Teen carries Maccabi flag despite injury

Fifteen-year-old goalkeeper Jonah Gruskin may not be able to show his football prowess at this year’s European Maccabi Youth Games in London, but he held pride of place in leading the South African team as its flag bearer at the opening ceremony on 31 July.

Gruskin made the under-16 football team and had trained for the tournament for three months before he broke his collarbone and had to step down from competing in the Games.

This Grade 10 student at Johannesburg-based St David’s asked if he could still attend and support his team from the sidelines, in the changeroom, and wherever else needed.

Gruskin had the option of withdrawing and getting a refund, but though he was disappointed not to be able to play, he was clear that he wanted to be with his teammates and friends in London.

“I had been looking forward to it for long,” he says, making it clear that Maccabi is more than just about sport, but “about making new friends and meeting new people”.

Gruskin was chosen as flag bearer not only for his sporting talent, but also for upholding two key values of Maccabi South Africa: teamwork and sportsmanship. This was announced at the team’s official sendoff on 13 July. Being chosen as flagbearer is an honour bestowed on very accomplished South African athletes.

Gruskin was injured while playing for the St David’s under-16 rugby team. “I caught the ball and started running, and as I was about to get tackled, I tried to pass and offload the ball. As it happened, the person tackling landed on my arm, which was extended.”

The injury wasn’t his fault, Gruskin’s mother, Shelly, says, “so it felt more like a punishment not to let him go to the games. Also, it shows a lot of courage and commitment to stick with your teammates. It was his decision. He really wanted to go.”

Shelly said being with the Maccabi team at the games was important because Gruskin had to give up some of his Jewish observance by going to St David’s for sport. “He’ll be able to meet youth from around the world,” she said. “Jonah was very young when he came with us to Maccabi to support his brothers. It’s not just about the sport, it’s about the experience.”

Besides sport, the athletes will enjoy a special Shabbat dinner with other delegations; an opening party; DJ parties; an educational programme with talks and sightseeing tours; and a closing party in which the teams swap kit, a popular Maccabi tradition.

The European Maccabi Games (EMG) is held every two years, alternating with the Maccabi Games in Israel. This year’s edition is the first just for youth (under-16 and under-18 age groups). Fourteen countries and more than 800 athletes and management are taking part in six sports: basketball, hockey, football, futsal, table tennis, and tennis. Maccabi South Africa achieved huge success at the EMG in Berlin in 2015 and Budapest in 2019.

Gruskin’s family is passionate about Maccabi, with brothers Benji and Lee having won gold for cricket at the games, and his uncle having earned  gold for squash in the 1981 edition.

In 2013, Gruskin’s one brother played for the under-16 soccer team and his other brother for the senior cricket team that won gold. Four years later, they both played in the senior cricket team and won gold. His oldest brother was crowned player of the tournament.

In 2022, they were very disappointed to get “only” a silver medal. “We now want to see if all three Gruskins will go to the 2025 Maccabiah,” Shelly says. “Jonah could play for the cricket and soccer teams. My two big boys would have to play senior cricket.”

Gruskin followed in the footsteps of his one brother by becoming a goalkeeper. He played club soccer until Grade 7, when he made the district provincial team. “But the school sport at St David’s is very hectic, so I haven’t been able to play club again,” he says.

He’s recovering well. He no longer has to wear an arm sling and is allowed to do light training like running with the ball. He plans to return to full sport in about four to six weeks. “The surgeon has been blown away by Jonah’s strength and mobility,” Shelly said. “It’s down to his hard work. He’s already allowed to play in the cricket nets. Contact sport isn’t yet possible because the bone is weaker than the plate, so the plate can break the bone.”

Gruskin plans to become a professional sportsman. “He has been privy to the first team squad for cricket at St David’s,” Shelly says, “and has played in school soccer tournaments where the team has done well. Jonah is often on the sidelines supporting the school’s teams and singing war cries. He’s as passionate about soccer as he is about cricket.”

Gruskin played for the South African B side at the World Cup for action cricket in Dubai last year. In his spare time, he can be found practising soccer or cricket in the garden. At some point, he’ll have to choose his game, his mom says.