icc maccabi

To Life!

GAMES

www.2008detro ►t.org

Sta f f p ho to by Ang ie Baan

ON THE COVER

Harold Friedman and

Karen Gordon hold the

Maccabi torch.

Return of the JCC
games means as
much to Detroit
Jewry as it does to
Jewish teens.

Alan Hitsky
Associate Editor

K

aren Gordon can tell you exactly how many days are left
before next year's JCC Maccabi Games opening ceremo-
nies on Sunday, Aug. 17.
Harold Friedman looks further down the road, to a
time in 2009 when Detroiters will still be basking in the
glow of hosting the teen Maccabi Games, Aug. 17-22,
2008.
"Detroit's going to throw this huge party and involve everyone
— from Orthodox to Reform:' says Friedman, Games chairman
for 2008 and a Detroit Maccabi Club officer and volunteer for
more than 20 years. "People like to be a part of something, and
this is something big."
The Games will draw 2,500 visiting athletes, ages 13-15,

and some 7,500 spectators. More than 500 local Jewish teens
are expected to participate, 1,200 area families will open their
homes to the visitors, and more than 1,000 volunteers will handle
everything from keeping score to making lunches in the Jewish
Community Center kitchen.
Gordon, the JCC Maccabi Games director,
has also been involved with Maccabi for more
than 20 years. She has represented Detroit as a
teen athlete, as a coach and as delegation head.
Now the former JCC board member is serving
as a paid employee who will bring the Games together.
She, Friedman and nearly every Maccabi coach will tell anyone
who will listen that the Maccabi experience is not about the ath-
letics. It's about Jewish teens meeting other Jewish teens and just

An Essay

Awaiting Maccabi on page 38

JIM

September 20 • 2007

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