Want more Maccabi? Here’s what you didn’t see!

While most Maccabi Games' organizers were getting some much-deserved zzzzzz's on the morning of Aug. 7, Games director Jackie Lewis was wide awake.

Stationed at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, Lewis was greeting host families dropping off their out-of-town athletes headed for the airport. At 3 a.m.

Instead of yawns, droopy eyelids and disheveled demeanors, both the adults and teens expressed their graciousness to Lewis in the form of hugs and positive feedback.

"Our host families came up to say what an incredible time they had," Lewis said. "It was worth waking up at 3 a.m. And I'm not a morning person."

In addition to the words of gratitude, other adults approached Lewis voicing their intention to stay involved in the Jewish community. Many felt "a positive feeling about being Jewish and being a San Franciscan," Lewis recalled. Some asked, "Can we do this again next year?" Lewis added. 

For 15-year-old Sara Reaves, the Maccabi Games marked her first trip to San Francisco. A member of the New Orleans delegation, Reaves played volleyball on a combined team with players from York, Pa and Tucson, Ariz.

Off the court, Reaves strolled Pier 39, saw Lombard Street, walked around downtown and enjoyed a ferry ride.

"Coming from New Orleans, San Francisco seemed huge," Reaves said. "[The city] was really crowded, but it was beautiful. And I loved it."

Joanna Botvin, an outside hitter with the Houston U-16 volleyball team, is already planning to have friends from the Atlanta and Chicago delegations to her home for Thanksgiving.

Meeting new people was high up on her list of favorite memories from the Games, along with walking the Golden Gate Bridge and hanging out at the designated post-competition parties. 

"There were Jewish teenagers everywhere," Botvin said. "We'd go get frozen yogurt and there would be all these people from Maccabi. It was really cool."

While her second visit to S.F. couldn't have been better, Botvin did have one minor complaint.

"I wish the parties didn't start so early," she said. "They were fun, but nobody actually started dancing until the sun went down."

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