sports
Team USA's Detroit Link
I
Steve Stein
Contributing Writer
H
arold Friedman was at the helm of
the Detroit JCC Maccabi program
for 21 years.
He has a new but similar calling these
days. It's on the world stage with Maccabi
USA.
Friedman is one of three sports chairs for
Team USA, which will
compete in the 19th
annual Maccabiah
Games July 17-30 in
Israel. Opening cere-
monies for the world's
third largest athletic
competition — held
every four years, the
year
after the Summer
Harold Friedman
Olympics — will be
July 18.
While in Israel, Friedman will be manager
for Team USAs junior athletes. Of the record
1,200 American athletes on Team USA, 350
are juniors.
"The Maccabiah Games are a wonderful
experience," Friedman said. "Besides the
competition, our athletes tour Israel and
train there. The Games are a life-changing
experience for every participant and a state-
ment to the world"
More than 8,000 other athletes from 62
countries will be in Israel this summer.
In addition to Friedman, the Michigan
contingent at Maccabiah will include
Zachary Abbott, Ann Arbor, open men's
rugby; Jack Blumberg, Franklin, junior ice
hockey; Michael Fishman, Birmingham,
masters 45-and-over men's basketball; Jacob
Friedman, West Bloomfield, open ice hockey;
Michael Friedman, West Bloomfield, accom-
modations manager for ice hockey; Sophie
Hoegh, Ann Arbor, open women's water
polo; Nicole Meisner, Huntington Woods,
open women's track and field; Zachary
Resnick, Birmingham, junior ice hockey;
Ira Schlussel, Huntington Woods, masters
40-and-over ice hockey; Cale Wasserman,
University City, boys' junior soccer coach;
Eric Weberman, Farmington Hills, open
men's soccer.
Open divisions generally are ages 18-35.
Masters divisions begin at ages 35-and-over
and go as high as ages 80-and-over.
Donations for Team USA athletes are
welcomed; go to www.maccabiusa.com. The
donation program, which involves partici-
pants and non-participants, is called Yachad,
the Hebrew word for together.
Hoops 4 Kids
Cost is $100
The Michigan Jewish Sports
per player, which
Foundation and Friendship
includes a kosher
, 9 -II ilvDY311
• a
Circle have joined forces for a
continental break-
benefit 3-on-3 basketball tour-
fast and T-shirt.
nament that organizers are
Presenting ($2,000),
confident will be a slam dunk.
breakfast ($1,000)
"We want to reach out to
and team ($500)
community organizations we haven't reached sponsorships also are available. Contact
out to, and Friendship Circle was an obvious
Circurel at scicurel@michiganjewishsports.
choice because we have similar missions:'
org for sponsorship information.
said Sari Circurel, the foundation's newly
Longtime area basketball coaches Barry
hired community relations director.
Bershad and Howard Golding are serving as
The tournament is called Hoops 4 Kids
tournament co-chairmen.
and will be held 7:30 a.m.-noon March 17
They were among the first Pillars of
in the Meer Family Friendship Center, 6892
Excellence award recipients last fall at the
W. Maple in West Bloomfield. Games will be
foundation's annual Hall of Fame induction
played in the Elkus Gym.
dinner. The award honors lifetime achieve-
Proceeds will benefit the children's
ment and outstanding contributions to ath-
charities supported by the foundation and
letics and the enrichment of the community.
Friendship Circle, which provides programs
Bershad has been a coach for 48 years,
and support for the families of individu-
including 15 years for Detroit Maccabi
als with special needs. The foundation and
teams. Golding was a coach for 28 years,
Friendship Circle are not-for-profit organiza-
including 11 years in the Detroit Maccabi
tions.
program.
The inaugural tournament is for players
To register for Hoops 4 Kids, go to www.
age 30 and older, "but our hope is to have
friendshipcircle.org/hoops .
several age divisions in the future Circurel
said. "Our goal this year is to have 14 to 20
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teams"
sports®thejewishnews.com.
tI
3
ccaul 203
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44
February 21 • 2013