Sue and Terry McSweeney are coaches for the JCC Maccabi Games. For the past five years they have accompanied young athletes from the JCCs of Greater Boston to host cities for an unforgettable week of competition and community service. Two of their four sons, Garrett and Colin, are active Maccabi athletes, adding to the fun for the whole family.

Sue and Terry’s daughter, Sasha, is also an athlete. Sasha competes in Special Olympics Massachusetts, the statewide event that was held this past weekend in Cambridge. Of course, the whole McSweeney family gathers to cheer Sasha on for this equally unforgettable experience.

This year, Sasha’s cheering “family” expanded. Fifteen Boston JCC Maccabi athletes joined the McSweeneys at the Special Olympics as track volunteers. As they give their hearts and souls to their own Games and the friends they make there, they found the time and space to support the McSweeneys and connect to a very elite set of athletes. By all accounts, everyone had a wonderful experience.

Learning of this, I am reminded that “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh”—all Israel is responsible, one for another. When we step forward into this magic circle of responsibility and accountability, we are all enriched.

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