A

Place
To
Rest

The Jewish
Community
Center Maccabi
Games housing
committee
searches the area
for athlete
housing.

'LONNY GOLDSMITH
Staff Writer

I

n 1984, Howard and Fran
Heicklen were newcomers to
Detroit.
Not knowing many Jewish
families, they signed up to house teen
athletes for the JCC Maccabi Games,
held in Detroit that year, as a way to
get acquainted with the Jewish com-
munity.
The Heicklens, of West Bloomfield,
have now been in the Detroit area for
more than a decade, but they are again
opening their doors for the 1998 JCC
Maccabi Games.
While neither of the Heicklen sons,
now 17 and 19 years old, has partici-
pated in the Maccabi Games, Mr.
Heicklen feels that housing athletes is
"the right thing to do."
With less than seven months to go
until the Maccabi Games, the search
for hosts to put up the 3,000 athletes
is on schedule, according to Beth
Kellman, Games director.
As of Feb. 2, the housing commit-
, tee had secured 341 homes, 30 per-
' rent more than at the same time in
1990. The 3,000 athletes expected this
year is 30 percent higher than the
2,200 who participated in 1990.
"The housing committee is doing a
great job, and it's starting to pay off,"
said Kellman. The Games run from
Aug. 16-23.
Kellman attributes much of the

housing committee's success to experi-
Sisterhood is starting to get organized
ence. "We're much better organized
to help as well.
this year because we're drawing on
"We realize that it's still very early
what we've done the past two times,"
in the process for people to be com-
she said.
mitting their homes," Adelson said.
But the going is slower in
"Now it's just a matter of getting the
Huntington Woods, said Cindy
information out to everyone."
Babcock, that city's liaison to the
Bonnie and David Otis will host
housing committee.
athletes in August for the first time.
"People are saying that they don't
Mrs. Otis saw a brochure at Hillel
have enough beds or their homes
Day School, where her oldest son
aren't big enough," she said. "We are
Bradley attends, and decided to sign
trying to emphasize how great an
up.
event this is."
"Bradley loves sports and we
With 30-40 homes signed
thought it would be fun to
Brad key Pierce,
up in her area, however,
do," she said.
Evan, Kyle and
Babcock figures the numbers
'Harold and Judith
Bonn ie Otis have
will pick up.
Weiner are also first-time
"The Games are during the signe d up to host
hosts. Their daughter
last week before school starts, Macc abi athletes.
Davita will be participat-
and many people may go
ing as a swimmer in her
away on vacation," she said. "We've
fourth games.
had a lot of people who have said
"Davita had always said what a
they'd consider hosting."
wonderful experience the Maccabi
As in 1990, some geopraphic areas
Games are," Mr. Weiner said. "We
are planning their own Maccabi func-
know it's a good thing to do and be
tions. The Huntington Woods branch
involved with."
of the housing committee has sched-
Mr. Weiner also volunteers during
uled a Shabbat dinner and pool party
the weekly phone-a-thons.
at the Huntington Woods Recreation
"I'm very excited the Games are
Center, in conjunction with local syn-
coming to Detroit," he said. "It's
agogues.
something I believe in strongly." ❑
Temple Israel, Temple Emanu-El
and Shir Shalom all have agreed to call
their members and ask them to house
To get more information abou t
athletes. Maccabi housing co-chair
housing athletes, or to volunte t
Maddee Adelson said the
your home, contact the ,Acca l
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Games office at (248) 1'-772

271 West Maple
Downtown Birmingham
248.258.0212

Monday—Saturday 10-6 • Thursday 10-9

.7% ,,,

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