sports

Wanted: Maccabi
Games Participants

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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36

September 27 • 2018

jn

he Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit will
play host to the JCC Maccabi
Games and ArtsFest next year. Aug.
4-9, 2019, to be exact.
Even though the dates are about
10 months away, a call went out last
week for local athletes to try out for
Detroit teams and sign up for indi-
vidual sports, ArtsFest participants,
host families and volunteers.
Jeremy Fishman, Maccabi Games
and ArtsFest director, issued this
statement in a news release:
“The JCC Maccabi Games and
Detroit Games co-chair Karen Gordon, director
ArtsFest is a transcendent event
because it brings the entire Jewish Jeremy Fishman and co-chair Franci Silver along with
Stacie Francombe and Carissa Mindt from Atlanta
community together. We’ll have
Jewish participants from all over
Detroit records for visiting and local
the world, girls and boys. It’s truly
athletes
were set in 1998 and 2008.
unique and special that Detroit, a city
There
were
3,100 visiting athletes and
on a fierce comeback, has been chosen
400
local
athletes
in 1998. A decade
to host this event to showcase our city
later,
there
were
500
local athletes and
and community.
2,300
athletes
from
out
of town.
“As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village.’
ArtsFest
began
in
2006.
We really need the entire community to
The Maccabi Games is the largest
be involved in this event. Ultimately, we
annual sports competition in the world
have repeatedly shown, when it comes
to hosting the JCC Maccabi Games and for Jewish boys and girls. In addition
to the competition, the event features
ArtsFest, there is no place like Detroit.”
community service, and cultural and
More than 1,500 athletes and 300
social programs.
coaches are expected to participate
in the Maccabi Games. More than 800
NO NEED TO SIT DOWN
host families are needed to house the
There’s a new twist to the Michigan
visiting athletes.
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame induc-
Local teens ages 12-16 can try out
tion dinner Oct. 23 at the Jewish
for these team sports: softball, baseball,
Community Center in West
volleyball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse
Bloomfield.
and ice hockey. They also can partici-
Guests will find a strolling dinner at
pate in tennis, dance, table tennis, golf
6
p.m.
in Handleman Hall instead of
and swimming as individuals.
the
traditional
sit-down dinner. The
Detroit teens ages 12-17 can par-
reasoning
for
the
switch is so guests
ticipate in these ArtsFest disciplines:
acting/improve, dance, musical theater, can participate more easily in the silent
auction and visit with one another.
rock band, visual arts, social media,
The program will begin at 7:30
star reporters, vocal performance and
p.m.
at the Berman Center for the
culinary arts.
Performing
Arts.
More than 1,000 volunteers are need-
Cost
for
the
dinner, program and
ed for tasks before, during and after the
afterglow
is
$185,
but special pricing is
Maccabi Games and ArtsFest. Tasks
available.
Go
to
michigajewishsports.
include mailings, serving food and pre-
org or contact Michigan Jewish Sports
paring the sports fields.
To participate in the Maccabi Games Foundation Executive Director Sari
Cicurel at (248) 592-9323.
and ArtsFest or sign up to be a host
In addition to the induction of the
family or volunteer, send an email to
Hall
of Fame Class of 2018 — Ken
Maccabi@jccdet.org, call (248) 934-
Daniels,
Todd Gesund, Dana Jacobson,
0889 or visit maccabidetroit.com.
Michael
Jacobson,
Al Nagler and
This will be the sixth time Detroit
Arn
Tellem
—
Jim
and
Lisa Price
will play host to the Maccabi Games
will
receive
the
Shirley
and Alvin
since the event’s founding in 1982.
Foon
Humanitarian
Award.
Pillars
Detroit was a Maccabi Games host
of
Excellence,
Jewish
News
Male
and
in 1984, 1990, 1998, 2008 and 2014.
Female
Athletes
of
the
Year,
and
Dr.
It was the only site in 1984 and 1990,
Steven
and
Evelyn
Rosen
Stars
of
when the Maccabi Games were held
Tomorrow Scholarship winners will be
every two years. Multiple sites hosting
honored. •
the Maccabi Games annually started
in 1997. Atlanta also will be a host next
Send news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.
year.