VOLUME 15 | NUMBER 2 | FALL 2017 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MACCABI USA time as completely different than when 2 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Genna 20TH WORLD MACCABIAH she was 16. She went to Israel with a 3 GENERAL CHAIR MESSAGE Brand better understanding of herself and her SUPPORTERS MISSION career goals, the world she wanted to see, Genna Brand’s love MACCABI USA CONFERENCE WEEKEND and the people she wanted to meet. She for sports began at was housed with other athletes on the UPCOMING EVENTS the age of three. 4 RECENT EVENTS Open Women’s team, many of whom were While growing up only beginning to realize their connection EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE she was both an avid to Judaism. This “vulnerability shed a light 5 ALUMNI RELATIONS basketball and soccer player until the age on how amazing it was to be in Israel – 20TH WORLD MACCABIAH GAMES of 12, when she made the decision to focus 6 and to love Israel and soccer,” said Genna. THE INTERNATIONAL MACCABI solely on soccer. A natural on the field, she These beautiful experiences made her 8 CULINARY COMPETITION always played two years up with the older realize that she was meant to live in Israel girls, learning discipline, teamwork, and DONOR PROFILE and play soccer there as well. how to be an accountable teammate while 9 VOLUNTEER PROFILE setting goals for herself. As the youngest After graduating from college, Genna made NEWS Aliyah to Israel and played professionally 10 on the team, Genna watched the older girls go to college and play professionally for ASTA Tel Aviv, along with one of her INSIDE THIS ISSUE THIS INSIDE abroad which shaped her mindset for the Maccabiah teammates, Sarah Friedman, future to play professionally abroad. who also became her roommate in Israel. In addition to her teammate from the 2009 Genna first heard about the Maccabiah team, there was also an Israeli teammate Games from a friend and was immediately from her years at Ohio State playing on interested since the Games combined ASTA Tel Aviv. “Soccer is soccer wherever two of her biggest passions – soccer and you go, anywhere in the world,” said Israel. She qualified for and played on Genna. “I work in Africa, [soccer] is the the Juniors Girls’ Soccer Team in 2005 same; I live in Israel, it’s the same; I am at the 17th World Maccabiah Games. At from America, it’s the same. It’s a beautiful the age of 16, she had an unbelievable language spoken by people all around the time learning more about Israeli culture, world. When you have the ability to play a traveling throughout the country, and going game you’ve been playing your entire life, to the beach. The Maccabiah Games no one can take that away from you,” said provided Genna the opportunity to live in Genna. Israel and connect with the people and culture on a whole different level. She credits the Maccabiah Games as having a tremendous impact on her choice During high school Genna committed to move to Israel and later as an influence to play Division I soccer at Ohio State on her career decision. Genna always University, but her heart longed to return to admired the volunteer work that was done Israel. At the age of 20, she was selected to produce the Maccabiah Games. She to play on the Open Women’s Soccer Team felt a great impact through the Lev L’Lev for the 18th World Maccabiah Games in – tzedakah – program where she learned 2009. She recalls her participation this (continued on page 2) Genna Brand PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (continued from front page) more about non-profit organizations in Israel. Currently, she is Director of We have just completed probably the most successful Communications at Innovation: Africa, a Maccabiah of the eight I have been involved in. To say New York-based non-profit organization that our six-day Israel Connect program – held prior to that brings Israeli technologies to rural the Games – was well-planned and executed would be an African villages. They pump clean water, understatement. Beth Margolis and Tonja Magerman did a fantastic job getting our 925 Juniors/Youth and Open install light in rural and medical villages, athletes absorbed and engaged in this Jewish – and Israel schools, and provide refrigeration to – educational program. store medicine. Genna feels the stars were aligned when The enthusiastic feedback from the athletes, coaches, she became part of the Maccabiah and families has been overwhelming. While our athletes family. She wants to remain involved by managed to get their training in, they also toured the country and became involved being a spectator at future Maccabiah with both soldiers and victims of terror and other Israelis. They came away with an Games in Israel and hopes her story will understanding of the truth about the State