16 | JANUARY 11 • 2024

volunteers — his father was
involved when Detroit first
hosted, he says, and he’s
picked up the baton. He’s host-
ed mostly Israelis, as he speaks
a little bit of Hebrew, he says,
and enjoys making sure the
athletes have a great experi-
ence. “It’s something I hope
they remember for a long
time,” he says. “They’re going
to carry away an impression of
the Detroit Jewish community,
and I want that to be a positive
impression.”
As for the teens that come
in, he says, they’re mostly
looking for a place to sleep,
something to eat, and “if you
give them a good WiFi sig-
nal, they’re going to be very
happy.” And their parents

continued from page 14
OUR COMMUNITY
COVER STORY

TOP: Spectators at 2019 opening ceremony.
ABOVE: Staff of The J volunteer at an evening event.
RIGHT: Drew Edelstein with his parents Tracey Proghovnik
and Eric Edelstein at the San Diego Games in 2022.