INSIDE THIS ISSUE It Was an Uncomfortable Situation
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VOLUME 10 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2014 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MACCABI USA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Joanna Zeiger The ISRAEL CONNECT program had a 2 particular impact on her, especially the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Open Swimming Leads cultural identity seminar. During the 3 ROBERT E. SPIVAK LEADERSHIP to Olympic Experience breakout sessions she learned that many AWARD other athletes had the same experience with The first time Joanna Zeiger tried out for the anti-Semitism. Joanna said, “Seeing how VOLUNTEER PROFILE swim team at the age of seven she swam others had had the same difficulties made one lap and told the coach she was ready to me feel less alone.” 4 DONOR PROFILE get out. He wouldn’t take her shenanigans The Maccabiah Games was Joanna’s first and made her stay in the pool for the rest RECENT EVENTS international event; it was the perfect of the workout. That lesson, “finish what you springboard to her future international 5 UPCOMING EVENTS start,” stayed with Joanna for the entirety of travels as a triathlete. Joanna won silver her athletic career. Twenty-three years later, MULTI-GENERATION in the 800 free and bronze in the 400 free Joanna qualified for the Olympics in triathlon. 6 MACCABI USA FAMILIES and 400 IM. Her most cherished medal was Joanna was the sole Jewish athlete on her swim the gold in the 4x200 free relay she won MACCABI USA LEGACY SOCIETY team leading to bouts of anti-Semitism. She alongside her sister Laurie Zeiger Dodd. tried to hide her religion in an effort to suppress 8 After graduating from college, Joanna LEGENDS OF THE MACCABIAH the nasty comments from her teammates. transitioned from a swimmer to a triathlete. INSIDE THIS ISSUE It was an uncomfortable situation. Then in 9 In 2000, Joanna again represented the USA, NEWS 1989, Joanna participated in the 13th this time at the Summer Olympics in Sydney 10 Maccabiah Games as a member of the Open in the inaugural triathlon where she placed Swim team. For the first time she fourth. She then went on to win the Ironman was surrounded by other Jewish 70.3 World Championships in 2008. She athletes creating a level of comfort continues to compete as a Masters runner. she had never known. In 2011, Joanna was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. As part of her speech she talked about her eye- opening experience at the 1989 Maccabiah Games. She relayed a story about the emotional moment when she marched into Ramat Gan Stadium for the Opening Ceremony and they played Hatikvah. Joanna knew the words well from years of attending Jewish Day School and she was overwhelmed with pride knowing she was surrounded by thousands of other Jewish athletes and spectators from around the world. Joanna continues to inspire Jewish athletes as a motivational speaker. When asked if an athlete should participate in the Games, she is quick to say that they should, even (continued on page 2) Joanna Zeiger (continued from front page) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE encouraging her niece and nephew, Jamie and Max – future Maccabiah athletes – to try out for the Games in swimming. She Dear Maccabi Friends: explains that it is a wonderful experience I am writing this message shortly before Passover, a holiday that will provide them with a lifetime of that celebrates the Jews’ liberation from slavery. The process memories. “I love speaking to kids because of peoplehood culminated forty years later, when the Children I want them to feel compelled to engage Ron Carner of Israel settled in today’s Israel. Miraculously, in spite of in sport. I share stories about my struggles repeated existential threats, the Jews survived when most and how not giving up can often lead to nations from that era disappeared. The establishment of the State of Israel sixty-six success. If I can motivate them to do the years ago is the most heroic chapter in our history, and the Maccabi movement shares same, I feel I have done my job.” this Zionist vision, defined as the right of Jews for self-determination in the land of their “Maccabi USA is a great organization that ancestors. For the first time, Jews everywhere are viewed as strong, and there is no supports sports and Judaism and anyone better demonstration of this image of physical might than you, our Jewish athletes. who gets involved makes a huge difference Thousands of you, former Maccabiah athletes and supporting family and friends, have in the lives of Jewish athletes. No one can had the chance to visit Israel and to witness the astonishing achievements of this do this alone; it is a huge group effort.” country in spite of its difficult position in its neighborhood