EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

The Spirit Of The Games
Spotlights Detroit Again

ALAN HITSKY
Interim Editor

Sunday's reception
started out with a
political polemic
and ended with a
human menorah.
Howard Golding
threw a full-court
press at me as soon .
as I walked into the
Jewish Community Center's
Rosenberg complex. "Why did the
Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
induct [fill in the blank)? Don't you-
think Jay Robinson has done far
more for thousands of Jewish kids?"
Golding, the long-time basketball
coach for the Detroit JCC Maccabi
team and at Oak Park High School,
is a man with a mission when it
comes to honoring Robinson, the
spirit behind the teen Maccabi move-
ment in Detroit and nationally since
the teen games were inaugurated in
1982.
If not for Robinson, the games
would not have been held here in
1984 and 1990, nor would they be
returning this summer with an
expected record-number of partici-
pants (2,700-3,000 from 70 commu-
nities). His contributions on the
national level and at the individual
games each year have always been
aimed at making the best Jewish
experience possible for the kids.
Sunday's event served as an infor-
mal opening ceremonies for the 1998

The kids come first for Jay Robinson.

games, a chance for committee chairs
and coaches to meet and greet as the
real work begins. The formal pro-
gram was welcoming Tal Shapira, a
17-year-old representative of the
Maccabi World Union in Israel. She
was Israel's envoy, carrying an
Olympic-style kerosene torch and
words of greeting linking Detroit's
teen athletes, the world Maccabi
movement and the Maccabees of old
who ignited religious freedom during
their rebellion against the Greco-
Syrians.
With difficulty, eight Maccabi ath-

letes from Detroit used Tars torch to
light eight candles representing
Chanukah as they recited words of
peace and freedom linking Jews and
sports to the ancient Maccabees and
to Israel. Tal took the same message
to area schools and synagogues early
this week, and then went on to
scheduled visits in Milwaukee and on
Long Island.
The candlelighters in Detroit were:
Marla Feingold, Detroit JCC
Maccabi volleyball; Dan Spokojny
and Lindsey Fox, soccer; Jared Matz
and Randi Taub, swimming; Brad

occurred with frequency around
Chanukah time. -Whether it was Elijah
coming to rescue a poor family in
need of Chanukah provisions,
a parakeet succeeding in
matchmaking, a thumb-size
boy receiving deserved recog-
nition, or wayward travelers
finding shelter through the
beacon of a blazing
Chanukiah, great miracles
happen(ed) there and here.
We just read the Torah
RABBI
portion
teaching us that
ARNOLD
angels reside here on earth.
SLEUTELBERG
ewish folklore is
Many of us believe that
Special to
replete with examples
angels work within and
The Jewish News
of miracles this time
through human beings bring-
of year.
ing much needed healing to
In every country in which Jews
our world. Who are these angels?
have lived, miraculous wonders
Actually, I think the better question
is: When are these angels? Any of us
Arnold Sleutelberg is rabbi of
can be angels when we perform acts of
Congregation Shir Tikvah.
loving kindness. When we perform

mitzvot,
when we
honor and
respect one
another,
when we
speak out
against those
who attempt
to divide and
degrade,
when we wel-
come,
include,
embrace,
when we love
and support,
when we
make peace, we permit the angel with-
in an opportunity to speak and act.
At this season of miracles, let us
open our hearts and eyes in very spe-
cial ways, allowing the miracle light to
penetrate our darkness, inspiring us to

COMMUNITY
VIEWS

Have You
Considered
Being An
Angel?

Jr

Jaffee, tennis; Jillian Gold, softball;
and Ryan Lewis, table tennis.
Informally, Sunday's event sets in
motion what has been building for a
year — organizing the thousands of
tasks that need to be completed
before the JCC Maccabi Games begin
here next August.
Much has already been done.
Committees are in place, scheduling
has begun, names of volunteers are
being taken and host families are
being secured to house the thousands
of Jewish teens coming to Detroit.
The evening events for the athletes
have been finalized, including the
community-wide opening night at
the Palace, an evening at the Detroit
Zoo, a sports night, Israel night at
the JCC, a visit to Camp Maas,
Shabbat experience with host families
and the closing ceremonies.
Amid the doughnuts in honor of
Chanukah, the soft drinks and soft
conversations, there was a quiet con-
fidence among the organizers that
Detroit can do it again. It will be a
tribute to Jay Robinson's persistence,
and his love of sport and his love for
kids. And his faith that his home-
town shares his dream.
- I told Howard Golding to take his
nomination to the Michigan Jewish
Sports Hall of Fame. I'm not on the
committee, but Jay has my vote.

❑

To volunteer your home or time
for the JCC Maccabi Games, call
(248) 661-7722.

be angels as often as we can be. May
we be blessed to meet many angels as
we travel our path of life, and may we
now and again experience the wonder
of one angel encountering another.
Happy Chanukah. ❑

12/19
1997

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