Games combine sport, religion for area Jews

Trish Cohen wondered how many Jewish cyclists there were in the world.

When she decided to start cycling in 2005, the Chamberlain High graduate created oyvelo.com, a Jewish cycling networking Web site that lists famous Jewish cyclists and sells Israeli bikes and jerseys.

Cohen, 29, soon realized there were more like her.

Last year, Cohen learned that cycling was being introduced at the 18th World Maccabiah Games, or Jewish Olympics, in Israel this summer. She submitted her resume with hopes of making the team representing the United States.

Cohen earned a spot on the team, and July 12 through July 23, she and four other Bay-area athletes will connect with thousands of Jewish athletes across the globe for the World Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv.

Other Bay-area athletes competing are Danielle Lavey (junior girls volleyball), Steffen Beck (men's gymnastics), Ely Lewin (junior boys soccer) and Zach MacMath (men's soccer).

The Maccabiah Games are held every four years in Israel. There will be at least 8,000 athletes from 50 countries competing, making it one of the largest sporting events in the world.

Sara Feinstein, marketing director for Maccabi USA /Sports For Israel, said the event is the largest gathering of Jews in the world.

"We use sports, which are so popular to kids, to connect them to their heritage," Feinstein said. "It's an honor for an athlete to make the team and participate in the games. They're connecting two things that are important to them - their sports and their religion. This is an experience that makes such a strong impact in their life."

Feinstein also said the games will be televised for the first time outside of Israel on Jewish Life Television.

"I've been in professional races before, but none as far as an international field," Cohen said. "Now I'm going to race Jews from England, Germany and all over the world."

Lavey, a rising senior and varsity volleyball player at Tampa Prep, has competed in the Maccabi USA games, which are held in various cities in the U.S. and Canada. She helped the USA junior girls volleyball team win the gold medal last year in California and a silver medal in Vancouver in 2007.

"There are rivalries between us and Israel junior volleyball that have gone on for five or six years," Lavey said. "Now that the games are in Israel, it's stepped up a notch. This is my second time going to Israel, and I'm really excited to see how it's changed with everything going on in the world."