and in the world arena. Yet, Joanna has been successful academically as Israel increasingly becomes the focus of anti-Semitic vitriol, it falls upon you to while pursuing her athletic dreams. After continue to educate yourselves about the issues and become the ambassadors who receiving a B.A. in Psychology (1992) at can speak up for her. When is criticizing Israel anti-Semitic? When focusing exclusively Brown University, Providence, RI, she went on Israel—a democracy with an independent justice system that has shown objectivity on to Northwestern University, Chicago, when correcting its government’s mistakes—ignores more than forty “hot spots” IL to earn her M.S. in Genetic Counseling around the globe of human misery—slavery, famine and genocide. Often, those who (1995). Motivated by the excitement of purport to care for the plight of the Palestinians ignore their abuse, degradation and independent research, Joanna earned her denial of human rights in many Arab countries, where laws prohibit Palestinians from Ph.D. in Genetic Epidemiology (2001) at holding jobs or from owning homes. the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg As a Maccabiah athlete, you have met, perhaps for the first time, Jewish athletes School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. from over 70 other countries and realized that we are one big family. With anti- She continued in academia at the Institute Semitism rising around the globe, many athletes returned home to turmoil. For Jews for Behavioral Genetics at the University of in Venezuela, Ukraine and France, Israel is now their safe refuge. Colorado. Please join me in meeting many of them again and have your voice heard at the Joanna resides in Boulder, CO Maccabi World Union Congress in Israel in late May, where the 2013 Games will with her husband Mark. Through be evaluated with an eye toward the planning of future events. Yes, Maccabi USA racereadycoaching.com she helps athletes is already preparing to send a solidarity team to the European Maccabi Games in of all ages and abilities achieve their Berlin, Germany in July 2015, led by Rich Grodin, and a delegation to the Pan Am dreams. Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile in December 2015, led by Lou Moyerman. The 20th Maccabiah Games in 2017 will be led again by Jeff Bukantz. Having been re-elected president for a second four-year term, my goal now is to develop younger leaders by identifying and supporting those of you willing to give the time and energy at various levels in order that Maccabi USA will continue to have an impact on our Jewish youth through the same important experiences that have left such a strong mark on you. Together, let us continue our mission of building Jewish pride through sports in order to preserve and perpetuate Jewish identity everywhere. Thank you again for your confidence, Ron Carner, President, Maccabi USA 2 | sportscene | Spring 2014 SPRING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 2014 Telling Our Story As we move this wonderful organization forward, we are once again seeking your help. We need a corps At Maccabi USA we don’t measure our UPDATE of dedicated volunteers to help us “Light it Forward” success in the number of medals won, but for the next generation – who can either give of their rather the impact that we make. time or financial resources. Give me a call, tell me In speaking with Maccabiah athletes since I first got involved more than your story, get involved and make a difference. Help forty years ago, the recurring theme I hear is what a life-changing event us to create positive Jewish memories that will last a it was. Athletes are very open to sharing their experience, whether they lifetime. were 15 or 85, it touched their hearts, minds and souls in a way that no Over the past four years we built Teams of record other experience has. Their Maccabiah experience has strengthened their Jed Margolis numbers – no larger delegation for ANY competition connection to the land of Israel and with fellow Jews around the globe. has ever left our shores. We grew our Endowment to $10 million so that Now that we are back from another successful Maccabiah event, it is time we can begin to ensure our future; and we participated in all the Maccabi to begin our next chapter. We have already begun to build our delegations events with class and pride. for the European Maccabi Games in Berlin, Germany in July 2015 and As a People we face many challenges, yet together we can help build a the Pan Am Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile five months later. Then stronger tomorrow. Thank you to everyone involved this past four years of course we always have our eyes on our crown jewel, the Maccabiah and to those committed to stepping up to help build our next chapter. Help Games, which will be held in July 2017.