Insight
Gaza In The Center Court
LONNY GOLDSMITH
Staff Writer
L
ast November, a local Jewish
entrepreneur put a plan into
motion to help the children
of Palestine. Six months
later, the plan inches closer to reality.
Franklin Racquet Club owner
Seymour Brode, past chairman of
Israel Tennis Centers, and Arnold
Michlin, of the Arab-American Jewish
Friends, unveiled artist's renderings of
a proposed tennis center in Gaza for
Palestinian children and began orga-
nizing fund-raising for the organiza-
tion at a luncheon earlier this month.
When the Israel Tennis Centers was
created in 1976, the intent was "to use
tennis as a vehicle for the children of
Israel to have a better quality of life,"
Brode said. "We're trying to do the
same thing in Gaza."
Said Michlin: "This is a take off on
Ping-Pong diplomacy. It's a visionary
concept."
Brode's wheels started turning
when Suliaman Shurafa and Aiman
Arafat of the Palestinian Tennis
Association contacted him to plan a
center of their own. Brode met with
them last October and made a pledge
to help, leading the fund-raising
effott.
Tennis was first used as a bridge
for peace 20 years ago, when
Lebanese children were brought to
the tennis center in Kiryat Shemona,
near the Israel-Lebanon border, to
play tennis with Israeli children.
This is what we're doing for peace
in the Middle East," Michlin said.
"We're not looking for profit --- we're
giving of ourselves."
Palestinian Authority Chairman
Yasser Arafat has approved using
land in the Palestinian territory for
the center, and plans have been
drawn for the building and opera-
tion. "To make it go," Brode said,
"we need money."
Construction costs are estimated at
just under $1.5 million for six lighted
tennis courts and two multipurpose
courts, two main buildings and seat-
ing at center court.
The Benard Maas Foundation
pledged $1,000, which was matched
6/25
1999
26D_e_tr_oit Jewish News
by the Michigan Food and Beverage
Association. Michael Traison, a West
Bloomfield attorney, volunteered to
draw up the paperwork to get the cen-
ter tax-exempt status.
Michlin said he and Brode are
planning to make a pitch to the
General Motors Fund, in hopes that
this community organization will offer
financial assistance.
To whom the checks should be
made out may prove to be the major
sticking point.
A seemingly endless 20-minute
debate at the luncheon drew naming
suggestions from many of the 16
Jewish, Arab and political representa-
tives in attendance. Two suggestions
receiving the warmest reception were
the Palestinian Children's Center and
American-Arab Jewish Friends for
Peace Through Sport.
Brode's opinion was that the
group shouldn't use the word "ten-
nis" in its fund-raising efforts. That
word could make the project sound
too lightweight to the foundations
being approached, he said, adding
that he'd learned that lesson in his
association with the Israel Tennis
Centers.
The only thing finally decided in
the debate was to put off the naming
decision to another meeting.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians
involved in the children's tennis center
have sent a thank-you note to Brode
and the Israel Tennis Centers for
paving and refurbishing existing ten-
nis courts in Gaza.
While the Palestinians were looking
for help in building their tennis cen-
ter, they clearly don't need much
Israeli instruction. A group of
Palestinian tennis players recently held
their own tennis clinic, defeating a
team of Israelis in a friendly tourna-
ment. Li
Plans advance for a tennis center
for Palestinian youth.
Remember
When • •
From the pages of The Jewish News
for this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.
1989
The Anti-Defamation League is
investigating an incident that left a
West Bloomfield home, in the
Maplewoods subdivision, covered
with swastikas.
Sharlene Ungar, installed as pres-
ident of Congregation B'nai
Moshe, became the first woman to
hold the post in the synagogue's 78-
year history.
1979
Dr. Henry Kissinger was slated to
receive an honorary degree of doc-
tor of philosophy from Hebrew
University of Jerusalem.
The United States has asked the
Soviet Union to free Raoul
Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat
missing since 1945 who is credited
with saving 25,000 Hungarian Jews—/
from deportation to Auschwitz.
1969
Artist Marc Chagall expressed irrita-
tion at the placement of his famous
stained-glass windows in the
Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem,
saying they can't be fully appreciated
due to a lack of proper lighting.
Israeli authorities gave 100 Arab
two days to leave homes and shops
on the street next to the Western
Wall. The structures were to be
torn down for security reasons.
1959
Mandell L. Berman was elected
president of the United Hebrew
Schools at its 40th anniversary
meeting.
The Detroit Service Group was
planning a mission to Israel under
the chairmanship of Max M. Shaye.
1949
Above: An artist's rendering of the entrance
to the proposed Gaza tennis center.
Right: Seymour Brode speaks to the gatherino-
at the Franklin Racquet Clu
The community of Druzes in Israel,
about 20,000 men, women and
children, has asked the Israeli
Ministry of Religion to accord it a'tr\
independent religious status.
Rabbi Samuel H. Berkowitz was
awarded the degree of master of
arts from Catholic UniverSity of
America, the first such degree in
the history of the institution.