22 April 18 • 2019
jn
Rolling Out The
Welcome Mat
Host families wanted for Maccabi Games athletes.
L
isten closely around town this
August and you’
ll likely hear
the lively chatter of foreign
languages and accented English as
Metro Detroit welcomes 1,300 teen-
agers from around the world and
across the country
for the JCC Maccabi
Games and ArtsFest.
Before the first
game gets under way,
there’
s the challenge to
find housing for these
young athletes and art-
ists. And that’
s giving
Shelly Rubenfire a case of the jitters.
“We’
re bringing in significantly
more participants than we have in
previous years … This is a communi-
ty-wide event and we need commu-
nity-wide support,” said Rubenfire,
co-chair of housing for this year’
s
games, scheduled for Aug. 4-9.
Rubenfire said the games’
organiz-
ers still need close to 800 beds. She’
s
hopeful all participants will have an
assigned home by mid-May.
Rubenfire is quick to point out the
wonderful experience host families
have by welcoming athletes and art-
ists into their homes.
“There are athletes who have
become lifelong friends with host
family siblings; elderly hosts take on
the role of doting grandparents to the
teens … It’
s such a remarkable expe-
rience for everyone,” she said.
Requirements for host families
include taking in a minimum of two
athletes or artists and providing them
with a separate sleeping area. “They
don’
t need their own rooms, but an
area where they can have some pri-
vacy … and we even provide air mat-
tresses if needed,” she said. “All we
ask is that [families] provide a home
away from home for our guests.”
Rubenfire added hosts don’
t need
to have children participating in the
event. “We have host families who
don’
t have children … young couples
who open their homes and empty
nesters.” At least one parent in the
home must be Jewish.
There is no cost to be a host fami-
ly, but families must attend an orien-
tation session before the games begin
and go through a background check
(at no cost to the family).
The schedule for the host families
begins Sunday, Aug. 4, when ath-
letes and artists arrive. Host families
provide dinner and transportation
to opening ceremonies that eve-
ning, provide breakfast and snacks
Monday-Friday, and transport and
pick up participants in the mornings
and evenings. Families drop off ath-
letes and artists at the JCC on Friday,
Aug. 9, for departure.
Organizers are planning a shuttle
for North Woodward communities to
transport athletes and artists to the
JCC campus.
Rubenfire and organizers are
encouraging families to host events
at home during down time or partici-
pate in activities planned at area syn-
agogues during Host Family Night.
Families interested in playing
host can learn more and sign up at
https://maccabidetroit2019.com/
be-a-host.
On behalf of the organizers,
Rubenfire offers a hearty todah, gra-
cias, merci … thank you. ■
Shelly
Rubenfire
jews d
in
the
The Joy Project
Tributes to moms everywhere
N
ever doubt the power of a
Mother’
s Day card … espe-
cially when you send a trib-
ute to Mom through the Joy Project
in care of Jewish Family Service of
Metro Detroit (JFS).
Celebrating its 10th year at JFS,
the Joy Project has raised more than
$300,000 for services and programs
to support the needs of women, girls
and families.
“The Joy Project was born because
I was not only compelled to honor
my mother, Joy Nachman, but also
moved to help brighten Mother’
s
Day for mothers in our commu-
nity who may not have anyone to
acknowledge or appreciate them,”
said founder Elanah Hunger.
“At the time, it didn’
t occur to me
how much delight this seemingly
simple gesture could bring to donors
and recipients alike. It’
s a good
reminder that no matter what we do
to reach out and help, no effort is
too little, no gift of love is too small.”
WOMEN HELPING WOMEN
“It’
s not about me,” says Joy
Nachman, a psychologist in prac-
tice in Birmingham. “I can’
t stress
enough that we’
re in this together —
women helping women take care of
their families.”
Hunger is quick to give credit
where it’
s due. “Thinking back on
that first year, we would never have
gotten the project off the ground had
it not been for Amy Haimann and
Lindsay Leder at JFS. They imme-
diately fell in love with the idea of
sending small gifts of appreciation to
brighten a Mother’
s Day for women
in their client roster who might oth-
erwise be forgotten.”
When Hunger ran into her friend
Marla Tapper Young and described
the project, Tapper Young was
thrilled with the concept. (Marla’
s
middle name also happens to be
Joy). She and her family stepped
up with the purchase and donation
of bracelets from their store. “The
Tapper family has been on board as
a major sponsor ever since,” Hunger
said.
SOMETHING SPECIAL FROM KENYA
How far-reaching can one simple act
of kindness go? Just ask Hunger and
Nachman, who recently extended
the reach of the Joy Project across
the world to the Maasai Mara
in Kenya. On their recent visit,
they were introduced to the Maa
Trust, an organization commit-
ted to helping women earn livings
through sales of the Maasai women’
s
world-famous and extraordinary
beadwork.
“Maa Beadwork is a communi-
ty-based organization run entirely by
Maasi women — women now work-
ing to take care of their families,”
Hunger said. “When we saw their
beautiful work, we thought why not
connect with them on our project
and spread the joy? Why not help
them sell their bracelets to support
their families in Kenya while taking
care of families right here at home?
“With that plan now in place,
we’
re thrilled that Tapper’
s whole-
heartedly has bought into the enter-
prise and agreed to collaborate with
Maa Beadwork by purchasing their
bracelets and donating them as this
year’
s special gift to the Joy Project.”
Look for an upcoming event
when Sidecar in Birmingham hosts
Hunger and Tapper Young as guest
bartenders for the night and a por-
tion of proceeds will go to the Joy
Project. Maa bracelets will be avail-
able for purchase as well.
To spread a little joy of your own
this Mother’
s Day, go online at
jfsjoyproject.org and purchase
a tribute card for your mom, sister
or best friend — any special woman
in your life. ■
Vivian Henoch is editor of myjewishdetroit.org,
where this story first appeared.
VIVIAN HENOCH SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Elanah Hunger
and Joy Nachman
JOHN HARDWICK