My name is Lindsay Rescott and I have been living in the North Shore area for the past four years. Before calling Somerville and now Beverly home, I grew up on Long Island, where I was actively involved in sports and the Jewish community. Some of my favorite memories from growing up were celebrating Shabbat on the beach with my family, learning to read and write Hebrew and visiting Israel on Birthright. I first started playing volleyball in middle school and ever since then, it has been an important part of my life.

In 2006, I participated in the JCC Maccabi Games, an organization for junior players to represent local JCCs throughout the country. Players come together for an Olympics-style event that takes place in a different host city every year. It was an amazing experience being around so many talented Jewish athletes. Looking back as an adult, having that experience was extremely pivotal as part of my identity as a female athlete and member of the Jewish community. I had a bat mitzvah two years prior and was privately tutored, so this was my first introduction to a community of other Jewish athletes my age. The JCC Maccabi Games made me feel empowered and made me feel my culture and religion were important and special.

After playing volleyball in both high school and college, I became a coach at the collegiate level for the Endicott College men’s volleyball team. I also teach physical education and health at Danvers High School. The past four years have taught me a new meaning to the word “busy,” but I think I have found my groove!

In the fall of 2018, I heard that the Pan American Maccabi Games (Pan Am Games) were accepting applications for the open women’s volleyball team, and I decided to throw my application into the mix. The Pan Am Games are similar to the JCC Maccabi Games but on a much bigger world scale. If I made the team, that would mean one team specially selected to represent all the Jewish athletes in our country! Knowing this and knowing that it’s been about four years since I played at the collegiate level, I figured it might be a long-shot, but I would apply anyway.

Fast forward a few months: I’m touring my dream wedding venue with my fiancé when I receive a call from the head coach of the open women’s volleyball team offering me a roster spot! Needless to say, there was a lot to celebrate that day and my emotions were at an overwhelming high. After taking some time to figure out how I could juggle coaching, teaching, planning a wedding and training for the games (which would require a pretty intense fitness schedule), I accepted!

To me, the Pan American Maccabi Games means not only celebrating Jewish culture and heritage through athletics, but also showing the world the pride and unity that we Jews have as a community. With that, I have asked friends, readers and families to join me in my fundraising efforts for the 14th Pan American Maccabi Games in Mexico City July 5-15. Your support will ensure that my team is well-represented in Latin America with world-class athletics and Jewish pride. You can make a difference! By participating in the games, I hope to bring my experiences back from Mexico City to motivate the young athletes I work with every day.

For more information or to donate to Maccabi USA, visit my page here.

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