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Mostly Cloudy Traveling to Argentina with Maccabi Media Program
Charlie Goldberg is back — and after reporting at the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2022 as a member of the team for the inaugural Maccabi Media Program for Maccabi USA — he made his way to Buenos Aires, Argentina for the 2023 Pan American Maccabi Games to do it all again this past December.
The Maccabiah Games, originating in 1932, are an international Jewish and Israeli quadrennial event featuring multiple sports where the competition is comprised of Jewish athletes from all over the world, building Jewish pride, connection, and community through sports.
The games go beyond the Maccabiah Games in Israel. Competitions have been held in Australia, Latin America, and Europe, where the next games — the European Maccabi Youth Games — will be held in London in the summer of 2024. Often referred to as the Jewish Olympics, over 4,000 Jews came together for the games in Argentina, Goldberg shared.
“Right now Jews more than ever need to come together and really be proud of who they are,” Goldberg said. “The sense of Jewish pride really was inspiring.”
The Merrick native and Calhouh High School graduate is currently in his junior year of college at Syracuse University in the broadcasting program as part of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He took part in everything from game commentary, to sideline and play-by-play reporting, to color commentary while in Argentina. Following his first experience with the Maccabi Media Program in Israel, he knew he wanted to be part of it again. After a two-day training camp where he learned about the equipment, schedule, and athletes, he and almost a dozen other members of the media team entered the games.
Goldberg covered sports like futsal, soccer, basketball, hockey, table tennis, field hockey, and even rhythmic gymnastics. He created news packages about athletes and game results, reported play-by-play and sideline, and worked on color commentary. Though he specializes in news and entertainment, Goldberg has learned to excel in sports outside of his passion for professional wrestling, which he
“I really got to learn in a professional environment with super talented people,” Goldberg said. “I’m out of my comfort zone learning sports, and I’m learning with some of the most talented kids and mentors from around the globe. And I couldn’t be more honored to be in that crowd.”
Beyond the wealth of experience he gained, he also gained connections to fuel his future through his mentors whom he praises for their incredible influence through the games, resume writing, and even reaching out to potential internships.
“The improvement I made was massive,” he said. And, going back to Syracuse another semester, I’m using these techniques I’ve learned in the classroom and for Citrus TV, the student television station here at school.”
He continues his reporting skills at home as a Morning News Reporter at Syracuse University’s Citrus TV, a student run television station. Outside of school he is a play-by-play commentator for 1Up Wrestling, and a commentator for Immortal Championship Wrestling, ICW. If that wasn’t enough, he spent last summer as a production intern for NewsNation’s and “CUOMO” in New York City.
What’s next? His dream since he was nine is to be an on air talent for the World Wrestling Entertainment, the WWE, he said.
“Take risks, take a change on yourself,” Goldberg said. “My biggest fear in life would not be whether I end up achieving my dreams or not, though I obviously, hope to do so, its whether I tried my best or not.”
With the upcoming European Youth Games, applications are currently open and looking for those interested.
“Doing this program will take you to the next level not only as a broadcaster, but a Jew,” he said.
