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VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2016 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MACCABI USA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE it changed her plans for after graduation as 2 Amanda well. “My original plan was to go to medical 20TH MACCABIAH LAUNCH GALA 3 Maddahi school in Los Angeles,” said Amanda. “But I fell in love with Israel. The Maccabiah Games UPCOMING EVENTS began practicing Ka- ignited my passion for the country and essen- 4 RECENT EVENTS rate in the mid-90s tially was the reason why I decided to move when she and her 20TH WORLD MACCABIAH GAMES to Israel for medical school.” 5 A NOTE FROM LOU MOYERMAN mother opened up the Yellow Pages and 2015 PAN AMERICAN MACCABI GAMES found the dojo closest “The Maccabiah Games 6 to their Los Angeles MACCABI MATCH ignited my passion for the 8 home. Luck brought country and essentially was EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE her to Shihan (Grandmaster) Alborzi’s stu- 9 REMEMBERING DOLPH SCHAYES dio, a Muslim who has played a fundamental the reason why I decided role in training and sending many Karate-Kas to move to Israel for NEWS (the Japanese term for Karate practitioners/ 10 students) to the World Maccabiah Games, medical school.” including Amanda. INSIDE THIS ISSUE THIS INSIDE Upon her graduation from UCLA, Amanda When she was 16, Amanda was on the took a year off to train and prepare for the USA Junior National Karate team, coached 2009 Maccabiah Games, where she won a by Jeffrey Kohn, a four-time Maccabi USA bronze medal in Kumite in the over 65kg divi- Karate alumnus. Jeffrey pushed Amanda to sion. Two months after the conclusion of the try out for the Open Karate team for the 17th Games, Amanda began her plan, which origi- World Maccabiah Games in 2005, introduc- nated from her experiences in Israel in 2005. ing her to John Pressman, the Karate Head She officially enrolled at the Sackler School Coach for those Games. She made the team, of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, receiving and thus begun her journey with Israel and her medical degree in Israel, where she lived Maccabi USA. Amanda won the for a total of six years. silver medal in Open Women’s Kumite Karate, and team silver medals in Despite her successes in Karate at the Kumite and Kata Karate. Maccabiah Games, Amanda’s most vivid memory occurred at the Opening Ceremony At the time of the 17th Maccabiah in 2005. As a first generation American Jew, Games, Amanda was a freshman at UCLA Amanda had seen firsthand the anti-Semitism studying psychobiology, a major that com- and stereotyping that her family had endured. bines psychology and neuroscience. To “I remember looking up and seeing my family say the Games changed the course of her in the stands,” she recalls. “There was my life would be an understatement. Not only dad, who was kicked out of Iran for being Jew- did she pick up a Jewish Studies minor im- ish; my mother, who grew up in post WWII mediately upon her return from Israel, but Germany; and my grandfather, who survived (continued on page 2) Amanda Maddahi PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (continued from front page) the Holocaust. Having all these people with Last year was an incredible one for Maccabi USA. After our me as we celebrated the largest gathering great success at the European Maccabi Games in Berlin of Jews in the world completely blew my in July, we headed to Santiago, Chile in late December for the Pan American Maccabi Games with a USA Team of mind.” over 400 people. And just like 12 years ago, the Maccabi After returning to the United States Chilean Organizing Committee successfully organized and from Israel in 2014, she decided not to be- executed a fantastic Pan American Maccabi Games. come a practicing doctor. Rather, Amanda founded the Kid Possible Company, a We received amazing positive feedback from our Team USA health, education, and leadership program athletes, some of which I would like to share with you: for kids ages 6-12. In addition to the volun- teer work she does with multiple children’s “I feel more proud to be a Jew having been at these Games…I felt a real connection with my South American counterparts, and that is hospitals throughout greater Los Angeles, based on our shared Jewish faith.” – Josh Blank, Youth Men’s Soccer Amanda has found time to stay involved with Maccabi USA, as the Chair of Maccabi “Being a banner carrier was a highlight. Thank you for the honor! I also loved being Young Leadership in Los Angeles, known around so many Jewish athletes from all over. It’s very powerful being surrounded by as Maccabi LA. “As Jews, we feel like a so many people with so many of the same passions.” - Erica Gelb, Field Hockey minority no matter where we go, and as ath- letes, it’s way worse,” explains Amanda. “I “Just knowing that everyone around you is Jewish is one of the greatest feelings a stay involved because of the ‘lightning in Jew could have.” - Brian Laiderman, Medical Team a bottle’ feeling of Maccabi USA. