Maccabi volunteers gather

VERONIKA STEWART

Preparation for hosting the upcoming JCC Maccabi Games in Vancouver this August is something games director Brenda Karp said she can't escape.

"We have actually well over 300 people who are actively engaged in doing Maccabi stuff every single day it seems," Karp said. "I know every day there are several meetings of many people going on. And that's never mind what's going on in people's homes, in their offices, at Kaplan's [deli]. I can't get away from it. It's just all over the place."

With 1,000 volunteers needed, and so far half of that number either lying in wait until the week of the games or working on the project now, Karp said volunteers provide a variety of services, from acting as a chaperone to providing security for the opening ceremonies, set to take place at General Motors Place. She said the army of volunteers needed for the games is a way of bringing the Jewish community in Vancouver together.

"The dimensions to this wonderful undertaking are all of the elements that are core to the community," Karp explained. "It's youth, it's sports, it's culture and it's a celebration of the community spirit. It goes well beyond any kind of affiliation which one person might have. It goes beyond, 'Well, I'm a Reform Jew' or 'I'm an Orthodox Jew' or 'My politics are right wing.' It's core, central values that most people hold dear to their hearts.

"I know it will leave a footprint here in the community that is already galvanizing people. Regionally, barriers are being broken down. People that live on the North Shore are interacting with people that live in Richmond or in Vancouver," Karp said. "Their kids are interacting. They're playing together in their tryouts and practices. Their parents are engaging in volunteer committee work together. They've never met each other before. And it just builds bridges of understanding."

The Maccabi Games allows Jewish teens ages 13 to 16 to compete in different locations or host cities each year. Vancouver is one of three cities chosen to host the 2006 games. The games feature competitive basketball, soccer, baseball, inline boy's hockey, girl's volleyball, dance, swimming, track and field, tennis, table tennis, bowling and golf.

Although she admits the events are competitive, Karp said all teens are welcome.

"There's also room for the casual player," Karp said. "It's got an element of competition, but more important than anything else, it's inclusive."

As well as about 300 participants from the Greater Vancouver area and Victoria, the games will draw about 1,200 young athletes from all over North and South America, Israel and Great Britain.

Karp said that, after a lengthy screening process, the North American governing body of Maccabi, based in New York, decided Vancouver could muster the support and had sufficient infrastructure to be a host city. She also said the appeal of Vancouver as one of the most desirable cities in the world likely had something to do with the choice to host the games here.

"What we have to offer is obviously unique, just as any host city would be unique. However, we like to think that Vancouver is a real draw," Karp said. "A lot of the visiting athletes' families are seeing this as a destination holiday for them. So they are not only putting their kids on an airplane and sending them to play in the games, they are booking a plane ticket also. They're already booking hotel rooms and renting cars. They're either deciding to tag a holiday on afterwards, or come in early. Our hospitality committee is already in full gear working around addressing questions every day about 'What can we do? Where can we go? What do you recommend?' "

A fellow promoter of the games is Elazar Reshef, director of children and youth services at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. Reshef said the event is a way for kids with little other connection to community to become involved. He cited Sarah Rush, a former athlete, as an example and "poster child" for the games.

"She was not involved in the community at all and was convinced to join the Maccabi Games two years ago with a friend," said Reshef. "She didn't know what it was about, but she went. And when she came back, she started getting involved and wearing Magen David, which she never did before," Reshef said. "And now she's working in our day camps. She's volunteering. She's really entrenched in community stuff."

Reshef also said there is still room for about 50 or more athletes, and mentioned a Junior Maccabi Camp for those eight to 11, as well as a program called Star Reporters, for teens less athletically inclined. The program allows teens to take pictures, interview players and write articles about goings-on at the games.

The first North American Maccabi Games were held in 1982 and had 300 participants. Since then, the Maccabi Games, co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Centre Association of North America, Maccabi World Union, Maccabi Canada and Maccabi USA/Sports for Israel, has seen as many as 6,000 participants each summer.

To be involved in the games as a volunteer, host family, athlete or spectator, register at www.vancouvermaccabi.org or call Reshef at 604-257-5111, ext. 266.

Hospitality call

To host the 1,200 young athletes coming to Vancouver to participate in the Maccabi Games this August, organizers at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver are looking for families willing to house the teens for that week.

Thus far, the JCC has registered 155 host families, each required to take in two athletes, but it still needs more than 800 beds.

Linda Tenenbaum, housing chair for the Vancouver games, said that although she is not too concerned at this stage, she encouraged community members to volunteer.

"It's just such a great event," Tenenbaum said. "My son has participated in two of them: one in Philadelphia and one in Montreal. It was a fantastic experience for him. It was a fantastic experience for me. It'll really bring the Jewish community together in Vancouver."

She said people may be hesitant because they believe they have to have their own children in the home, because both adults work, because they don't have enough spare beds or because they are too far away, but she said these issues are easily remedied.

"We want everyone to participate, whether they have children in the home or not," Tenenbaum said. "It doesn't matter if you've got two working adults in the house ... because the kids are away from home from very early in the morning to about 10 p.m. each night. There's only one night, called host family night, and the kids get home early for that and they need to be fed dinner."

Tenenbaum also said organizers will provide air mattresses to families if they don't have enough spare beds and will provide convenient drop-off spots or carpooling options so host families don't have to travel too far.

Tenenbaum said the criteria to host visiting athletes are as follows:

Host families must host at least two visiting athletes from Aug. 13-18. Host families must also attend one host family orientation prior to the games. Hosts must pick up the athletes on Sunday Aug. 13, give them dinner and take them to opening ceremonies. Hosts are obligated to attend the opening ceremonies as well, and bring the kids home afterwards.

Hosts must also provide adult supervision when teens are in their care; a nutritious breakfast daily as well as some dinners and snacks; and provide transportation each day to and from a centralized transportation site. Drop-off may be as early as 7 a.m. and pick-up at the end of the evening activities is approximately 10 p.m.

Hosts should also provide reasonable sleeping accommodation for each athlete. Beds, sofa beds, cots and air mattresses are suitable. Laundry facilities must be provided so athletes may wash their uniforms daily.

The final requirement of host families is to participate in host family night, which will be Monday, Aug. 14. This involves taking the athletes somewhere in the city, or a get-together with other families. The JCC will also suggest activities for host family night.

For more information, go to www.vancouvermaccabi.org or call 604-257-5147.

Veronika Stewart is a student intern at the Independent.

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