July 14, 2021 www.ohavshalom.org FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Pandolfo 518.489.4706 | [email protected] For Immediate Release Local Synagogues to Honor Slain Israeli Olympians Moment of silence will be observed for the athletes Albany, NY, July 14, 2021 – Congregations Ohav Shalom and Temple Israel invite members of their congregations and the greater Capital District community for a memorial ceremony in honor of the 11 Israeli team members who were murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The event will take place on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 10 Am at the Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center on 340 Whitehall Road. Coinciding with the opening weekend of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the memorial will feature local guest speakers leading up to the moment of silence. The names of the athletes to be remembered are: David Berger, Ze’ev Friedman, Yossef Gutfreund, Eliezer Halfin, Yossef Romano, Amitzur Shapira, Kehat Shorr, Mark Slavin, Andre Spitzer, Yahov Springer and Moshe Weinberg. Anki Spitzer, widow of Olympian Andrei Spitzer, has long advocated for international recognition of the profound loss. “A moment of silence is a fitting tribute for athletes who lost their lives on the Olympic stage… One minute of silence will clearly say to the world that what happened in 1972 can never be forgotten.” -MORE- PAGE 2 OF 2 The Munich Olympics opened on August 26, 1972 with over 7,000 athletes. On the morning of September 5, eight Palestinian militants scaled a fence surrounding the Olympic Village. Disguised as athletes, they ambushed the Israeli team. After negotiations broke down the terrorists tooK the hostages to the Munich airport where a gun battle ensued, leaving the hostages, two terrorists and a policeman dead. “That was a somber day for Israel and for the world,” says Temple Israel Board President Rick Schwartz. “We must always remember these talented young men and the legacies they each left behind.” Ohav Shalom Board President Gregg Fox echoes that sentiment. “Even though this tragedy tooK place nearly 50 years ago, life was again never the same for those families. We owe it to the athletes — and to their loved ones — to take this moment of silence in their memory." The symbolism of holding this memorial in conjunction with the opening weekend of the summer Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was critical to the event organizers. “We have to remind the public that even as we celebrate the current group of talented young women and men following their dreams, there are 11 equally talented athletes whose dreams were needlessly cut short,” says event organizer Jeff Cohen. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is preferred but not required. For more information visit https://www.ohavshalom.org/events/munich_rememberance/ OR call 518.489.4706. #### Temple Israel, led by Rabbi David Eligberg and Cantor Rogerio Marx, is a Conservative/Egalitarian Synagogue affiliated with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. For more information please visit tialbany.org. Congregation Ohav Shalom, led by Rabbi Daniel Ornstein and Rabbi Rena Kieval, is a Conservative/Egalitarian Synagogue affiliated with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. For more information please visit www.ohavshalom.org. .