My Experience at the Buenos Aires Maccabi Games

This is a challenging time for the world. There is a multi-year war going on between Russia and Ukraine; an ideological war enveloping the border from Texas to California; and a seemingly never-ending war between Republicans and Democrats. However, nowhere is the impact of worldwide conflict more prevalent than within the Jewish community. Back in our homeland, there are battles raging between Israel and Hamas. Here in the United States, there is no escaping the cultural divides at American universities and on the streets of our cities and towns.  It is a time when every Jew — no matter how religious or how secular — is really contemplating what it means to be Jewish. 

So when I was selected as a delegate to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina to play tennis and represent my country in the Pan-American Maccabi Games — or the “Jewish Olympics” as it is known — I was a little bit wary about jumping in. On top of the challenges of flaring antisemitism, Argentina had recently elected Javier Milei, a political outsider who was planning to make some hard and unpopular choices in an aim to make the country more economically stable. Needless to say, I was not 100% sure this was the best time to play abroad in a Jewish event. 

I do feel connected to the Jewish community, but here in West Los Angeles that community is completely integrated into the community at large. Yes, I did have a bat mitzvah, but no, I do not go to temple for services very often (if ever). And as far as the tennis part goes, I had some serious reservations about how well I would play, having never played tennis on red clay before (and I am hardly the best on hard courts at home). I was also facing a five-hour time difference, playing with a team I had never met, and playing against opponents who speak a totally different language. That said, my parents have always told me that you don’t always get to choose when your opportunities come to you but when they do, it is on you to make the most of them. So I went to Argentina. And I am so glad I did.

Buenos Aires has the largest Jewish population in South America, meaning I didn’t feel isolated or out of place, despite the language barriers I may have faced.

During my ten short days in the land of “La Albiceleste’” (the white and sky blue), I met other athletes like me. I had never been in a space with so many Jewish people before — 4,200 to be exact. I overheard girls talking about Hanukkah and my initial reaction was to say “Wait, you celebrate Hanukkah too?” In a time of such hardship and conflict for the Jewish people and Israel, it has never felt more important to represent my culture. Buenos Aires has the largest Jewish population in South America, meaning I didn’t feel isolated or out of place, despite the language barriers I may have faced (my very limited Spanish vocabulary got me nowhere). I was given the opportunity to compete against tennis players from all over the world, and while I may not have won a gold medal (but I did make the semifinals in doubles), I made lifelong friends and incredible memories I would not be able to even fathom had I not gone. Even better, I got to do it all during summer … in December! 

While I did enjoy playing my favorite sport and meeting very interesting people, my favorite part was trading clothes with people from other countries. When an athlete first gets accepted to the games, they get a 16-pound duffel bag in the mail full of uniforms, hats, pins, and more. At the closing ceremonies, every country gathers together and trades with each other all of their own country’s gear. I traded all my pins for new ones: Australian koalas, Brazilian flags, Argentinian and Mexican flags, and so much more. I traded my USA pullover for an Australian quarter-zip, and my tennis tank top  for an Argentinian jersey. I was able to meet new people AND exchange uniforms.

I think it all really clicked when I had the opportunity to walk through an arena full of people to show off the USA. As I felt the bright lights and listened to the crowd cheering, it dawned on me that I could be a proud American, supporter of Israel, and Jew all at once. As an added bonus, at the end of this celebration we got to listen to the new president of Argentina speak. As mentioned, the country is in a state of transition — he had been in office for 15 days before I arrived. I found it so interesting to see such a transition, looking at the old architecture and history of such a culturally rich country, and inspired by the new developments that the president was planning to make in the days ahead. 

It made me want to figure out how I could do the same for Israel, be a part of the next phase of the Jewish community, carrying our people into the future. While the trip didn’t inspire me to want to start going to weekly Shabbat services, it did inspire me to continue representing my country and my culture in a positive way. My way.

Parker Keston is a 16-year-old junior at Archer School for Girls.