JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 13
J
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iley Agrest, 16, of 
White Lake is getting 
excited for the 2024 
JCC Maccabi Games. They’re 
taking place July 28-Aug. 2 in 
Detroit this year, and he says 
he’s looking forward to not only 
playing, but also welcoming 
kids from other cities to his 
hometown. 
Agrest played basketball in 
Florida last year and has fond 
memories of his host family. 
“It was a cool experience to get 
home hosted; the family took 
care of me and my friend,” he 
says. “Hosting is a good way 
to get to know someone, and 
to show them how the Jewish 
community is.”
This will be Detroit’s seventh 
time hosting the JCC Maccabi 
Games, which are expected to 
bring together some 200-250 
Detroit athletes between ages 
12 and 16 and about 1,200 
13- to 16-year-old athletes 
from around the world, says 
Franci Silver, co-chair of the 
2024 JCC Maccabi Games. 
They’re expecting delegations 
from Mexico and Ukraine and 
hoping for Israeli delegations as 
well, she says. 
As the hosting hometown, 
Silver says, they’re looking for 
some 400 Jewish households 
— where at least one parent is 
Jewish — to at least welcome 
two kids apiece, while another 
400 athletes will stay at an area 
hotel earmarked for the Games. 
Hosts get their kids to and from 
the venue, provide snacks, help 
them wash clothes and make 
sure they’re ready for the next 
day, she says. The games will 
also need some 1,000 volun-
teers to help with planning and 
facilitating the competition. 
“The community feeling is 
going to be warm and amazing; 
it’s going to be peaceful; it’s 
going to be a connection,” she 

OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

continued on page 14

2019 Detroit local 
athlete delegation 
marching into 
opening ceremony 

