VOLUME 12 | NUMBER 1 | SPRING 2015 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MACCABI USA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2 SEEKING JEWISH ATHLETES 3 LEGENDS OF THE MACCABIAH VOLUNTEER PROFILE 4 DONOR PROFILE RECENT EVENTS 5 UPCOMING EVENTS MACCABI MATCH! Gene (z”l) and Lenny Both Gene and Lenny were deeply 6 impacted by their Maccabiah experiences. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Weiss wrestled their way They developed lifelong friendships with 8 into the Maccabiah other athletes from the U.S. and around ELLEN & SAM SPORN the world. Both brothers define the 9 Games and became meaning of the word ‘Mensch’ and are NEWS lifelong supporters. loved by family and friends. Testament to 10 this was a brunch in 2008 where Maccabi INSIDE THIS ISSUE Gene won the Ohio State Wrestling USA honored them for their contributions title in 1953 and was invited to try out to sport and the organization in front of a for the USA Maccabiah Wrestling team standing-room-only audience. to compete in Israel at the 4th World “There is the common bond of being Maccabiah Games that year. He returned Jewish that we all share,” Lenny reflected. to compete at the 1957 Games and won “Maccabi USA does such a great job of multiple medals. bringing athletes together. The Games Gene returned in 1961 as manager make such an impact on their lives, for the USA Maccabiah Wrestling team and was flag bearer during the Opening Ceremony. He came back as Head Coach for the 7th, 9th and 10th USA Wrestling teams at subsequent Maccabiot. Younger brother Lenny, who also competed in Wrestling and Football at Shaker Heights High School, was so impressed with the experiences that Gene had had in Israel that he joined him as an alternate and coach on the USA Wrestling team at the 1973 World Maccabiah Games. He became hooked on the Games and came back in 1977 as Head Coach alongside his brother Gene. (continued on page 2) Weiss Brothers PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (continued from front page) Where does our strength come from? maybe not immediately, but definitely long-term.” During these most trying of times for worldwide Jewry, Lenny went on to be the Coach we ask ourselves, “Where does our strength as a people Emeritus at the 1981 Maccabiah Games come from? Does it stem from our rich history, from our and was the USA National Wrestling RON CARNER religious beliefs, or from our shared responsibility toward one another?” Chairman for the 1985 Games. He continues to support Maccabi USA While different people may give different answers, one certain response is that as a member of the Board of Directors. we derive our strength from our youth. Their energy, vitality, sense of invincibility and optimism feed us. Our Jewish youth represents our future. Their prospering is for the Both Gene and Lenny were introduced betterment of us all. To achieve that goal, we need them to absorb our values and to to Wrestling by their older brother Earl, carry us all to the place we Jews have forever vied among nations: the betterment of who had started wrestling in the 1940’s. all humankind. The Weiss brothers are an institution in Cleveland, Ohio and their names are However, with this aim in mind we must ensure that we instill in them knowledge of synonymous with Wrestling and athletics. our history, of our present circumstances, and our traditional values that will continue All three brothers wrestled at Ohio State to guide us into the future. University. Gene was a member of the Thus the next question is how do we reach them? How do we make them want to be U.S. Olympic Committee from 1972 – part of the Jewish people and to preserve and perpetuate who we are? How do we break 76 and went on to be a Chairman of through the clutter of messages our youth is exposed to, through the vitriolic anti-Israel the Ohio Athletic Commission in the teaching at their universities, through the intrusion of electronic devices to which they mid-aughts. Both Gene and Lenny are seem universally attached? members of the Shaker Heights High At Maccabi USA we have found one answer: we reach them through sports. School Hall of Fame. During the last Maccabiah, Team USA consisted of 1,102 members, all exposed to When people hear of the Weisses the wonders of the State of Israel. Our six-day ISRAEL CONNECT program afforded the they immediately think of two 850 Open and Juniors athletes the opportunity to gain insights into the country and take things, Wrestling and a close family pride in their Jewish roots. Thereafter, upon meeting over 9,000 Jewish athletes from relationship. They were in business 75 nations they grasped the vastness of the Diaspora—and the common denominator together for 57 years developing that binds us all, our peoplehood. athletic clubs, fitness centers, car wash To some athletes, the great excitement resulted in lifelong memories of a wonderful centers