READY FOR THE '90S? PROFILE AIR-STEPPER Reitblat came, there was a Jewish dance troupe and a Yiddish theater, and he threw himself into Jewish life. He joined the dance troupe and studied the Torah and Talmud in Russian. He studied Hebrew, but hid his books — the punishment for studying the language was 13 years in jail and somebody had threatened to tell the KGB about him. Reitblat had to look out for "tails" when he went to classes. Reitblat ran half- marathons and did bodybuilding and learned about the Maccabi clubs that the Soviet rulers had closed in the 1930s. The clubs weren't merely athletic organizations: they had taught Jewish history and Hebrew, and Reitblat longed for them. Meanwhile, his dance troupe performed at Jewish weddings and at one, he met Rima, a physician who was the daughter of Vilnius's leading neuropathologist. His dance career ended when the new Mrs. Reitblat objected to his dancing with the pretty girls in the troupe. Instead, he studied Talmud. Then, two years ago, Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev announced perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness), and suddenly, it was okay to be openly involved in sports clubs, even Jewish ones, Reitblat said. Soviet Jewish adults again had Maccabi Clubs - cultural centers — to attend and Jew- ish kids were learning their heritage, playing athletics and even meeting and mar- rying Jews again. Reitblat, now able to com- municate openly, began organizing programs and soliciting financial support from Soviet business part- ners Shulem Zelikovich who was to compete in the ,Maccabiah — and Mikhail IRoseitsan. Roseitsan would become president of the Soviet Maccabi Clubs organ- ization, Zelikovich the vice president. In January 1989, Reitblat arranged the historic first regional Maccabi congress of the glasnost era, bringing 400 Soviet Jews together in Lithuania. He even got vet- eran, pre-Stalinist era Mac- cabians to attend, including Chaim Dushkisas of Moscow, the world table tennis champion in 1937. Clubs started springing up across the Soviet Union. Reitblat was charged with organizing the first non- governmental team from an independent Soviet Jewish organization to participate in the World Maccabiah in Israel. By June, he had the team, but there were other hurdles: for one, Lithuania has no diplomatic relations with Israel. But through the cooperation of Soviet and Lithuanian authorities, Arkadij Reitblat, the modern Moses, led the Soviet Jewish team into Ramat Gan Stadium. For Reitblat, it was "a tremendous fulfillment, the achievement of a great goal." The Soviets took a silver medal in wrestling and a bronze in chess, while Reitblat got a gold medal for bringing the team. Back home, at the first Soviet national congress of Maccabi, Dec. 17 in Len- ingrad, Reitblat's talents got him elected national chair- man, the one who organizes all the competitions. Now in Detroit, Reitblat is working on improving his English and studying how the Jewish community func- tions, including its fundrais- ing methods. The JCCs and their pro- gramming impress him: "This is what the Jewish, culture in the Soviet Union should aim for," he said. When he's not working out at the Maple-Drake Building or attending meetings to recruit host families for the Detroit Youth Games, he's busy videotaping Jewish and secular life in Detroit and Michigan. He'll show the tapes in Leningrad at the next Maccabi congress to build support for sending a team of Soviet teenagers to the Games. Reitblat plans to bring a team of 14 teens and six coaches to Detroit next summer. Included will be eight chess players (Jews dominate the sport in the USSR, and Reitblat's team is Vilnius city champion); four wrestlers, one karate competitor and one table tennis player. "So far, the Lithuanian authorities have been very cooperative" about permit- ting the team to come, Jay Robinson said. Then, thinking ahead to the Games' planned grand opening ceremonies at the Palace of Auburn Hills, at which some 20,000 people are expected, Robinson envi- sioned the Soviets marching in behind Reitblat and predicted, "That will be something this Jewish community has never before seen." ❑ only • • • • • $399 Custom Weight Lifting Equipment Bars, Plate, Accessories Bikes, Rowers, Treadmills Saunas, Tanning Units & Supplements Discount Prices On Gym & Streetwear WEIGHT 3480 Rochester Road Troy, MI 48083 Newberry Plaza 14 Mile & Haggerty Road WORLD 689-5480 669-7060 WEIGHT WORLD EXERCISE EQUIPMENT LTD. 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