OPINION

Recapturing That
Community Spirit Of 1990

sleep, a little breakfast and an occasional'
ow's this for a bumbling
dinner.
delivery:
Add to that providing some kind of
I was out walking the
weekend Shabbat experience and you
dog a few Sundays back
have the total of "requirements" for the
when I saw my neighbors. "How would
hosts.
you like to house some total strangers
When my eldest son was partici-
for a week at the end of the summer?" I
pating in the Maccabi
eagerly asked.
Games in Pittsburgh in
"You get to drive them to a
1989, he and another
bus stop every morning or, if
Detroit athlete were
you want, shlep them to differ-
housed by an elderly cou-
ent places around town, and
ple living eight blocks
pick them up late every
from the Pittsburgh JCC.
evening. And you can do that
Their hosts were nice, but
for a whole week!"
not able to entertain
OK. I didn't get an enthusi-
teenagers. It didn't matter.
astic response. But after a few
The boys had a wonderful
ALAN HITSKY
minutes' puzzling over my
time being with other Jewish
delivery, I think I know why: I
Associate Editor
teens. That's what the Mac-
forgot to emphasize just how
cabi Games are all about.
much fun a host family can have by
But don't forget the benefits that
"adopting" Jewish teen athletes for a
more-involved hosts accrue. Don't for-
week during the Maccabi Games in
get the great time Detroiters shared
August.
being part of a Jewish experience that
To be honest, I'm surprised that the
dwarfs in scope the Winter Olympic
Detroit Maccabi Club and the Jewish
Games. Remember the glow, the proud
Community Center still need 450 more
spirit of everyone involved with Mac-
host families. Have we forgotten the
cabi in 1990.
great time we had hosting the 1990
That pride extended far beyond
Maccabi Games?
Detroit and far beyond one week in
It was one big community party.
August. There were many reminders
And it wasn't just for the kids. The
from other sections of the country as
hosts, and everyone
Photo by Glenn Triest people later
else in the Jewish
thanked us for
community, are
showing their
invited to the
children, grand-
flashy opening cer-
children or
emonies at the
friends such a
Palace, to all the
wonderful time.
athletic events, and
We were part
even to Maccabi
of it. We shared
night at the
that wonderful
Detroit Zoo.
time by befriend-
The Hitskys
In 1990, three athletes from Washington,
ing some Jewish
hosted two British
D. C., enjoyed Zoo Night with their host
teens from other
soccer players in
family, the Sitrons.
cities who visited
1990, two athletes
us for a week.
who were certain
What we learned about them — and
their team would take home the gold
-ourselves — was an experience of a life<
medal. (Ultimately, the British team was
time.
so unnerved by its semi-final loss to
Aug. 16-23 gives us the chance to
Mexico, the eventual champion, that
recapture that feeling of community, of
they lost their bronze medal game as
pride, of a shared experience, of being
well. Our two guests, the British team's
part of the Detroit Jewish community,
goalie and their leading scorer, quickly
of being part of the Detroit Maccabi
found solace with some very cute
team. It's not a time to sit on the side-
female U.S. athletes.
lines.
Our guests, both 16, needed little
The cost is small; the rewards are
pampering or babysitting. They were
great.
happy to ride the shuttle bus with other
athletes to their soccer fields, to other
daytime athletic events, and to the
evening social events. We had to get
them to the early morning bus and we
had to pick them up at the neighbor-
hood shuttle bus stop late at night, we
had to provide them with a place to

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