IJEWIS VoLLXXX
No. 3
Omaha, NE
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14 Ttshrei, 5761
October 13,20QD
MORE INFORMATION ON !SRAEL..,PAGE 4
Omaha to Host 2002 Maccabi Games
by LISA SHKOLNICK, JCC Maccabi Games Director, The population of the Omaha Jewish community is expected to increase by nearly 20% in two years. How do we know? On Aug.4-9, 2002, some 1,000 young Jewish athletes and hundreds of visiting parents and families will converge on Omaha for the 20th Anniversary of the JCC Maccabi Games. These Games are a junior 'Olympic-style' competition for Jewish athletes ages 13-16. Participants come from all over the world, including 25 different U.S. cities, Israel and, possibly, delegations from Australia, Mexico, Britain and Canada. Events for the week include full days of athletic competition, grand opening and closing ceremonies, evening programs, host Family night, and community service programs, to name a few. Although the Omaha Games are not scheduled for another two years, it is not too soon to begin to think about them. Chairpersons Jody Malashock and Marda Pitlor, along with honorary chairman Harley Schrager and honorary co-chairmen Tom Fellman and Howard Kooper, began preparations several months ago. Several hundred volunteers, committee members, chairmen, and host families will be deeply involved by the time Maccabi 2002 has arrived. I t is an amazing opportunity for our Jewish community to rally behind an event that brings so much excitement and opportunity for our young kids, adults, businesses, and our community at large. We're reaching out to our entire community to get involved. We really want to get the word out, because every person we've talked to has been as excited as we are," ^ 'v Malashock said. * "* -, - -•'" Perhaps the greatest challenge '-'"—"i for Maccabi 2002 will be to secure J o d y Malashock
homes for the 1000 visiting athletes. While several hundred coaches, delegation heads, and VIPs will be staying at the Eegency Marriott for the week, all 1000 visiting athletes will be housed in 350 Jewish homes in the Omaha area. "These host families are central to the success of the JCC Maccabi Games," Pitlor explained, "not only because they house the visiting athletes, but because the athletes become a part of the family and, in many cases, thereafter." participants and staff were: front rote, from left-SashaSkvisky, Jen Whether young Omahans Coo er C«X» ore Gr€en 3Km PitIor P a v e I D a v i d Pai e are Maccabi nartieinants P > y - BobTsyr^ ; second Corey row; row; are iviaecaoi participants, B r i t t a n y Snkiennik,* Joe McGinn, Franzese, Julie ZKushner, preschoolers or adults, their Kirshenbaom, Kate Josephson, Matt Kefberg; third row: Emily Muskin, Sierra families are encouraged to be Gendelman, Lindsay Itkin, Emily Gordon, Adam Gendelman, Hannah W©H, a host. Previous host families Jamie Lovette, Shayoa Kurfand; top rote: Ben Gerber, Josh Levine, Ben Epstein, and athletes in other cities all Br^eyAbramson.DavMPfailBi^ Derek P^ser, Dan Morris, Jeff Gates. agree that the host family experience is the most sota, FL. The JCC Maccabi Games have grown tremenrewarding for everyone involved. Although this will be a unique experience for the dously in numbers and popularity from its begincommunity, the Omaha JCC is no stranger to the nings in Memphis, TN, in 1982 with 500 atMetes, Maccabi Games. In 1991, Omaha was a host city of to more than 6,000 athletes in five host cities this the Games with approximate- year. As a host city, the Omaha delegation is ly 200 visiting athletes. Since unlimited in size, and the delegation is expected to then, the Omaha JCC has increase to more than 100 athletes. The primlege to sent delegations of young participate will include 12-year-old athletes for Jewish athletes to various individual competition. Omaha will host several Maccabi Games across the team and individual sports in 2002, including bascountry, including Tucson, ketball, swimming, baseball, softball, soccer, tenHouston, Charlotte, Kansas nis, table tennis, goif> and dance competitions. For more information on how to become a host City, and St. Louis. In 2001, Omaha will send approxi- family, or to volunteer, please contact me at: 334and Marcia Pitlor mately 50 athletes to Sara- 6425 or by e-mail: lsKkobaick@jewish.oirtaha.org
incorrect Photo Caption Reinforces Belief about Anti-Israel Media Bias by MICHAEL J. JORDAN
NEW YORK (JTA) — As if and a Palestinian on the to underscore what some Temple Mount" Jews believe is a media bias Given the context of the against Israel when portray- violent clashes between ing violence in the Middle Israeli and Palestinians East, The New York Times this week, the implication and other major dailies this of what seemed to have week misidentified a Jewish happened was clear.' victim as a Palestinian in In fact, the victim was one of their photos illustrat- Tuvia Grossman of Chicago, ing the bloodshed in Israel. an American studying in The photo, actually shot Israel. It was his father, Dr. and labeled by The Associat- Aaron Grossman, who was ed Press, was displayed quick to notify the Times. prominently in the Sept. 30 la a letter to the paper, the edition of the Times. On elder Grossman explained Wednesday, The Times and that his son "and two of his other major dailies that had friends were pulled from run the photograph ran a their taxicab while traveling correction. in Jerusalem by a mob of In the foreground of the Palestinian Arabs and were photo was a profile of a severely beaten and young man with Semitic stabbed." features, blood streaked The policeman phoj across his face and spat- tographed was in fact trying tered on his shirt. In the to protect Tuvia, said his background was a menac- father. Moreover, the scene ing-looking Israeli police- occurred elsewhere in Jerusalem's Old City, not man, waving a baton. The caption stated sim- on the Temple Mount. (Continued on page 12) ply, "An Israeli policeman This photo, which appeared in the New York Times, incorrectly labeled "An Israeli policeman and a Palestinian on the Temple Mount." The injured teen -was actually an American yeshiva student, rescued by the Israeli police.
JFS Sponsors First Men's Forum by DR. PATRICIA NEWMAN — In the fall of 1999, the Women's Symposium, sponsored by Jewish Family Service, was greeted with great enthusiasm. The success of the Women's Symposium led many of its participants and organizers to determine that a parallel event for men would be a welcomed and valued event. Chaired by Justin Cooper and Dennis Paley, and supported by Honorary Chairs Joe and Jeff Kirshenbaum and Harlan and J a y Noddle, the inaugural Men's Forum will be held Sunday, Nov. 12, at the Marriott Hotel. (Continued on page 2)
Jay Noddle
Harlan Noddle