Maccabi
An Amazing Event
Zachary Silver
T2T Extra Writer
T
he experience of playing at the
2007 JCC Maccabi Games in
Orange County Calif., is one I
will never forget. I have played ice hockey
since I was 9; you could say that hockey is
my passion.
When it was suggested that I try out
for the Maccabi in-line hockey team, I
really didn't know what I was getting into.
I was glad to be picked for the team and
my parents were excited for me to have a
Jewish experience. To be honest, I didn't
understand how playing hockey could be
a Jewish experience, but I was about to
find out.
The opening ceremonies were the first
time I really began to realize how this
was also about being Jewish. Walking
around the arena and seeing all the ath-
letes and coaches, I remember thinking I
had never seen so many Jews in one place
in my life. The presentation about the
Munich Olympics made me proud to be
Jewish, but it also made me realize that
we all have a responsibility to make sure
this horrible event is never forgotten.
A realization I had while at the Games
is that no matter how different all the
athletes might be in terms of language,
location and what our interests are, we
Sarah Richard, 15, center, is flanked by her friends and teammates, Rachel Barth,
16, and Danielle Kramer, 15, all of Oak Park and all Berkley High School students.
In-line hockey player Zachary Silver in
Orange County.
are connected in a way that goes back in
history. While we might have been rivals
on the playing fields, there is a deeper
connection that exists. Even though I
have heard that before, I think I under-
stand it now in a much deeper way.
Unfortunately, I am now too old to play
in the Maccabi Games. I really want to
stay involved with the Games, however,
by possibly being a goalie coach. I will
be involved in next year's Games here in
Detroit, for sure. I have now learned how
to make playing sports a Jewish experi-
ence.
Zachary Silver, 16, of Southfield is an 11th-
grader at Birmingham Groves High School in
Beverly Hills. He attends Temple Emanu-El in
Oak Park.
Sarah Richard
T2T Extra Writer
T
he most significant impact of the
2007 JCC Maccabi Games was the
strengthening of my Jewish iden-
tity through my meeting so many people
from all over the world, all sharing the same
religion.
Attending the games is a blast and
although I love playing soccer, Maccabi is
more than just playing sports. Even though,
in the last three years, our soccer team
hasn't won one game, we still had an amaz-
ing time playing and meeting people.
The 2008 JCC Maccabi Games will be
my fourth and last year as an athlete. But I
expect that I will remain friends with some
of the people I have met through the Games
for the rest of my life. I still keep in contact
with a couple of people I met my first year.
During the 2007 Games, I became very
close with about 10 people with whom I
currently communicate almost daily. The
Games have changed my life. Because of
them, I have a much broader sense of our
Jewish community.
I am very sad that next year will be my
last year as an athlete at the JCC Maccabi
Games. I expect to remain involved with the
Games into the future.
I am very excited that Detroit will host
the 2008 Games next year; it will defi-
nitely be an unforgettable week. Not only
do I plan to play soccer in 2008, Karen
Gordon, the director of next year's Games,
and Lindsey Fox, the assistant director,
have asked me to be co-chair for the Teen
Leadership Committee along with my
friend and teammate, Allison August.
I encourage others to participate in the
Games, whether it be playing a sport or vol-
unteering, such as housing athletes, which
my family is doing. 1-1
Sarah Richard, 15, of Oak Park is a 10th-grader
at Berkley High School. She attends Temple
Emanu-El in Oak Park.
Eagle Scout
Vorenberg earns highest BSA honor.
E
ric Michael Vorenberg, 18, a
freshman at the University of
Michigan, has earned the rank of
Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.
He is the son of Barb and Thomas
Vorenberg of Farmington Hills and a grad-
uate of North Farmington High School,
where he ran track and played football. He
also was a member of BBYO.
His Eagle Scout project was to raise
funds, purchase and build benches and
planters for a garden at the Friendship
Circle in West Bloomfield.
Vorenberg joined Cub Scouts in first
grade. Though his friends dropped out in
middle school, he decided to stick with the
Scouting program.
50
October 11 • 2007
"This decision was one of the best I've
made in my life he said. "I would not be
the same person if I had not stayed in
Scouts. The people I have met, the experi-
ences I have had and the lessons I have
learned will stick with me for the rest of
my life:'
At U-M, he is studying political science,
concentrating on public policy and U.S.
politics and business administration. At
the same, he also enrolled in the Air Force
ROTC program, where he can utilize and
hone his prior leadership skills.
After he earns his undergraduate
degree, Vorenberg plans to go to graduate
school to earn a law degree so he can enter
into the JAG Corps of the Air Force. Fl
Eric Vorenberg: The lessons I have learned will stick with me the rest of my life.'