Competing in the Maccabiah Games in Israel will be about much more than sports for Jonathan Torkin, a 17-year-old soccer phenom from Katy.
His parents, Max and Natalie Torkin, along with his two older sisters, were born in Israel. His grandparents and much of his extended family live there.
But this will be Torkin’s first visit to the Jewish state.
“I can’t express how happy I am to visit my family and the country that my parents are from. It will be a great experience overall,” Torkin said.
“My grandparents will have a chance to watch me play in their home country. I look forward to visiting the Western Wall and the Dead Sea.”
Torkin, a rising senior at Cinco Ranch High School who ranks in the top 15% of his class, will compete for the Under 17 American team in the Maccabiah Games. They’ll face teams from France, Switzerland and Israel in a tournament played in Haifa this July.
“I’ve been playing soccer since before I could walk – and organized soccer since age 5,” Torkin said. “I am currently playing for GFI Academy in The Woodlands, in the Major League Soccer (MLS) Next League. We had playoffs in Utah and finished in the top eight nationally.”
Before he heads to Israel, Torkin will compete in the championship match of a 7-on-7 soccer showcase at the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival on Sunday, June 21, in East Downtown Houston.
Torkin, who plays striker, is a Division I college prospect with a scholarship offer from Houston Christian. He has an official visit scheduled next month to perennial NCAA soccer powerhouse North Carolina and is also considering several Ivy League programs.
Playing high-level club soccer may take a lot of time and effort, but Torkin also makes it a priority to honor his Jewish faith and heritage.
“It means everything; we always celebrate our tradition in our household,” Torkin said. “We speak Hebrew in the household with my parents, and we attend West Houston Chabad where I became a Bar Mitzvah. Everyone who knows me knows I’m Jewish, and I’m proud to represent it.”
Torkin plans to study business management or finance in college and would like to play professionally. He hasn’t ruled out the possibility of playing and/or living in Israel.
In addition to soccer, Torkin is a member of the Cinco Ranch National Honor Society, and he volunteers at Ballard House, a retirement home in Katy.
In August, Torkin will make his high school football debut when he plays kicker for the Cinco Ranch football team. The Cougars will open the season on Aug. 28 at defending 5A Division I state champion Smithson Valley, north of San Antonio.