Silver Lining

Well, last night didn’t quite go as planned as we lost 7-3 to a Canada team that took control of the game right out of the gates. By the time we settled into our game and started to dictate play, our deficit was too great to overcome. Personally, I was excited to get into the game for the 3rd period and prove that I belonged playing with the high caliber of talent on the ice. It was hard to believe everyone on the ice was over 40 years old.

Our entire team put in a lot of effort and time into our training over the past six months, much of which will likely never be replicated, especially for me and all of my goalie specific training. Training with a true purpose and goal in mind has been awesome. Having something to push yourself toward – sprinting those last 100 yards of a 3 mile run – has made me feel like the younger version of myself again. Perhaps this is why not reaching the top of the mountain is so disappointing. That said, I am leaving Jerusalem in some of the best goalie and physical shape I’ve been in for some time. This likely won’t be sustained. What will sustain is the better understanding of my heritage, its complex history and its current challenges.

I’ve also found further discovery in my Jewish identity. “Proud Jew” has not been something I’ve identified with as much as I could or should have in the past. This pride built throughout the trip starting with our march into Teddy Stadium for Opening Ceremonies alongside 10,000 Jewish athletes and 20,000 families and friends. It further strengthened as I watched so many incredible Jewish athletes across age and gender perform, mostly on the ice (one regret is I didn’t find time to watch events outside of hockey).

The stereotype that was always hammered into me growing up was that Jews aren’t good athletes. They became the player’s agents and the members of the media. For anyone who caught any of the competition at this Maccabiah Games, especially the U18 and Open hockey teams from the US and Canada, this notion would be smashed.

Today, I inched my way home by traveling the hour bus ride back to Tel Aviv where I will be for two more nights. Upon arrival, I had a great lunch with an Israeli tech executive who I have known for almost 20 years. It was great catching up on her family and her new company, a prime example of the innovation that comes out of this tiny country. Besides catching up on work, I plan to explore this modern city on foot in the coming days and further reflect on what this two week journey has meant to me.