of Israel and her importance in their lives and in the existence of every Jew worldwide. Hopefully, they have returned home as help encourage other athletes to take a Truth Ambassadors to their communities and campuses. chance and apply for the Games. When you allow sport to speak for itself The Maccabiah is much more than just an important sports event. Israel Connect it brings together people from all walks of is the foundation of our cultural and educational mission and helps build the Jewish life, and it brought her to Israel. “Some value of the experience. As each team bonded; they worked together on their unity in think Israel is a fiery country and unsafe their competitive sport, but as a group they also discussed their new insights and fed at times, but when you are there, it is on each other’s intellectual grasp of their Jewish identity and cultural heritage. Such was the B’nai-Mitzvah ceremony, in which hundreds of athletes chose to either renew perfect,” Genna said. “The Maccabiah their commitment to their Jewish identity or studied for the ceremony for the first time. Games are a beautiful story of the love In coming years, I would like to see the Israel Connect program growing even further of sports and the love and passion for to serve our mission of “Jewish education and pride.” Israel – the perfect match – and everyone should want to become a part of it.” Fortunately, our top leadership, especially Jeff Bukantz, understood this and established and maintained appropriate policies for reaching this goal without ever neglecting our sports character: Team USA won 365 medals, 93 of which are gold. Our high level of athleticism has and will be maintained. We must continue along this path. As long as we and the Israelis can continue to execute this highly complex project that involves over 6,000 separate competitions, elaborate housing and food planning for 10,000 athletes, efficient transportation, well-run educational and cultural programs (including exceptional production of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies,) “bigger is certainly better,” as more of our youths can benefit. This is my last President’s Letter as my presidency of eight years expires in December, but my thirty-one years of volunteerism and dedication will continue. I only hope that our next leadership can and will keep us on the path of our Mission – to preserve and perpetuate the Jewish people through sports. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this process. Sincerely, Ron Carner, President Maccabi USA 2 | sportscene | Fall 2017 20th World Maccabiah Games Jeff Bukantz, General Chair, 20th Maccabiah USA Organizing Committee The 20th World Maccabiah Games were the largest gold. Team gold medals were and best run ever, with 10,000 athletes representing won by Juniors Boys’ Baseball, 76 countries. Juniors Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer, Juniors Boys’ Ice Hockey, Maccabi World Union, under the leadership of Youth Men’s and Juniors Boys’ Games Chairman Amir Peled and Sports Director Basketball, Open Women’s Golf, Open Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Roy Hessing, expertly handled the record numbers, Open Women’s Softball, Open Men’s Soccer, Open Men’s Rugby, Open and in the process proved that “bigger is better.” Men’s Saber Fencing, and Juniors Girls’ Lacrosse. Everything from accommodations, to food, to transportation, was outstanding. The sports venues were fine, the competitions run in a timely The devoted volunteers and professional staff helped make this Maccabiah and orderly manner, and the officiating was generally fair and competent. a gold medal experience for the Team. It was a true Team effort. Team USA was 1,131 strong, the largest delegation ever at a multi-sport While my limited word count doesn’t afford me the ability to thank each competition. person, I’d like to thank two very special people whose tenures are ending. While we came to Israel to compete in “The Jewish Olympics,” we helped Ron Carner’s second term as President is up in December, and Ron fulfill Maccabi USA’s slogan of “Building Jewish Pride Through Sports” deserves congratulations for having served Maccabi USA as a dedicated with the ISRAEL CONNECT Program. This six-day cultural and educational volunteer for three decades. program differentiates the Maccabiah from the Olympics, which is a Jed Margolis, our Executive Director who has been involved with Maccabi one-dimensional sporting event. ISRAEL CONNECT included trips to USA for four decades, is retiring in December, and Jed will be sorely missed. Jerusalem, Tel Aviv/Jaffa, The Western Wall, Masada, and the Dead Sea. Thank you, Ron and Jed. Of course, the ultimate reality check was the highly emotional visit to Yad Vashem, as it most definitely put winning or losing medals in perspective.