‘Road Sage’ Makes a Scene

The famous ‘Road Sage’ 20-foot van was stationed for three days last week in the parking lot of the Maccabi Games in Richmond, VA.

The JCC Maccabi Games — which began Sunday, Aug. 1 in Denver, Omaha, Richmond, and Baltimore — brings Jewish teen athletes from around the world to four U.S. cities for five days of competition, Jewish fellowship and fun. Participants include delegations from local Jewish community centers.

Rabbis Yudel Rader and Levi Margolin drove the mobile mitzvah center to Richmond to assist in distributing Shabbat candles, souvenirs and to put on teffilin with people at the games.

While the Road Sage gained much popularity in the lot, inside, hundreds of young Jewish athletes, spectators, volunteers and family members of the players visited Chabad of Virginia’s booth, under the direction of new Shliach to the area, Rabbi Mendy Weiss.

Finally, after 300 miles, two 25 gallon tanks of gas, many empty cans of soda, and five states, a couple of hundred boys had donned teffilin in honor of their Maccabi teams.

Dozens of these young men performed the mitzvah for the first time. Dozens of Shabbat Candle sets were distributed, and many smiles were exchanged as the Rabbis chatted with athletes and their coaches.

One boy who had competed in last years’ games approached the bochurim and said, “We did Teffilin last year and we won every game! We want to do it again!”

The Sage Coach is sponsored by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, a Brooklyn-based association that supports educational and social service initiatives throughout the country.