and real estate. They also ran sports competition. To most however, as communicated to me scores of times, the a summer wrestling camp for 23 years. Maccabiah was “the greatest experience of my life,” and “a life-changing experience.” As Lenny says, “we couldn’t sit still, we had Shpilkes – ants in our pants.” Our leadership is committed to provide this critical learning opportunity for our youthful participants. Even our Masters players live the dream. When participating, they Lenny continues to stay active in see and experience the excitement of the Maccabiah and commit to financial support, business and sports. He continues to such as the generous gifts of Sam Sporn and Stuart Weitzman of $1,000,000 each! play Tennis three times a week. Lenny Without such friends and many others who make regular, essential donations—large and his wife Kathy reside in Rocky River, and small—we would have had to reduce our programs. Ohio and are closely involved with their And, there is more! This year, two outstanding events are coming up: The European extended family. Maccabi Games in Berlin, where our solidarity team of over 200 headed by Tonja On January 15, Gene passed away Magerman will march in a historical event of the largest gathering of Jews in Germany after a brief illness. He will be greatly since WWII—all walking tall and proud, wearing and carrying the Star of David! missed by all who have had the privilege Then in December, the Pan American Maccabi Games in Chile, led by Lou Moyerman, to know him. Our thoughts and prayers will have a USA delegation of about 650 athletes. are with his wife Bobbi and the entire Weiss family. May his memory be for a In addition, Jeff Bukantz is gearing up to lead Maccabi USA at the 20th Maccabiah blessing. Games in 2017. Only two years away, work is already under way with our indefatigable professional staff in our Philadelphia office. Please plan to come with us to Berlin and/or Santiago and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Sincerely, Ron Carner, President Maccabi USA 2 | sportscene | Spring 2015 SEEKING JEWISH ATHLETES Maccabi USA is seeking Jewish athletes and volunteer staff members to participate in the 14th European Maccabi Games in Berlin, Germany, from July 27-August 5, 2015, and the 13th Pan American Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile, from December 28, 2015- January 4, 2016. Maccabi USA builds Jewish pride through sports. Athletes, coaches and volunteers will connect with the global Jewish community through international athletic, educational and cultural experiences, meant to enhance one’s Jewish identity, perpetuate Jewish continuity and increase support for the State of Israel. Both the European and Pan American Maccabi Games will feature sports in four different age groups; Juniors, Youth, Open, and Masters. Maccabi USA is scheduled to compete in 17 sports at the European Maccabi Games and 22 sports at the Pan American Maccabi Games. Don’t wait, apply today to compete, coach, or support Team USA as a manager or member of the medical team! Applications are available online now at www.maccabiusa.com EUROPEAN MACCABI GAMES SUPPORTERS PACKAGE: There are opportunities to travel with Maccabi USA as a member of the USA Delegation when you travel on our Supporters Package. Supporters Package participants will experience the Games and the host country with exclusive programming, tours, and receptions and parties. Tickets and transportation will be provided to the Opening Ceremony. For information and to register for the European Maccabi Games USA Supporters Package, please visit: http://www.cvent.com/d/grq8yk LEGENDS OF THE MACCABIAH 2015 Maccabi USA presents the Legends of the Maccabiah who have contributed significantly to Maccabi USA and the Maccabi Movement, as athletes, volunteers and supporters at a Gala Brunch on Sunday, March 15 in Boca Raton. HONORING Alan Appelbaum Guiora Esrubilsky (z”l) David Kantor Danny Schayes Golf Immediate Past President Basketball Basketball Leadership Maccabi World Union Milt Kantor (z”l) Russell Stoch Maccabi USA Lester Fein (z”l) Leadership Squash Ronald Bakalarz Leadership Maccabi USA Leadership Past President Maccabi USA Maccabi USA Harvey Leff Maccabi World Union Bruce Fleisher Leadership David Weissman Angela Buxton Golf Maccabi USA Softball Tennis Barry Gurland Donna Orender Maccabi Great Britain Leadership Basketball Maccabi USA Leadership Maccabi USA Special Maccabi Spirit Award Presented to: Roy Salomon Past President Maccabi Canada This event is sponsored in part by: PLATINUM SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS SILVER SPONSOR Kerry and Alan Appelbaum Minna and Ronald Bakalarz, Taylor Hogge and Bob Spivak Stephanie Fein Tania and Edward Bakalarz, Leslie and David Kantor Steven Bakalarz and The Bakalarz Family Monica and Barry Gurland Harvey Leff There are sponsorship opportunites and limited seating available.