14 | JANUARY 11 • 2024 

says, adding that when Detroit 
hosted in 2019 it generated a 
strong feeling of commitment 
and togetherness. “They’re 
going to feel a part of some-
thing big.” 
Aside from the sports com-
petitions, participants will also 
take part in Jewish program-
ming, community service proj-
ects, and opening and closing 
ceremonies. “It’s not just about 
the sports, it’s about the expe-
riences; it’s about being Jewish 
and having those Jewish expe-
riences,” she says. “It’s about 
friendships, lifelong friend-
ships, lifelong relationships.”
Sandra Agrest says having 
her son Riley participate last 
summer was a great expe-
rience, so much so that she 
and her sister decided to help 
with hospitality for this year’s 
Games in Detroit. In addition 
to planning to host athletes, 
she says she’s signed on to pro-
vide tips to athletes’ families 
who come in for the Games. 
“I’m just going to help them 
feel welcome, and maybe help 
if they want to grab something 
to eat or need ideas of where 
to go in the area, things of that 
sort,” she says.
Before Riley even went to 
the Games, she says, his host 
family called to introduce 
themselves, and they kept her 
up to date with texts and pic-
tures, says Agrest, who has a 
son turning 13 this July who 
will participate in this year’s 
games as well. “She treated my 
son like he was her own, and I 
still talk to her,” she says. “She 
texted me ‘Happy New Year.’ 
It was just an amazing experi-
ence, and I want to do that for 
someone else.”
Jeff Fox of West Bloomfield 
has hosted, coached and 
chaired the transportation 
commitee for the Games over 

the years. “We did it for our 
kids; we did it for the commu-
nity,” he says. “Our kids were 
growing up and we thought 
it’d be a good experience for 
them to watch and, as our kids 
got older, they participated in 
the Maccabi Games and they 
became friends with kids from 
other cities and countries.” 
His kids are now 40, 42 and 
44, but he still remembers 
the athletes they hosted and 
how his wife keeps up with 
many of them on Facebook 
or Instagram, he says. “It’s as 
great an experience for the 
people hosting as it is for the 
kids coming to your house,” he 
says, adding that some of his 
kids might go on to host ath-
letes, too, as their own children 
grow up. “It works both ways.”
Heidi Brode of Bloomfield 
Hills is a housing-co chair 
for this year’s Games. Her 
daughter Cami Krugel, 18, 
has played in the Games in 
both Detroit and in California. 
Brode says she’s excited to help 
support the Games this year. “I 
hosted in 2019. It was a ton of 
fun, the energy and excitement 
in my house was amazing, the 
sisterhood and the camarade-
rie was really special,” she says. 
They had two other dancers 
from Los Angeles stay with 
them last time, she says, add-
ing that their presence gave 
them extra chances to connect 
with area families, too. “We 
did family night [with another 
family] and we went to watch 
our host kids compete at their 
events and spent time with 
other people in our commu-
nity, and that was impactful,” 
she says. 
This year, with everything 
going on in Israel and antisem-
itism in the world, she says 
everyone has a lot to gain 
through unity. “I think that 

this year more than ever, being 
Jewish together feels really 
important,” she says. “So, I’m 
looking forward to that.”
Tracey Proghovnick, also a 
housing co-chair, is eager to 
help recruit people from all 
sides of town and all levels of 
observance to give players a 
home away from home. “We’ve 
been hosts, and our children 
have been guests in other peo-
ple’s homes in different states 
over many different years,” she 
says. “We’re charged to get the 
word out about it.” 
Her son Drew Edelstein 
has played baseball with 

Maccabi in San Diego and 
Fort Lauderdale, and she’s 
hoping to host friends he’s 
played with before, she says. 
“My son has built friendships 
with kids from all over the 
country, Canada, Mexico and 
Israel,” she says. “For us, it was 
just being able to have these 
kids in our home, who were 
so respectful and kind, from 
another Jewish community. It 
was just a really special week 
for us; we all cried when they 
left.” 
Mark Milgrom of 
Farmington Hills comes from 
a family of Maccabi 

continued from page 13

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

continued on page 16

CLOCKWISE, FROM ABOVE: Detroit local delegation teen athletes 
high-fiving spectators at opening ceremony. Boys basketball game 
at The J in West Bloomfield. Girls volleyball game. Detroit delegation 
coach, Rabbi Jason Miller, high-fiving spectators.

