JCC Maccabi ArtsFest is a weeklong summer arts experience for creative Jewish teens ages 12-17, featuring workshops in a variety of specialties with some of the leading artists in each field and incorporating community service, social activities, and themes of Jewish heritage, community, and Israel. The JCC Maccabi ArtsFest combined with the JCC Maccabi Games create one joint JCC Maccabi Experience, which gives our participants the opportunity to be a part of a larger Jewish teen community and allows us to offer them so much more.
Learn more about Maccabi Games here.
Fee: $2200* (includes national registration fee, transportation, home hospitality, gear, food, and more)
*Need based and merit scholarships are available.
In the Acting/Improv specialty, professional artists work with you to form an ensemble that will explore theatrical performance technique, process, and staging at a professional level. You will learn various traditions of improvisation and theater from slapstick comedy to monologue and scene work. You will be challenged to master your improvisational and acting pieces to be performed for your peers at the ArtsFest Showcase—the grand finale of JCC Maccabi ArtsFest.
Culinary Arts specialists at JCC Maccabi ArtsFest will get into the kitchen with professional chefs and be engaged in every aspect of running a kitchen and preparing great food. From choosing the right ingredients and learning new cooking techniques, to understanding the history and culture behind food, you will learn how to plan a menu and understand the process of transforming raw ingredients into delicious dishes. Your culinary creations will be showcased, served and devoured at the Final ArtsFest Showcase for your peers from JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest—the grand finale of JCC Maccabi.
Working with the Artist in Residence, you will explore dance technique and enhance and stretch your skills as a dancer during ArtsFest. You will be on your feet with a professional choreographer as you expand your movement vocabulary, learn new pieces, grow your dramatic and technical range and perfect a piece that showcases your current talent as a dancer as it challenges you to learn something new. As the culmination of your work, you will perform a piece for the other specialty groups and your peers.
Working with professionals with Broadway experience, you will be challenged to master a variety of the best musical theatre pieces ever created. Working with the Musical Theater Artist in Residence, you will build an ensemble over the course of the week, as you develop your stage vocal technique, dance and movement skills as well as song interpretation. These choreographed musical numbers will then be performed for your peers at the ArtsFest Showcase.
Discover what really makes a band rock. Under the guidance of a professional musician, you will experience the art of songwriting, performance techniques, and the changing world of music. Working with your Artist in Residence you will form bands and learn what makes a band successful. Finish off your week by performing live at the ArtsFest Showcase.
ArtsFest-Social Media Squad- SMS will be the official chronicler of 2018 JCC Maccabi. AS a member of this dynamic elite squad, your teens will work with digital media professionals to interview artists, athletes, AIRS, coaches and everyone involved with the Games and ArtsFest. They will share stories in real time via blogs, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and many other platforms. They will be the digital storytellers for JCC Maccabi.
Learn to express your inner voice with professional artists who will guide your creation of a series of projects for your personal portfolio. Collaborate and explore new mediums with your fellow artists using a variety of art materials to create original artworks that will be prominently displayed throughout the week and in a final exhibit.
Vocal Music/Glee is an opportunity to hone your pitch, harmonization and vocalization as well as performance techniques. Led by professional artists, you will explore your vocal instrument, and enhance your onstage skills both as an individual and as a member of the ArtsFest ensemble. Under the guidance of your Artist in Residence, you will be challenged to learn a variety of songs for the ArtsFest Showcase for your peers from JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest.
Learn more about the JCC Maccabi Games at one of our upcoming Information Sessions for parents and participants:
Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 6:30pm
Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 6:30pm
Florence Heller JCC in Chicago
All registration must go through JCC Chicago’s Delegation Head, Julie Minor. Email Julie at jminor@jccchicago.org for registration information.
$300 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit due by March 1, 2020.
For need based scholarship visit our website: https://www.jccchicago.org/financial-solutions
Application must be completed no later than March 15, 2020. Financial Aid will be awarded before the first payment is due on April 1, 2020
Families who have already been awarded financial assistance for Early Childhood or Day Camp do not need to reapply.
