The last day of pre-camp began with a b’nai mitzvah service in a tranquil forest setting.  Several members of the rugby team participated, and were honored in the service by reciting the traditional prayers.  The pre-camp ended with a luncheon back at the K’far Maccabiah with music and dancing.  At the luncheon, the USA Maccabiah committee honored rugby team captain and 3-time Maccabiah participant Craig Levine by selecting him as one of the banner carriers for the opening ceremony.  The flag-bearer honor went to backstroke swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg, Olympic gold-medallist at the Sydney games and current world record holder.  Krayzelburg had passed up the opportunity to go to the World Championships to participate in the Maccabiah Games instead, and he spoke passionately about his commitment to the Maccabiah and the importance of the Games.

After the luncheon, all the teams moved to different cities where their respective events would be held.  The rugby team lodged in Bat-Yam (pop. 150,000), a beach city located south of Tel Aviv and home to a large portion of Israel’s substantial Russian and North African immigrant populations.  The team trained in Herzeliya, near Natanya, at the Wingate Institute, a national sports and physical education center.  The team rested on Saturday in observance of Shabbat and geared up for the tournament’s first test against Israel’s national team.

Written by Rob Perle