WE
WE
KNOW
Jewish On Ice?
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
hree top figure skating con-
tenders at the Salt Lake City
Olympics, all apparently
with Jewish heritage, are
starring in the John Hancock
Champions on Ice 2002 Olympic Tour
stopping Saturday, April 27, at Joe
Louis Arena in Detroit.
Sarah Hughes, Sasha Cohen and Irina
Slutskaya, whose Jewish backgrounds
were reported by newspaper journalist
Ami Eden in the New York-based
READ
being Jewish, and that her mother, a
breast cancer survivor, has said the fami-
ly doesn't practice religion but leans
toward Judaism.
Cohen, 17, whose given name is
Alexandra Pauline, began in sports as a
gymnast picking up on the interest of
her mother and maternal grandfather,
both from Ukraine. She switched to
skating when she was 7, also training
with ballet classes.
Based in California, she is said to be
included in a family membership in a
Reform congregation although, report-
edly, she never had a bat mitzvah.
EXACTLY
BETWEEN
WHAT
THE
YOU
LINES
WANT
Sarah Hughes
Sasha Cohen
Forward, will perform in numbers cho-
sen by the Olympians themselves.
Hughes, this year's Olympic gold
medalist, will skate to "I'll Never Say
Goodbye," sung by Maureen
McGovern. Slutskaya, a silver medal-
ist, will take the ice to "Cotton Eyed
Joe," recorded by Rednex. Cohen,
who ended the winter competition in
fourth place, chose "Hernando's
Hideaway," as sung by Ella Fitzgerald.
Hughes, 16, whose Jewish heritage is
traced to her mother, Amy Pasternack
Hughes, began skating when she was 3,
following the interests of her older
brothers and sisters as the fourth of six
children. She balances training with
honors courses at Great Neck High
School in New York State and plays the
violin in the school orchestra.
Although Hughes, whose father is not
Jewish, has been quoted as saying her
favorite holiday is Christmas, it is
reported that her two older brothers cel-
ebrated their bar mitzvah.
It also is reported that her mother and
maternal grandparents talk freely about
Irina Slutskaya
Slutskaya, 23, began skating in
Moscow when she was 5 and reached
many competitive firsts, including a
performance of a triple Salchow-triple
toe combination.
Although she was married in a
Catholic chapel, she is said not to prac-
tice religion. While she crossed herself
after each Olympic routine, she report-
edly sometimes wears a Jewish star,
traces her Jewish heritage to her father's
side of the family and travels to Israel to
visit aunts and uncles.
Also appearing in the Detroit show
are Jewish skater and Huntington
Woods native Dan Hollander, U.S.
bronze medalists Timothy Goebel and
Michelle Kwan, Michael Weiss, Nicole
Bobek, Elvis Stojko and many more. O
The John Hancock Champions on
Ice 2002 Olympic Tour appears 2
and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at
Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. $30-
$65. (313) 983-6606.
GREAT FIRST DATES FOR OVER 10 YEARS!
Pamela lankr
Director
Brennan Adams
Director
Heather Hill
Director
ofilt
Nancy Kirsch
Director
T
LUNCH r
life, love & dessert!'
Dating for Busy Professionals ®
35 Locations Nationwide
Detroit 248.273.1000
For a fun, unique franchise opportunity: 619.234.7200
TwT
4/26
2002
67