Local opinon: Letter about Maccabi Games is saddening, objectionable

I am writing in response to the letter to the editor by Charles S. Sabalos regarding the JCC Maccabi Games held in Tucson. As a rabbi, I was deeply saddened by the sentiments expressed.

Mr. Sabalos suggests that it was “grotesque” for Tucson to host the Maccabi Games, a peaceful gathering of Jewish youth, while there is suffering in the world. He makes a direct comparison between the participants and the plight of Palestinian children. While it is true that suffering exists in Gaza and elsewhere, I must object to the way this comparison is used to cast a shadow over an event meant to celebrate youth, community, and culture.

The truth is that the United Nations and many international bodies have an unfortunate track record of disproportionately singling out Israel for condemnation. The UN has passed more resolutions against Israel than against all other nations combined. This focus, which often ignores the complexities of the situation and the actions of groups like Hamas, contributes to a global narrative that unfairly blames the Jewish people for all the region’s problems.

This narrative of blame has real-world consequences, creating a climate of fear and insecurity for Jewish people everywhere. It is a sad reality that young Jewish athletes gathering from around the world are at risk simply because of who they are. Instead of being criticized, the City of Tucson and the organizers of the Maccabi Games should be commended for creating a safe and welcoming space for these young people. They deserve to celebrate their culture and athletic achievements without being held responsible for a complex geopolitical conflict.

Mr. Sabalos’s comparison to an “Aryan Games” during the Holocaust is not only historically inaccurate but also a deeply offensive distortion. The Nazi regime’s purpose was to celebrate a genocidal ideology of racial supremacy, the very antithesis of what the Maccabi Games represent. The Maccabi Games, by contrast, are a testament to the resilience of a people who have survived millennia of persecution, including the Holocaust, and who continue to seek peace and community. To equate these two events is to trivialize the unique horror of the Holocaust and to unfairly demonize a Jewish cultural gathering.

I hope that our local newspaper will not give credence to such a hateful and biased narrative. The JCC Maccabi Games are a source of pride for our community, a time when we can come together to celebrate our shared heritage and values. Let us not allow the ancient and dangerous obsession of Jew-hatred to find a home in our city. Instead, let us focus on building a community that is inclusive and supportive of all its members, celebrating their cultures and achievements without judgment or prejudice.