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Maccabi Magic
Teens meet prior to games in Israel.
Steve Stein
Special to the Jewish News
B
efore they help make history later this
summer at the first JCC Maccabi Games
held in Israel, Detroit's athletes and
ArtsFest participants got to know each other.
That was Jodi Neirynck's idea. The Maccabi tennis
coach organized an informal social outing at Drake
Sports Park in West Bloomfield for the 30 teens ages
14-17 and five adults who will represent Detroit in
Israel and their families and friends.
She orchestrated the party in less than three weeks,
using Facebook and email for communication.
Food was the common denominator.
"The adults provided pizza and the kids each
brought a dish to pass:' Neirynck said. "We had a
great time. We had some activities planned, but we
didn't need to do them because everything went so
well. I thought it would be good for us to find out
about each other before we get on a plane for five
million hours:'
The Detroit contingent will fly first to
Philadephia, then to Israel for the July 24 through
Aug. 5 Maccabi Games, which will include sightsee-
ing in addition to competition. Detroit athletes will
participate in boys and girls soccer, swimming and
tennis.
Stuart Bass is the Detroit delegation head.
The Maccabi World Union, which puts on the
Maccabiah Games every four years in Israel, is orga-
nizing the Maccabi Games. I I
Jake Kroll, tennis, 15; Andrew Jacob, swimming, 16; and
Cameron Peres, tennis, 15, all of West Bloomfield
Alissa Neff, 17, soccer, of Orchard Lake and Seth
Erika Lowenthal, 15, and Colton Graub, 16, both
Stuart Bass, delegation head, and Franci Silver, girls soccer
Goldman, 17, tennis, of West Bloomfield. They will be
of West Bloomfield, will compete in the JCC
coach, both of West Bloomfield; Jodi Neirynck, tennis coach of
flag bearers in Israel. Because Israel extended the age
Maccabi ArtsFest. Lowenthal is in vocal music;
Graub in digital photography.
Novi; Larry Silver, girls soccer coach, of West Bloomfield
to 17, they will be Detroit's only five-year athletes.
Guys Night Out
Ariana Segal
Special to the Jewish News
ore than 300 men attended
the Michigan Friends of the
IDF Guys Night Out at Tam-
0-Shanter Country Club to support the
soldiers of Israel and the organization
dedicated to their wellbeing.
"The Guys Night Out is always a fun-
filled and entertaining event:' said Aubrey
Tobin of West Bloomfield. "GNO provides
attendees a night out with new and old
friends alike. It is a time to relax, party,
catch up and meet new people, all the
Artion!., iktvy
Annual evening of entertainment benefits Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
while in a luxurious atmosphere with
great food, cigars, prizes and entertain-
ment."
Justin Becker of Birmingham said,
"GNO is truly a great event and the
Friends of the IDF does a great job orga-
nizing and getting people to attend dur-
ing these [tough economic] times?'
Guests were entertained with a casino-
style Texas Hold'em tournament, cigar
lounge, vodka bar provided by Dragon
Bleu Vodka and neck and shoulder mas-
sages. Comedian Tom Sumner emceed
and entertained the crowd.
Models sold raffle tickets throughout
Lindsay Gross of Franklin, Rick Kovacs and event co-chair
Dr. Ron Lederman, both of West Bloomfield, and event co-
chair Mark Orechkin of Bloomfield Hills
16
July 7 • 2011
the evening. Raffle drawing prizes ranged
from signed sports memorabilia to fine
dining certificates.
"Yes, I am an American, but on
GNO, we are all Israelis:' said Geoffrey
Orbach of Huntington Woods. "As Jews
in America, it is easy to presume safety.
This event offers the unique opportunity
for men from diverse socio-economic
background to come together for a com-
mon cause.
Guys Night Out supports the FIDF
mission to initiate and help support
social, educational, cultural and recre-
ational programs and facilities for the
Robert A. Stewart of Birmingham, Sheldon
young men and women soldiers of the
IDF.
"Year after year, it is nice to see the
local community come out to show their
support for a wonderful charity and
great cause said corporate sponsor Paul
Toby of Bloomfield Hills.
"All this would not be possible with-
out the vision of Rick Kovacs, Michigan
FIDF executive board member, who
founded the event and each year puts his
heart into making it even more exciting
and amazing than the year before said
Tamir Oppenheim, executive director of
the FIDF Michigan Chapter.
Ed Abbot of Ann Arbor, Arie Leibovitz of West Bloomfield,
Yellen of Bloomfield Hills and Michigan FIDF Jack Reinhart of Bloomfield Hills and Joel Shayne of
chairman Alon Kaufman of Orchard Lake
Farmington Hills