By Rabbi Rachel Esserman 
Tennis and Judaism? The connection between the two might not be obvious to many people, but, then again, those people aren’t local teen Aviva Kaminsky. Kaminsky won a gold medal in tennis at the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games, which were held in Pittsburgh this year. Since Binghamton didn’t have its own team, Kaminsky was invited to play with the delegation from the Cleveland Jewish Community Center.
Kaminsky acknowledges that there was something different about participating in a Jewish sporting event. “I wanted to play in the Maccabi Games because it’s such a special opportunity to compete in a sport I love while also meeting other Jewish athletes from all over the world,” she said in an e-mail interview. “This was my second year going and, after last year, I knew I wanted to come back.”
She noted that she was nervous when she attended last year. “I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect, but this time I felt more confident, both on and off the court,” she added. “What stayed the same is the vibe: it’s still so much fun, supportive and exciting.”
For Kaminsky, the Maccabi Games were different from the other tournaments she’s attended. “It feels way different because it’s not just about the matches: it’s about the community,” she said. “In regular tournaments, you’re mostly focused on winning and going home. At Maccabi, you play hard, but you’re also cheering for your friends, trading pins, hanging out and participating in service projects. There’s also so much Jewish pride and that is such an amazing feeling.”
She enjoyed her time on and off the court. “On court, definitely competing and pushing myself, especially in big matches [was one of my favorite things],” she noted. “Off court, it’s the friendships. I love meeting people from all over the country (and even other countries) and going to the evening events. It’s also really special for me because I’ve lived in cities all over the U.S. and went to Jewish day schools, so I’ve been able to reconnect with a lot of friends from my old communities.”
Kaminsky highly recommends participating: “It’s honestly one of the best experiences I’ve had. You get great athletic competition, but also an entire week of making memories and connecting with so many Jewish teens. This year, I was so proud because I won the gold medal! It felt amazing, especially because I spent my summer training and playing tennis, and it was amazing to see the hard work pay off.”
As for being able to participate, she feels “really grateful. Playing in the Maccabi Games makes me proud of both my tennis and my Jewish identity, as well as representing the Binghamton community (by way of the Cleveland JCC). I am so appreciative that the Cleveland JCC invited me to join their delegation this year and I hope that, in the future Binghamton, will have a delegation of its own.”