JCC Maccabi Chicago, a JCC of Chicago program that provides athletic, social and cultural experiences to Jewish teens ages 13-16 years, is look for track & field athletes to compete in the 2009 JCC Maccabi Games.

All interested athletes and families are invited to attend any of the free information nights to learn more about this summer’s Games in San Francisco, Calif., Aug 2-7.

The information nights will take place at the following dates and locations:

· Wed, Jan 21 – Mayer Kaplan JCC Children’s Center, 5050 Church St., Skokie, 7:00pm
· Mon, Jan 26 – Bernard Horwich JCC, 3003 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago, 7:00pm
· Wed, Jan 28 – Bernard Weinger JCC, 300 Revere Dr, Northbrook, 7:00pm
· Mon, Feb 2 – Studio J @ Jacob Duman JCC, 370 Half Day Rd, Buffalo Grove, 7:00pm

JCC Maccabi Chicago plans to send a delegation of ten athletes and two coaches to San Francisco, Calif., to compete against delegations from throughout North America, South America, Europe and Israel.

Tryouts for the 2009 JCC Maccabi Chicago Track & Field team will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009 and Sunday, March 15, 2009. Tryouts will begin at 6pm at Highland Park High School’s indoor track.

For detailed tryout information, visit the website at www.gomaccabi.org.

About JCC Maccabi Chicago
· The JCC Maccabi Games can be called the Olympics for Jewish teens, but they serve a larger purpose than athletic competition.

· All of JCC of Chicago programs including the JCC Maccabi Games reflect our mission of Bringing Jewish Values to life. For our teen participants, this means teaching them they will have multiple opportunities during the Games to apply values like responsibility (achreiyut), cooperation (shalom bayit), and repairing our world (tikkun olam). We use the Games as a vehicle to instill a pride among our athletes in their Jewish identity while reminding them that the Games connects each of them to the world’s Jewish community including the State of Israel.

· JCCs of Chicago has been a cooperating partner with the JCC Maccabi Games since its inception in 1982. An offspring of the World Maccabiah Games held in Israel every four years, JCC Maccabi Chicago is a fantastic opportunity for teen athletes to take their game to the next level, meet new friends, and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience