Three Jewish Kansas City-area weightlifters, Samantha Goodman, Aiden Luther and Zachary Lerner, had been preparing to represent Team USA at the 2025 Maccabiah Games in Israel when the competition was postponed.
The outbreak of the war between Israel and Iran resulted in the Maccabiah Games, an Olympics-style competition that draws more than 10,000 Jewish athletes every four years, being moved to 2026.
The Chronicle ran a story on June 5 about the local athletes — Goodman, a 17-year-old incoming senior at St. Teresa’s Academy; Aiden Luther, a 22-year-old from the University of Kansas; and 44-year-old Team USA coach Zachary Lerner. Goodman and Luther had to raise or collect money to help fund their now-postponed trip to Israel.
Luther and Lerner, though disappointed in the delay, agreed that postponing the Games was the right choice amid the war.
“I was really looking forward to competing and exploring Israel,” Luther said, “though I understand why they postponed them, and I think it was the right move to maximize everyone’s safety.”
“This is certainly a disappointment from an athletic/sports perspective,” Lerner said. “However, from a safety standpoint and for the good of the games and the athletes, I truly believe they made the best decision regarding the postponement until next year.”
Goodman, who has faced antisemitic comments for her support of Israel and its right to exist for the past few weeks, resolved to continue her training in the meantime despite her disappointment about the delay.
“I was really looking forward to this trip and the chance to experience Israel,” Goodman said. “I hope to take this time to work harder and be more consistent in my training for the Games next year.”
Lerner believes the additional time before the Games may be beneficial for the athletes.
“I think, with one more year of training under their belt, this will ultimately benefit the athletes and give everybody a chance to get stronger and more pumped about Maccabiah 2026,” he said.