Editor's Letter

The Sweep Of Maccabi

T

hey come to compete athletically and artistically, but
Detroit's 2007 Maccabi delegations are competing this
more importantly they gather to rouse their Jewish
month in Baltimore, Houston, Orange County, Calif., and
heritage through cultural and social activities.
Monmouth County, N.J. Karen Gordon, Detroit delegation
That's why I love the JCC Maccabi Games.
head since 1999, a coach since 1986 and a top Maccabi
They secondarily foster friendly competition. Their main
ambassador, put the games in perspective: "Last year in
goal is to help highly impressionable teenagers learn more
Phoenix, one of our athletes saw another athlete from Omaha.
about who they are as Jews through
I will never forget what he said: didn't know there were Jews
the power of peer interaction and
in Nebraska? Maccabi gives kids, who may not otherwise have
influence. The games are merely the
much exposure to Judaism or other Jews, the chance to meet
vehicle for the kids coming together.
kids like themselves. It also exposes them to Jews from all
And that augers well for our times.
over. It is great to see the athletes compete, but the games are
Now in their 25th year, the interna-
so much more than athletics:'
tional games are hosted in different
How true.
locales around the U.S each year to
inspire camaraderie, sportsmanship
Open Your Home
and Jewish continuity. They bring
Next August, the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan
Jewish kids together from differ-
Detroit will host the largest of the three sets of 2008 JCC
ent backgrounds in North America,
Maccabi Games. It takes a Herculean effort to house, feed,
Europe and Israel to bolster their
transport, stage competitions, hold other events and provide
Jewish identity so they know they are part of a very special
security for 2,500 visiting competitors, 500 local competi-
people.
tors, 500 coaches and 1,000 volunteers. Patience and planning
The magic of the games lies in their ability to speak to
must persevere. The JCC will have to raise at least $1 million
13- to 16-year-old boys and girls on their terms about being
in cash and in-kind services just to break even on the games.
Jewish. Celebrating Shabbat with your host
Without a doubt, it'll be a week to connect
family helps. But it's the mingling that really
more deeply with ourselves and the Jewish
gives meaning to making new Jewish friends
community while welcoming our guests.
and enjoying new Jewish opportunities. For
Each of us will have a chance to build a
most of the kids, this happens away from
memory bank. "It's such a pleasure to host
home, itself a nervous time.
the games here, where the community knows
It's no surprise that the Jewish Community
what they are all about;' says JCC Executive
Center movement has embraced Maccabi; it,
Director Mark Lit.
as much as any Jewish institution, has a vested
My family hosted two girls from
interest in keeping kids engaged and affiliated
Rochester, N.Y., in 1998, the last time Detroit
with the organized Jewish community follow-
was a games host; it proved emotional and
ing bar or bat mitzvah.
uplifting. The girls were great and I don't
The games do matter, though. Teens like to
just mean competing. In talking to other
run, shoot, hit, skate, swim, kick, dance and
host families, I discovered a common thread
take up an arts experience. It's not so much
— we all learned from our youthful charges
about winning and losing as it is about display- Karen Gordon:
just as they hopefully did from us.
Strong Maccabi ties.
ing competitive prowess and learning to be a
Host families are crucial to success: They
team player. Even though a competition might
make the games happen. They open their
have a lopsided result, kids on the winning side strive to be
hearts and homes to competitors. About 1,200 such families
courteous toward the other team, underscoring the spirit of
are needed locally from Aug. 17 to 22, 2008.
Maccabi. Few kids tolerate ridicule.
Meanwhile, I wish this year's Detroit Maccabi delegation
a heartyyasher koach (go forth in strength) for their noble
What A Contrast
efforts in athletic and artistic competition as well as higher
Make no mistake — Maccabi reinforces the great divide.
achievements in life's lessons.
In the civilized world, we cherish our kids and seek to
The JCC Maccabi Games enable us to affirm the familial
give them every chance to relish life. In the uncivilized world
ties of Klal Yisrael, the Jewish people — to project them in an
of radical Islam, kids are taught to hate Jews as disciples of
ever-widening circle that ripples across world Jewry given the
Satan. Palestinian kids as young as 8 willingly strap on bomb
tens of thousands of Maccabi alumni. 7
belts and explode in the presence of Jews and Zionists to, in
their indoctrinated minds, please Allah! Official Hamas TV
To compete in, co-sponsor, or volunteer or host an athlete for
continues to promote hatred of Jews in children's program-
the 2008 JCC Maccabi Games in Metro Detroit, contact Karen
ming and encourage jihad. Maccabi teaches the ideals of
Gordon: kgordon@jccdet.org , (248) 432-5482.
Jewish culture and good will; Hamas' lessons are tarnished by
violence and terror.
0 :
Has Maccabi left an imprint on your
Typically, Maccabi participants have never seen so many
•
La
family?
Jewish kids in one place. They discover what they have in
ca
common regardless of where they come from. They're eager
Z z How can Detroit make Maccabi '08
to share e-mail and otherwise keep connections with their
o special?
a.
newfound friends.

•Siii/fr'117

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August 9 2007

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