In a little over two months, more than 1,500 Jewish teen athletes, coaches, and delegation heads will visit Tucson for the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games® & Access, which will be held July 27-Aug. 1.
Many community members have answered the call to serve as hosts for the athletes, but more than 150 additional homes are needed.
“The support to this point has been phenomenal,” says Todd Rockoff, president and CEO of the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Families who hosted 25 years ago — the last time the Games were held in Tucson — say it was a fantastic experience.
“We hosted two athletes for the Maccabi Games in 2000. Our kids were eight and 11 years old at the time, and they loved the experience,” Brenda Landau recalls. “We attended games to watch ‘our’ athletes, and there was a lot of excitement and pride around their accomplishments. It was such a positive experience that our younger son, Josh, chose to participate in the Maccabi Games when he was eligible. He went on to represent Tucson in soccer in high school and played on the U.S. Men’s Maccabi team in the international games in Brazil in college.”
Landau adds that her older son, Matt, enjoyed the hosting experience so much that he is co-chairing the housing committee this year.
Jonathan and Rachel Green’s family Maccabi journey also began with hosting in 2000.
Since then, their three sons — Ryan, Aaron, and Gabe — have all participated in basketball and soccer. To see them compete, Jonathan and Rachel have attended five Games in Jewish communities across the country. These shared experiences strengthened existing family bonds and fostered new friendships, including reconnecting with college friends whose children also participated.
Those connections helped fuel Jonathan and Rachel’s desire to serve on the steering committee for the Tucson Games this summer.
“We understand the power of the Games and the impact they’ve had on our boys,” Jonathan says. “As co-chairs of the athletics committee, we’re excited to share Tucson with the world.”
Host families for the 2025 Games are asked to house at least two athletes, but a separate bedroom is not required.
Here’s what host families are expected to provide:
- A bed or sleeping surface for each athlete — air mattresses, sofas, or Murphy beds are perfectly acceptable
- Breakfast each morning, late-night snacks, and two dinners during the week
- Drop-off and pick-up at the Tucson JCC, with morning drop-offs between 6:30 and 8:00 a.m. and evening pick-ups between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.
- A welcoming and supportive environment
A special Family Night is planned mid-week, giving hosts and athletes a chance to connect more personally, whether it’s a quiet dinner at home or a gathering with fellow host families and friends.
Most meals and all daytime activities are already taken care of. The hosts’ primary role is to provide a safe place to sleep and some classic Tucson hospitality.
“This is an amazing opportunity to be a part of what has the potential to be a life-changing event for these teen athletes, and to support our local community. We also anticipate that the games will bring a significant benefit to the local Tucson economy, but we won’t be able to achieve that without hosts!” says Rina Fox, co-chair of the housing committee along with Matt Landau and Gabby Erbst.
Erbst played basketball in the 2000 Games, and her family hosted two athletes from Mexico.
“It wasn’t just about the competition — it was about the connections,” she says. “We shared meals, traditions, and stories. Even though we came from different places, we bonded over our shared Jewish identity. Hosting made the experience so much richer. If you’re considering opening your home, I can’t recommend it enough — even if you don’t have an athlete in the Games. It’s a chance to create something truly special.”
“I never got to travel for the Games myself,” Erbst adds, “but my sister did — and she absolutely loved it. She still wears her Maccabi Memphis 2002 T-shirt and talks about the friendships she made like it was yesterday.”
Everyone involved in the Games, whether athletes, hosts, or other volunteers, must complete an initial registration form, available here.
More information on hosting can be found here.
Other volunteers are needed throughout the week of the Games in various roles, whether it is for a few hours or a full week. There are opportunities to welcome delegations, serve meals, assist with athletics, answer questions for athletes and spectators, and perform many other jobs. More information is available here.
For the Greens, the JCC Maccabi Games are more than a sporting event — they’re about building community, pride, and lifelong friendships.
“It’s not just for the kids—it’s a meaningful experience for families, too,” Jonathan says. “Whether you host kids, volunteer during the week of the Games or are just a spectator, you will not regret being a part of this incredible event.”
The housing co-chairs will all serve as hosts.
“We’re all looking forward to welcoming athletes into our homes and sharing a bit of the Old Pueblo with them,” Matt Landau says.
Asked if she and her husband, Steve, will host again this year, Brenda Landau says, “Absolutely! We only have one extra bedroom, so we will be getting creative with our space. There will be plenty of room and fun for all. You should definitely house some athletes!”
