Message from Melissa Perlman, Open Half Marathon
Earlier
today, the European Maccabi Games' half marathon took place in Olympic Park in
Berlin, Germany; a location that not so long ago denied the participation of
Jews in the Olympics and promoted the Nazi regime.
But
this morning it was a different story. This morning Team USA, made up of four
women and two men, joined with more than 50 Jewish athletes from many European
nations to compete and run 13.1 miles or 21k around the park. And to say that
it was an amazing experience would be an understatement.
Team
USA represented well winning the overall first place positions in both the
men's (Fred Klevan) and women's (Samantha Lee) divisions; and adding numerous
medals to the count (including my own second place overall). But beyond the
impressive performances by the entire team, it was the experience that we all
had the opportunity to be a part of that was so much bigger than any single one
of us.
For
me, the emotions ran deep. Having heard about the Maccabi Games as a little
girl from my dad (a 1973 gold medalist) and then competing myself in both the
1997 and 2013 World Maccabi Games, I thought I knew what to expect. But today
was much different. Today brought together the history we read about, the culture
we live, and indescribable pride we feel. Running today in Olympic Park
alongside my teammates, as well as friends from across the globe, was a
beautiful experience unlike any other that I will remember forever! Thank you
Maccabi!
Melissa Perlman, Open Half Marathon
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