16 August 1 • 2019
jn

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Four Teens, 
Four Stories

An ArtsFest veteran, girl hockey 
player, English soccer player 
and Hungarian hockey player 
are part of the Maccabi 
Games tapestry.

T

he JCC Maccabi Games & 
ArtsFest is a collection of stories. 
Each participant has a story to 
tell. Here are four tales, from partici-
pants in the Aug. 4-9 Maccabi Games & 
ArtsFest hosted by Detroit. 

BENNY KIRSHNER

Benny Kirshner will set a record at the 
Maccabi Games. It’
s a record that could 
be tied, but never will be broken.
The 17-year-old from 
West Bloomfield will par-
ticipate in ArtsFest for the 
maximum sixth time, all 
in acting/improvisation.
His first ArtsFest was in 
Detroit in 2014. His last 
ArtsFest will be in Detroit 
in 2019. In between, he 
went to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2015), 
Stamford, Conn. (2016), Miami, Fla. 
(2017) and Orange County, Calif. (2018).
Detroit and Orange County are 
Kirshner’
s favorite Maccabi Games ven-
ues.
“They were so prepared,
” he said.
Performing and entertaining come nat-
urally for Kirshner, who is a professional 
magician, ventriloquist and balloon artist 
and plans to show off his magic skills at 
the Maccabi Games talent show.
What doesn’
t come naturally for 
Kirshner is having fun at overnight sum-
mer camps. But that’
s never been a prob-
lem at the multiple-day Maccabi Games.
“I’
ve always felt comfortable at the 
Maccabi Games,
” he said. “I think it’
s 
because there are so many people there 
with similar interests as me, and there 
is so much to do. I’
d like to give back to 

the Maccabi Games. Maybe I can be an 
ArtsFest coach or something like that 
someday.
”
Kirshner is a student at Aim High 
School in Farmington Hills.

LUCY ZATE
Lucy Zate will join an elite club at the 
Maccabi Games. Morgan Leib is the only 
other member.
Zate will become only the second girl 
to play hockey for Detroit in the four 
years the sport has been a part of the 
Maccabi Games.
Is the 14-year-old forward from West 
Bloomfield ready for the challenge?
“Bring it on,
” she said.
There’
s no reason for the West 
Bloomfield High School freshman to be 
intimidated.
Zate is in her third year playing girls 
hockey with the prestigious HoneyBaked 
Hockey Club. She’
s competed in hockey 
against boys.
“I’
m confident. I know my abilities. I’
d 
say speed is my best asset,
” she said.
Detroit will have two hockey teams in 
the Maccabi Games. Players were select-
ed through tryouts.
Zate is on the White team, which is 
coached by Mark Berke.
This will be her first time competing 

jews d
in 
the

Benny Kirshner

COURTESY OF MACCABI GAMES

Lucy Zate will be 

the second girl to 

play for a Detroit 

hockey team in the 

Maccabi Games.

COURTESY OF HURRICANE GRAPHICS

FREDDIE

JONATHAN

BENNY

LUCY

Benny Kirshner, Alex Mison and Halley Whelan carried the Detroit banner in the opening 

ceremony of the 2018 JCC Maccabi Games & ArtsFest in Orange County, Calif.

