Metro Sta ff photo by Ang ie Baan ON THE COVER House An Athlete Open your home to out-of-town teens and begin a lifelong adventure. Elizabeth Applebaum Special to the Jewish News S tewart, Mimi and 4-year-old Laura Markofsky were moving to West Bloomfield. While renova- tions on their new house were being completed, the family stayed in a two-bedroom apartment along with their dog, Sammy, and all their clothing in cardboard furni- ture boxes. What a wonderful time to add two 14-year-old boys they'd never even met to the household. "We didn't know anything about boys — like you have to threaten them to take showers," Mimi says. Or their inability to understand why uniforms that undergo a rigorous day on the sports field might need washing. Purchasing cows was a consideration as well. "I went through so many gallons of milk!" Markofsky says, laughing. "And it was my pleasure." In 1984, the JCC Maccabi Games came to Detroit for the first time. Hundreds of homes were needed for the athletes. Among those who opened their doors were the Markofskys. It was such fun that the family decided to do it again in 1998 and again when the Games return to Detroit this Aug. 17-22 at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. "I am so doing this again because we had such a great experience Markofsky says. 'And because if my child were going to a Jewish event out of town I would hope somebody would step up to the plate and take care of her." The Games are an annual, international program of ath- letics and social activities that has united Jewish teens since 1982. The goals are to teach respect, sportsmanship and how to integrate sports with Jewish identity and values. This August, more than 2,500 athletes will be in Detroit for the Games — more than half still need homes, including 750 beds in observant (shomer Shabbat and kosher) homes. Lifelong Connections When Mimi and Stewart Markofsky hosted their first ath- letes in 1984, it was just the two boys. In 1998, the number of athletes coming to the Games had increased by hun- dreds, so the family hosted seven, including Roy Kirsch of Manhattan and Rachel Tovian of Highland Park, Ill., both of whom became friends of the family. "We've shared family simchahs" (the Markofskys recently attended Rachel's brother's bar mitzvah) and sad- nesses (when Mimi's father died, Rachel and her family came to the funeral), Mimi says. Rachel even attended the University of Michigan, in part, because she wanted "to be close to her second Mom and Dad',' she told Mimi. Roy went to school in Wisconsin, but often sent friends at U-M to the Markofsky home. And all it took was a little driving, a little food and a bit of parental compassion and guidance. "Treat them like you would your own kids," Markofsky advises. Then sit back and something extraordinary can occur. Just ask Laura Markofsky, now in her mid-20s. "It was the best experience I've ever had:' Laura says. Some of it is the little memories: Her mother arriving with a huge crowd of teens from the JCC; the boy from the city so excited to see the Markofskys' suburban lawn that he asked could he please mow it; getting DVDs for every- one to watch together; the guest who asked to be dropped off, alone, in the middle of Detroit on Saturday night, just to look around ("We took him putt-putting instead:' Laura s ays ). Then there is something else: Your life changing in ways you might never have imagined by experiencing a great adventure, meeting someone in what seems such a random way who then becomes the one friend who keeps all your Maccabi on page Al2 Become A Host Family The athletes come from a variety of backgrounds, so a variety of locations are needed: kosher homes, those without pets, places where families have expe- rience with children who have certain medical needs, such as diabetes, homes that can accommodate a child who speaks only Spanish. Volunteer families need to: • House at least two athletes • Have at least one Jewish adult in the family •Attend an orientation • Provide athletes with a bed or air mattress (if you don't have one, the committee will get you one) • Pick up athletes at the JCC in West Bloomfield on Sunday, Aug.17 • Have a registered driver 21 or older to drive ath- letes • Give guests dinner on Aug.17 and bring them to opening ceremonies by 6 p.m., stay for the cer- emonies and take athletes home • Provide guests with snacks and breakfast Monday-Friday • Make a washer and dryer available • Have an evening activity and dinner for the teens on Aug.18 (Host Family Night) • Return guests to the JCC for departure on Aug. 22 • Communicate with athlete's family once housing is assigned •Drop athletes off at satellites (in Oak Park, Southfield, Farmington) or at the designated venue, then pick them up after evening activities To volunteer as a host family, contact the Maccabi office at (248) 432-5500 or maccabi@jccdet.org . June 12 • 2008 All