You've Been Spotted! Our Party Page photographers are looking for the best parties! © David M Deu tsch Watch for us! pi • th k commiinity Maccabi Gabes made special by Detroit's efforts. Emory, Loren, Ari, Brad, Joe, Jesse, Jared and Jake at Beth's New York-themed bat mitzvah 1Ztt Tess, Hannah, Jamie, Alex, Kasey and Madeline at Partying with Alexandra the Great his year's JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit not only were a display of our vastly connected Jewish community, but also a window into the 1998 Games. The last decade found the city in a better economic state, with cheaper gas prices, less pressure from foreign markets and more available jobs. Neverthe- less, like the last Games 10 years ago, our community's hospitality, accommoda- tion and enthusiasm combined to produce an unforgettable week amid a city rich with culture and thriving on its deep Jewish roots. From the pyrotechnics to the motorcycles, the opening ceremony at the Pal- ace of Auburn Hills was truly a Detroit special. While too old to participate, I was fortunate to be a volunteer at various venues throughout the week, starting with the Palace. As I handled ceremony logistics, thousands of athletes began to gather outside. And while the delegation introductions are an integral part of the week's festivities, seeing all of the athletes together for the first time was — in my mind — the true meaning of the Maccabi Games. As usual, the competition in sports all across the board was excellent. From line-clipping shots in tennis to half-court heaves in basketball to last-second touch-outs in the pool, athletes in each sport displayed impressive levels of ath- leticism and even better sportsmanship. Throughout the week, I also saw Maccabi as a mirror of the Olympics in Beijing. Just as these young Jewish athletes competed in their respective sports for their teammates and their city, so did our dedicated United States athletes. Some of the talent and determination displayed by participants in Detroit could potentially earn them spots on Olympic teams in the future, and Maccabi will have given them a stepping stone to make it possible. In addition to athletics, other excellent aspects of the week were the transportation, meals and hosting. Congratulations to the athletes, vounteers and coordinators for representing our city well and making this year's Games in Detroit an unprec- endented week, just as it was 10 years ago. Seth Samuels, 17, is a senior at Birmingham Groves High School. teen2teen staff • Reporters hotline: (248) 351-5144 • kcohen@thejewishnews.com Gabriella Ring (Berkley); Jake Wayne, Spencer Wayne, Sydney Wolf (Birmingham Seaholm); Seth Samuels (Birmingham Groves); Teddi Cantor, Alexa Eisenberg, Lauren Lewis, Sara Smoler, Rachael Vettese, Rachel Wein (Bloomfield Hills Andover); Jordan Birnholtz, Abby Hyman, Jessica Singer (Bloom- Brian, Rachel, Bradley, Payton and Cescily at Bradley's Music Mania Goutman, Jessica Kahn, Atara Lakritz, Rachel Margolin, Blake Orman, Erinn Sandberg (Frankel Jewish Academy, West Bloomfield); Jennifer Finkel (Hillel, Farmington Hills); Hannah Cohen, Kale Davidoff (Michigan State University); David Lehmann (Israel); Mitchell Barnett, Michael Niger, Jordana Hoffman (North Farmington); Ben Eilender, Bridget Labe, Rebecca Liebman, Shaye Winer, Ariella Yedwab (West Bloomfield); Stephanie Steinberg (University of Michigan); Mackenzie Coden (West Bloomfield Walnut Creek); Stephanie Vettese (Bloomfield Hills West Hills); Sarah Spitzer (Yeshivat Akiva, Southfield). Photographers I Jessica Polk (Frankel), Colton Graub (Hillel) Cartoonist I Josh Loney (Bloomfield Hills Andover) supervising staff Lett: Rebecca, Rachel, Sydnee, Gabi and Carly walk the carpet at Starring Sydnee Right: Hannah, Mara, Megan and Milan walk the carpet at Starring Sydnee This section is sponsored by Party Layne® Party Pages., You've been Spotted!. and Partyrazzi. are trademarks of Party Layne. B4 teen2teen September • 2008 Chief Operating Officer I E Kevin Browett Editorial Director I Robert Sklar Executive Editor I Keri Guten Cohen Copy Editors I David Sachs and Alan Hitsky 111 o3 'M N f II S If A field Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood); Adina Applebaum, Rachel Brown, Avi Buckman, Carly Cykiert, Rachel Creative Director I Deborah Schultz Sr. Graphic Designer I Lindsay Schwartz Marketing Director I Kelli Baird IT Director I Deanna Spivey Teen Consultant I Jon Layne Jewish Renaissance Media — 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034 4 p Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit ALLIANCE FOR JEWISH EDUCATION Supported by a generous grant from the Stephen H. Schulman Millennium Fund. A Jewish Renaissance Media publication © 2008 DE-MD T JEWISH NE