For merit based scholarship email Julie at jminor@jccchicago.org.
Maccabi participants must be Jewish and have at least one Jewish parent. Athletes must be between the ages of 13-16 as of July 31, 2020. Artists must be between the ages of 13-17 as of July 31, 2020.
The Chicago delegation will travel together to and from the Maccabi Games. The Delegation Head will provide group travel information at the spring orientation meetings, usually held in April.
At the Maccabi Games there will be a bus system for all athletes and coaches which takes them to ALL Maccabi venues (athletic venues, the hub, and evening activities). They will be able to use the transportation system to visit venues other than those for their sport to watch their friends and fellow delegation members compete. Most buses run every 15 minutes. Coaches will coordinate with their athletes to ensure athletes arrive to games on time.
No. Spectators must provide their own transportation while at the Games.
Only host family members and Chicago’s Delegation Head may transport your child during the games, in addition to the buses provided. Visiting spectators, including parents, are NOT allowed to transport participants at any time during the Maccabi Games.
At the San Diego Games, all athletes and artists will be housed in host families. Groups of 2-4 Chicago participants stay in 1 host home.
At the Campus Games at Pace University, all athletes will be housed in campus dorms with other participants from the Chicago delegation.
Athletes are encouraged to bring gifts for their host families. Hosts are extending themselves for an entire week and will appreciate an inexpensive thank you. Suggested gifts include gift certificates to places such as Starbucks or a unique gift from your city.
Breakfast and some dinners will be provided by the host family. Laundry facilities will be provided, but athletes are expected to do their own laundry when needed. Host families will also provide transportation when needed.
Each host family is asked to provide athletes with separate and reasonable sleeping accommodations.
Host families will contact athletes and their families to introduce themselves several days before the Games. If you are not contacted by your host family, please inform your delegation head. Do not contact the host community directly.
Changes in host families will not be made unless the safety or security of an athlete is of concern, or there is a medical condition such as an allergy or dietary issue.
Each host city has developed a screening process they use for selecting appropriate host families. Most families are sought out from the local JCC, local synagogues/temples and Jewish groups/organizations. In addition, each local athlete MUST house at least two athletes in order to participate in the Games. Although the process may be somewhat different from city to city, all host families are researched to ensure the athlete’s safety and well being.
Yes. All meals and snacks are included in the athlete’s registration fee.
Most host families will provide dinner to athletes before they attend Opening Ceremonies and on Host Family Night. They also provide breakfast each morning.
Kosher homes are available upon request. However, you must specify a kosher home when registering online. In some communities, there is a limited supply of strictly kosher homes, so please register for a kosher home only if the athlete eats only strictly kosher food. Various levels of kashrut may be requested via the online registration process.
All host cities work with their food and teen committees to create an appealing and varied menu for the week. Meals are healthy and promote a well-balanced diet.
Yes. Snacks and drinks are provided for athletes and coaches at most venues throughout the day. Spectators are responsible for their own food and drinks.
Yes. All host cities provide both vegetarian and vegan options at each meal.
All Games are required to provide kosher meals, snacks and drinks. The level of kashrut may vary from community to community. Please discuss any concerns with your local delegation head.
The amount will vary from sport to sport, but the host city strives to ensure that each athlete will compete on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during the week of the Games. Sports such as tennis may offer doubles competition to ensure that the athletes have a significant amount of playing time.
If an athlete has time in between athletic competitions, they will have the opportunity to visit other venues to eat, visit with friends, go to Hang Time, or observe other athletic competitions.
Athletes will have the opportunity to visit other venues, spend time with friends, and to observe other athletic competitions. There are also activities such as Hang Time at the Hub and exhibition sports such as NFL Flag Football, which athletes may participate in during their remaining time at the Games. Many athletes enjoy watching the finals of various sports and cheering on their own delegations and new friends.
Each JCC has its own policy with regard to playing time. However, all coaches are encouraged by the host city and the local delegation head to give each athlete meaningful playing time. The host’s sport chairs work with the JCC Maccabi Games Continental Governing Body to make sure competition formats promote the greatest amount of playing time for each athlete.
