Teaneck’s own Gavriela Colton has been playing competitive volleyball for the past seven years, both in Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls as well as currently at Stern College for Women/Yeshiva University. Over these years she has earned a reputation both on and off the court for exemplifying a strong team ethic and positive attitude as well as athletic skills. Colton has merited an invitation to represent team USA in the 13th Pan American Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile.
Gavriela has received permission to play volleyball at the Games in a skirt and she is looking forward to being one of the only, if not the only, player wearing one so that people will ask her why. She sees this as a great opportunity to start the dialogue about Torah observance and leading a Torah-true lifestyle.
On her personal fundraising page, Gavriela describes the opportunity to play at Maccabi: “the Pan American Maccabi Games are a celebration of Jewish unity, culture, and heritage through athletic competition – I am so honored to be a part of Team USA! This opportunity allows me to show the world that you do not have to give up either on your passion for athletics, nor your commitment to leading an observant, Jewish life. Being a team player, both on and off the court, stems from my Jewish values which have been ingrained in me since birth and I have worked on both on and off the court. It is because of those values that I am able to represent the Jewish people of America in these games.”
To view and contribute to her fundraising effort, visit http://support.maccabiusa.com/site/TR/Games/MaccabiTeamRaiser?px=1068261&pg=personal&fr_id=1040