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I want ev- “Every part [of the Pan Am Maccabi Games] was a highlight. It was one of the best eryone to have that feeling.” experiences of my life and I will never forget the amazing experience that I had while in Chile.” - Jared Hopkins, Juniors Boys’ Basketball As the Chair of Maccabi Young Lead- ership in Los Angeles, Amanda hopes to “Hearing the National Anthem [“Hatikvah”] while standing side-by-side with “bolster and support the leadership of Mac- your teammates is special…staring at the Andes Mountains while belting out cabi USA as much as possible.” Maccabi the lyrics was chilling. It was possibly the greatest feeling I’ve ever had.” LA plans to reach their goals through their - Michael Rudzinsky, Rugby four pillars: alumni networking, fundraising/ sponsorships for qualified athletes for the We did not just revel in the Maccabi Games experience; we gave back to the Maccabiah Games, sports recruiting for community. Due to the hard work and dedication of one of our team doctors, Marc Backal, Team USA brought to Chile diagnostic equipment to examine the eyes of the Games, and marketing. On January 28, young children in one of the poorest areas in Chile. Members of our teams worked 2016, Maccabi LA organized a reunion for under the direction of Dr. Backal as he diagnosed vision problems that could be Maccabi USA alums from recent Games, in- corrected with eyeglasses we provided. It was an extremely worthwhile project which cluding the 19th World Maccabiah Games further enhanced our amazing experience. in 2013 and the recent European and Pan American Maccabi Games. I would like to thank Lou Moyerman, Chairman of Pan American Maccabi Games USA For Amanda, staying involved with Mac- Organizing Committee, for his dedication and hard work. To all the athletes that came cabi USA is a no-brainer despite her ex- with us to Santiago and Berlin, I hope you truly understand what we at Maccabi USA do and why we do it. tremely busy schedule. “I know of not one person that has gone to the Games and We are now focused on the 20th Maccabiah Games in Israel in July 2017. The USA not had the experience of a lifetime,” she Organizing Committee will be chaired by Jeff Bukantz for the second time and I know exclaims. that he is hard at work to build a great Team USA. I hope that all our athletes continue to train hard, stay in shape and try out for our USA Team to compete in Israel at the World Maccabiah Games. I wish you all great success. Sincerely, Ron Carner, President Maccabi USA 2 | sportscene | Spring 2016 PRESENTS THE 20th Maccabiah Launch Gala Honoring Maccabi USA President RON CARNER On Wednesday, April 20 in New York City, Maccabi USA will officially ‘kick-off’ our fundraising campaign for the 20th World Maccabiah Games in Israel in July, 2017. Monies raised from this event will be used to fund the participation of Team USA at the Games as well as the participation of all Open, Juniors and Youth athletes in ISRAEL CONNECT, a seven-day cultural and educational program, immediately preceding the Games. The Master of Ceremonies will be NBC4 Lead Sports Anchor, Bruce Beck and special remarks will be made by Consul General of Israel, Ido Aharoni. The evening will include entertainment by the Maccabeats, a live auction including a Fund-A-Need which will be used to raise the needed dollars to ensure that all qualified Jewish athletes from the USA and around the world will be able to participate in the Games, regardless of financial ability. The evening promises to be memorable and will definitely be enhanced by your participation. There is still an opportunity for you to support our efforts by attending the Gala or making a donation. Please visit maccabiusa.com or call Sara at 267.627.5654 for more information on attending and sponsorship opportunities. Event Sponsors*: Platinum Sponsors: Talia and Ron Carner Susan and Harvey Morgan Gold Sponsors: REGISTER HERE: Taylor Hogge and Bob Spivak *Event Sponsors as of February 8, 2016 Spring 2016 | sportscene | 3 upcoming recent events The 11th The Maccabi Young Leadership events Annual Speaking Series was held at the Westchester Jewish Brunch & Federation Bridge/ of Greater Canasta/Mah Philadelphia March 14, 2016 Jongg Event on 21st Annual Palm Beach Golf Tournament in memory of Edythe Levitt November Lake Worth, FL took place at Doral Arrowwood in Rye 8, 2015, Brook, NY on October 18, 2015.