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maccabi
CLOSING TIME
from page 22
ceremonies ran late. "It basically
said that Jay wouldn't have wanted
a moment of silence, but for
everyone to have the time of their
lives."
Josh Lebovic, 13, of West
Bloomfield thought the games
went well. "I got a chance to meet
a lot of new people," he said.
He plans on keeping in touch
with the athletes from Boston that
his family hosted.
Many of the coaches enjoyed
the chance to meet other Maccabi
coaches. "This is cool because I get
to see a different part of the
games," said Amanda Harris,
Seattle's girls' basketball coach who
was a three-year participant in
Maccabi. "I got a behind-the-
scenes look and got to help the
kids have a good time."
One of the athletes who had a
great time was Detroit soccer play-
er Jennifer Schanes, who saw
beyond her team not winning a
game or scoring a goal.
"It was a great way to end the
summer," she said as she tried to
keep the tears from welling up. "It
was a great experience that I'm
definitely not ready to have end."
Closing ceremonies included a
benediction from Rabbi Elliot
Pachter of Congregation B'nai
Moshe, the singing of "Happy
Birthday" to Israel on its 50th
anniversary of statehood (led by
Israeli 16-year-olds Aya Kima
and Hila Saada) and Israeli danc-
ing by the Maccabi dance com-
petitors.
Wee.
0041WO
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
Special to The Jewish News
0
n a cool morning in
Huntington Woods, the
Urnovitz family quietly gath-
ered around the kitchen table
to eat their breakfast of bagels, cream
cheese and fruit salad. Although the
clock read 6:30 and their eyes were red
from lack of sleep, they were happy.
Tired, but happy.
That is because last week, the fami-
8/28
1998
24 Detroit Jewish News
ly of four — Harvey and Elayne, 12-
pared to take the athletes to a game 35
year-old Abby and 17-year-old Brian
minutes from his home. Although a
— grew to include two temporary
Maccabi bus was available for the
.members. Jennifer Fried and Candice
girls, Urnovitz wanted his guests to
Doten, 16-year-old members of the
arrive early for warm up and practice.
Baltimore delegation, stayed for eight
"I don't mind at all. We were lucky to
days in the Urnovitz' ranch
get two great girls," he
home while competing for
said.
In front, Candice
Baltimore in Maccabi soft-
The Urnovitzes were
Doten and Jennifer
ball.
one of 1,200 families in
Fried of Baltimore,
"This has been great, bet-
the metropolitan Detroit
with their hosts
ter than I expected," said
area to take in anywhere
Harvey, Elayne, Brian
Harvey Urnovitz as he pre-
from one to 10 athletes.
and Abby Urnovitz.