All athletes, artists, coaches and staff are required to participate in the planned evening activities on Monday and Tuesday. For example, the host community may rent out and entire Dave and Busters and provide dinner an unlimited play during the evening activity. On Wednesday evening, participants join with their host family.
The host community works closely with a wide variety of local, state and federal agencies to determine the security needs for the Games.
Credentials are visible identification badges for everyone at the the Games (athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators) to help the host’s security team determine who should be admitted into Games venues and keep venues secure.
Parents will be asked to fill out a medical information form as part of their registration process. In addition, parents should communicate any medical conditions or issues directly to their delegation heads. Any documented information will be kept confidential and parents are encouraged to be honest on their forms so that the delegation head is prepared to deal with any situation that may arise.
It is important for the Games medical staff to have the most up-to-date medical information on each athlete to ensure the athlete receives the best care in the event of an injury or emergency.
Medical personnel are available at most athletic venues and the hub. If an athlete is injured, the on-site staff will evaluate the situation and determine the next course of action. If there is no medical personnel on site, which may be the case for some non-contact sports, the athlete would be taken to the hub, or in an emergency, to the local hospital or urgent care center. In the event of an injury, the athlete’s delegation head will be notified immediately. The delegation head will then contact the parents.
Clearance may be given only by JCC Maccabi Games medical personnel after they have examined the athlete and are confident they are well enough to participate and would not risk further injury. Athletes, delegation heads, coaches and parents are NOT authorized to give clearance.
Although medical personnel will be available at most venues, they will not be available for taping. Athletes and coaches will be responsible for all taping.
No. Your local delegation head should be able to provide you with all the information you will need to have a positive Games experience for you and your child. Please do not call the host city as they have much to do to prepare for an event of this magnitude.
Visiting families are encouraged to stay at the designated JCC Maccabi Games hotels for parents. Information on these hotels will be available in the Spring.
Visitors must wear their spectator passes in order to receive admittance into Games venues. The spectator pass will allow visitors to attend athletic events as well as Opening Ceremonies. Visitors will not be permitted to use Games transportation, dine with the athletes at the Games hub, attend evening activities or consume food or drinks that have been provided for coaches and athletes.
Parents are encouraged to attend Opening Ceremonies and athletic competitions. However, parents are strongly discouraged from taking their child out of Games activities. By taking athletes out of Games activities, athletes miss out on social opportunities, risk missing important time with their team and delegation, and can cause security issues if they cannot be accounted for.
Your local delegation head will be able to provide you with information regarding Opening Ceremonies. This information becomes available early summer.
No. Spectators will be responsible for their own transportation during the Games.
Spectators are not permitted to sit with the local delegations. However, most host cities provide a map upon arrival at the venue, which will give spectators an idea of where to sit in order to see or be near their local delegation.
Yes. All visitors require spectator passes for admittance into Opening Ceremonies. You may register online for your pass at http://www.jccmaccabigames.org/registration. There is a fee for spectator passes that will need to be paid during the registration process on-line. All major credit cards will be accepted.
In the event that a city cannot assemble an entire team for a particular sport, our athletes will create a mixed team with athletes from another delegation. We will not know the matches until late Spring. Your local delegation head can explain this process in more detail.
Games schedules will be made available a few days prior to competition. Host cities will make their best effort to post scores in a timely manner. Scores will be made available through the JCC Maccabi app. More information on the app will be sent out when it is available.
Athletes may participate only in one sport because of concerns for the athlete’s health, issues with scheduling, and to allow a larger number of athletes to participate in the Games.
Each host city has a Court of Honor. If an athlete or coach has a complaint made against him/her, the Court of Honor will review the complaint and determine if the actions of the person warrant a punishment. The punishments can range from a warning, being asked to sit out a game, to being sent home at their parents’ expense. The Court of Honor’s decision is final. Should local law enforcement intervene then decisions may be out of the committee’s hands.
This is covered in the Code of Conduct. Please review it with your athlete when registering for the JCC Maccabi Games.
Please contact Julie at 847.763.3639 or complete the form below.
