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VOLUME 16 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2018 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MACCABI USA For some, like Jake Rozhansky, the Maccabiah PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Games shaped up to be one of the best trips 2 of his life. He learned of the opportunity from EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE one of his soccer teammates at the University 3 of Maryland who participated as a Juniors UPCOMING EVENTS/RECENT EVENTS athlete; he told him it was an amazing trip and 4 recommended Jake go as well. The Maccabiah STAFF UPDATE Games “opened my life to Israel. Before playing 5 in the Maccabiah Games, I never thought that 2018 MACCABI YOUTH GAMES moving abroad would be part of my future. 6 Six months later I am now playing soccer 2019 PAN AM GAMES professionally in Israel,” said Jake. “If I hadn’t 7 2019 EUROPEAN GAMES gone to the Maccabiah Games I would not have decided to come play professionally in Israel. 2018 INTERNATIONAL The Games provided me a way to further my 10 MACCABI YOUTH GAMES Ally Silfen professional career.” He was projected to go in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, but DONOR PROFILE: JOHN LEVENE after having a life-changing experience in Israel the 2017 Open Men’s Soccer Team plays for FC 11 VOLUNTEER PROFILE: chose to follow his heart back to the homeland. SUMMER RUNESTAD Maccabi Netanya; Allison Silfen of the 2017 Open Women’s Basketball Team plays for ASA Having grown up in college basketball-crazy Chapel Hill, NC, Jake Rauchbach began INSIDE THIS ISSUE THIS INSIDE NEWS Jerusalem. playing basketball at age six and continued 12 Allison Silfen first heard about the Games his journey of playing as a member of the through Maccabi USA Basketball Coach Men’s Basketball Team at Drexel University. and seven-time alumnus Sherry Levin, who Athletes Spotlight recruited her to try out for the 19th World Maccabiah Games in 2013. She qualified for When the plane touched down at John F. and played on the gold medal winning Juniors Kennedy International Airport in New York Girls’ Basketball Team. Allison’s experience in it symbolized the conclusion of the 2017 2013 “inspired her and was a big motivating Maccabiah Games and three unforgettable factor for her to keep working at the game, weeks in Israel. Some were excited to be back to overcome adversity, challenges, and to in America while others were aching to return constantly strive to get better.” This goal to the homeland. Since the summer of 2017, became a reality when she was selected as Maccabi USA has watched eight of its all-star one of the 12 players for the Open Women’s athletes and one of its all-star coaches embark Basketball Team at the 20th World Maccabiah on a journey of international competition – the Games in 2017. This time, the stakes were chance to play professionally in Israel. higher as numerous professional coaches The following six athletes and one coach had attended the games to scout out players. When represented the 2017 Open Men’s Basketball asked about her decision to play abroad, she Team this past summer and are now playing replied, “The Maccabiah Games had a strong and coaching in the following leagues: JoJo impact on my decision to play professionally Fallas – Ironi Ness Ziona; Alec Kobre – Maccabi in Israel, as I fell in love with the country both Ra’anana; Jimmy McDonnell – Maccabi Ashdod times I was there. I also got several offers from B.C.; Assistant Coach Jake Rauchbach – professional teams in Israel, which was largely Assistant Coach/Player Performance Specialist due to the exposure I received during the Ironi Ness Ziona; Sam Singer – B’nei Herzliya; Maccabiah Games as numerous professional Travis Warech – Maccabi Ashdod B.C.; Spencer coaches attended our games.” Jake Rozhansky Weisz – Hapoel Gilboa Galil. Jake Rozhansky of (continued on page 2) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Atheles Spotlight (continued from front page) Having been involved new ideas, combined with the wealth of knowledge with Maccabi USA brought to the committee by the returning members, (MUSA) since I first which include three past Presidents – Toni Wortman, competed in 1981 at Ron Carner, and Bob Spivak – will make for a great the 11th Maccabiah, mix. I am honored and Among the new EC members, I’d like to welcome our humbled to have been new Team Rabbi, Darren Levine. Rabbi Darren has elected as President deep Maccabi roots and lots of fresh ideas. this past December. We are also very fortunate to have the expertise I love the Maccabi Movement and take great pride in of Gary Margolis (no relation to our recently retired having played a role in exposing