHAT CLUBS DID YOU PLAY FOR WITH MACCABI, AND HAVE YOU MAINTAINED YOUR FRIENDSHIPS?
As a child I played cricket and footy for Ajax and Maccabiah... I made friends then who I still share such incredible memories. I see premiership teammates from junior days who I still have such an amazing bond with.... both cricket and football .... we are very lucky to have Maccabi.

Thank you Josh for chatting with Maccabi!