11th Pan American Macabbi Games Ending Today, Went Kosher, Did Shabbos With Chabad

(Lubavitch.com/LNS) Chabad-Lubavitch of Argentina ensured that athletes and coaches—several thousand—who participated in the 11th Pan American Maccabi Games in Buenos Aires, dined strictly kosher for the nearly week-long competitive sports that ended Wednesday, January2.

“It’s the first time the Maccabi games in Argentina are kosher, and Shomer Shabbos,” said Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Argentina, who felt that the Jewish athletes representing 20 countries, should compete in a Jewish setting. 

That means that no sports events were scheduled from Friday afternoon to Saturday night, out of respect for the Shabbos. Instead, hundreds joined Shabbos services, and 1500 enjoyed a traditional Kiddush and Shabbos dinner.

"Because we couldn't use a microphone on Shabbos," said Grunblatt, "we brought Cantor Shlomo Simcha and a 10-person choir to lead the prayers and the kiddush so that everyone could hear."