Thursday, October 1, 2026
Two recent graduates of Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys, in Woodmere, helped Team USA capture two gold medals at the 22nd annual Maccabiah Games in Israel, proving that athletic excellence and steadfast religious commitment can go hand in hand.
Woodmere resident Sam Swedarsky, 17, a member of the high school’s class of 2026, helped the baseball team win gold, and Joe Aaron, 18, of Hewlett, a 2005 DRS graduate, earned a gold medal in basketball while also being named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics,” the Maccabiah Games are the world’s third-largest international sporting event by athlete participation, bringing together thousands of Jewish athletes from more than 50 countries. The competition features NCAA Division I, professional and Olympic-caliber athletes, making earning a gold medal a significant accomplishment. The games were held from July 1 to 13.
The two DRS graduates, both Orthodox Jewish student-athletes, balanced demanding training schedules with religious observance, academics and community life while competing on one of the biggest international stages available to Jewish athletes.
“It’s possible to do both,” Swedarsky said of balancing athletics with religious commitment. “No matter who you are, or what your background is or what you believe in, baseball is always a place where everyone just merges and has a good time. It’s a big melting pot.”
Swedarsky, who has played baseball since age 5, earned his spot on Team USA after years in the Maccabi system. He first represented the Long Island/Boston delegation at the 2023 JCC Maccabi Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before winning gold with the Long Island delegation at the 2024 games in Houston, Texas.
For Swedarsky, the international games, originally scheduled for 2025 before being postponed, remained a personal goal.
“This was my dream as an 11-year-old,” Swedarsky said. “Being there was so surreal. It felt like my dream was becoming reality.”
The baseball team, made up of players from across the country who had never played together, had only two days to practice after arriving in Israel before opening competition.
“As the games went on, we just started getting closer and closer,” he said. “I give that chemistry a lot of credit for us winning.”
Playing both positions, as a pitcher and third baseman, Swedarsky became one of Team USA’s defensive standouts.
“Pitching requires a tremendous amount of focus,” he added. “Third base is a crucial position that requires strength and the ability to make one of the longest throws on the field.”
Swedarsky said the experience felt different from traditional travel baseball because everyone shared a common Jewish identity.
“If I would have gone to a travel tournament and stayed in the hotel for Shabbat, it feels different,” Swedarsky said. “Here it felt more like home because I knew I had something in common with everyone.”
His mother, Beth Swedarsky, said watching her son achieve a goal he had pursued for years was deeply rewarding.
“This has been on his bucket list for years,” she said. “To see the tremendous amount of grit, perseverance and resilience he showed, and all the hard work come together, has really been incredible to watch.”
For Aaron, basketball has evolved from a hobby into a passion that now shapes his daily life.
“It started as something I just liked doing,” he said. “Now it’s part of who I am. It’s something I can always turn to, whether it’s to clear my mind, challenge myself or just enjoy being on the court.”
Aaron, who has played basketball for more than a decade, was invited to Team USA tryouts several years ago before earning a roster spot. Like the baseball team, the basketball squad had little time to prepare as a unit before the tournament.
He said one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience was connecting with Jewish athletes from different backgrounds.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Aaron said. “Meeting kids on my team, seeing how they lived their lives differently than I do, and connecting through basketball was really special.”
While winning the gold medal was memorable, Aaron said the friendships he forged throughout the competition may have been even more meaningful.
“My favorite part was meeting so many new people,” he said. “I became really close with the guys on my team. Everyone came from different backgrounds and lived differently than I did, but basketball brought us together. We became really good friends through the game.”
His father, Daniel Aaron, said watching the players quickly develop into a championship team was remarkable.
“It was great watching them grow very, very quickly together,” he said. “The relationships between the players and families became a huge part of the experience.”
The two DRS graduates will continue their athletic careers together at Yeshiva University, although Swedarsky will first spend a gap year studying in Israel before joining the Maccabees baseball program. Aaron recently completed his own gap year in Israel and will immediately begin playing for Yeshiva University’s nationally recognized basketball team this fall.
“Yeshiva University has a great basketball program with a lot of success,” he said.