thousands of Jewish Jed), the former Chief of Police at the University of athletes to Israel over the last two Maccabiot as Vermont, and a preeminent security expert. Games Chairman. A very important contingent of the EC is the group With the arrival of our new Executive Director, of elected officers. This includes Donald Kent (1st David Snyder, it is certainly an exciting time for Vice President), Debbie Adams, Arnie Fielkow, Tonja Jake Rauchbach our organization. David has hit the ground running, Magerman, Lou Moyerman (Vice Presidents), Ben Fox and his omnipresent energy and enthusiasm is (Treasurer), Marc Rosenberg (Associate Treasurer), contagious. I encourage you to reach out to David During his time at Drexel, Jake formed a and Donna Orender (Secretary). close bond with Maccabi USA Assistant and meet the new professional face of MUSA. This group will be tasked with chairing many of the Program Director, Steve Graber, who had The election cycle provided me a unique opportunity various committees delineated in our By-Laws. Our once served as Team Manager for the Dragons. The two made a pact that if to hear about different ideas and concepts from initial discussions have indicated that these officers there were ever any openings to coach at new and long serving leaders within this incredible are eager to identify areas in need of improvement the Maccabiah Games, Steve would let organization as to how we can continue to improve and bring Maccabi USA into the mainstream of and expand upon our mission. We know what we do Jake know. Fast forward a couple years Jewish life. later, Jake took his first trip to Israel in best is send large groups of athletes, ages 14-85, to April of 2017. Serendipitously, the week Israel for the Maccabiah and the new Maccabi Youth While we embrace this new beginning, it is time he returned from Israel, the Open Men’s Games, as well as the European and Pan Am Maccabi to thank two people who made a difference to our organization. Basketball Assistant Coach call came; Games for enriching and meaningful experiences with Jake jumped at the chance. His first fellow Jews from around the world. Prior to serving as Executive Director for 16 years, Maccabiah was an amazing experience, And we do that very well. For example, we sent Jed Margolis was a Maccabiah alum and volunteer. one that he is extremely grateful for. The delegations of over 1,100 to both the 2013 and Jed was a great face for MUSA, with an easy smile, a Games gave him the chance to explore his Jewish heritage, which had a tremendous 2017 Maccabiah Games. calm demeanor, and who was always approachable. Having worked with Jed during the last two Maccabiot, impact on him. “The significance of However, we know we can improve, specifically I saw a man devoted to the Maccabi Movement who being in Israel for over a month as well as getting to know Coach Doug Gottlieb when it comes to outreach. While we had nearly always prioritized what was best for the athletes. 3,000 applicants for those Teams, we know that we and the 12 players was deeply important must do a better job of getting the word out about Ron Carner has spent the last three decades to me,” he explained. “I returned home our unique brand. After all, who else can claim to completely immersed in the Maccabi Movement. with 13 brothers for life, along with many others who I became extremely close have a project which is a hybrid of Jewish Olympics Ron served as MUSA President for eight years and with.” Coaching in the Games gave Jake and Birthright? Along those lines, one of our primary as Maccabi World Union Vice President for eight the chance to coach professionally in goals is to make inroads into the Jewish philanthropic years. While he doesn’t talk about it, Ron has been a prominent donor and has bequeathed a Israel; the offers that came through by community. professional teams were due in large significant gift to MUSA. Under Ron’s leadership, our part to the exposure and connections One of my first tasks as President was to formulate Endowment fund grew from about five million to over he received through coaching for Team the new Executive Committee (EC). Organizations eleven million. tend to find a comfort zone and rely on familiar USA. When asked what he would say to an athlete questioning his participation in faces. That’s healthy if new volunteers are given the Jed and Ron, thanks for your love of the organization the Maccabiah Games Jake replied, “If you opportunity to emerge as the leaders of the future. Of and we hope you will stay involved as passionate volunteers. are debating whether to participate in the course, it is always necessary to have the requisite Maccabiah Games, my advice is to go for amount of institutional knowledge.