Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre to host JCC Warriors

By Rose Haberer

The Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre (MNjcc), located at 750 Spadina Ave., is tipping off a new chapter this fall with the launch of its boys U13 (under 13 years of age) rep basketball team. As part of the JCC Warriors program, the Downtown Warriors will bring competitive youth basketball to the Annex community. 

Tryouts for the team were held on August 27 and Sept. 3, giving young athletes the chance to showcase their skills and compete for a spot on the roster. 

With longtime MNjcc-affiliated coach Elias Mousmoules leading the team, the MNjcc is focused on helping players improve their skills, become team players, and develop a lasting love for the game. 

The JCC Warriors rep basketball tryouts for other teams took place at two additional locations: the Schwartz/Reisman Centre in Vaughan, which hosted the north campus tryouts, and the Prosserman JCC, which serves as the south campus. 

But why did the MNjcc choose to take the U13 division under their wing? 

Jodi Katzeff, chief experience officer at the institute, explained that given the number of youth within the U13 age group interested in basketball, they decided to take the leap and establish their own team.  

Katzeff said that the 12-player roster will practice twice a week, splitting sessions between the MNjcc and an outside facility. Competing within the Ontario Basketball League, they will face off against rep teams from across the province. 

April Hazan, chief development & marketing officer at the MNjcc, said sports have always been a powerful tool for building leadership skills and resilience. 

When asked why it was important to bring this new program to their location, Hazan stated that the MNjcc had not had a rep basketball team for a long time, despite it being a part of their long legacy of basketball in the building. “We had a unique opportunity. We were able to accommodate the U13 team by giving them a new home to practice and play in.” 

For the JCC, hosting the U13 Warriors rep basketball team is also about connection, as it brings people together across cultures and within the community. 

“The MNjcc is a Jewish space, but we welcome non-Jewish players as well, which at this point in time is really important to us,” Hazan explained. 

“We want people to have experiences here that are meaningful, positive, and community-minded. Sports foster unity and harmony, and for us, they’re a way to stay connected to the Annex community,” she stated.