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Aug

19

Akron’s Maccabi Games review


I wasn’t in town during the games (Aug. 10-15) but here are a few articles about them:

JCC Maccabi Games brings international competition to Akron (includes video):

The Shaw JCC of Akron is hosting the JCC Maccabi Games from August 10 to August 15.

The event billed as an international Olympic-style, athletic, cultural and social event has been bringing Jewish teens together yearly since 1982.

The JCC Maccabi Games will involve teen competitors between the ages of 12 to 16 and draw more than 650 athletes, families and spectators to Akron.

Most of the athletes are drawn from across the country but some are coming to Akron from as far away as Israel and Hungary.

Here’s a nice narrative by the Akron Beacon Journal on the experience from the perspective of hosts and helpers:

”A lot of people in their 60s and 70s are housing kids this week,” Faye Regal said. ”They brought us out of the woodwork. . . . We’re having a great time with our new kids. The experience really takes us back. I feel like these kids are my own, at least this week.”

The Regals raised a son and daughter, but have been empty-nesters ever since their daughter got married two decades ago.

They are one of 121 families in the Akron area hosting the 350 Jewish athletes. They also are volunteers during the competition and work at the tennis matches.

”The best thing about housing the kids is that they are just like grandchildren,” Faye Regal said. ”You have them for a while to enjoy, and then after the week you turn them back over to their parents.”

The West Side Leader describes the historical and international aspects:

Though the JCC Maccabi Games are a chance for fun and competition, there is also an emphasis on history. According to organizers, the opening ceremonies of every JCC Maccabi Games include a tribute to the 11 Israeli Olympians murdered at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Part of the Akron Games’ tribute included a performance by The Dance Institute of UA, shown at right middle.

In addition, officials said the Maccabi Games strive to teach teens the value of “tikkun olam,” the Hebrew phrase for “repairing the world.” That value took center stage during the Games’ Day of Caring and Sharing Aug. 13, a community service project that is a part of each JCC Maccabi Games and provides all athletes a chance to give back to the host community. Delegates were able to participate in four different community projects in Akron.

I found reaction to the event in this blog post, but I’m not sure how to interpret the writer’s thoughts.  It ends with this:

Come on, the Jews have most of the money and run most of the business world…do you REALLY need to rub it in our faces have your own freakin’ Olympics!? Just stick to penny-pinching, lawyering and filling up the upscale communities in America’s suburbs.

Akron’s not that big and has a lot of bloggers – if anyone can give some context, I’d appreciate it.

Did you go? Do you know anyone who competed? There were some Akron residents on my trip to Israel and they were sorry that they couldn’t be there, although they were very excited for the event and Akron.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:13 am August 19th, 2008 in Cleveland+, Jewish, Judaism, Ohio, Sports, Youth 

Comments

9 Responses to “Akron’s Maccabi Games review”

  1. 1 Clueless WW on August 19th, 2008 3:10 pm

    Context? It just reads like classic anti-semitism to me. If we had a White People Only Olympics it’d be RACIST, why is it ok for THEM* to have one? And concluding with a stingy lawyer joke… somebody needs a whack with a clue-stick.

    * Insert pretty much any word for THEM — Jews, Muslims, black people, Asians, Europeans, developmentally disabled — and the effect is the same.

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on August 19th, 2008 3:30 pm

    Yeah – that’s what I’m thinking but it appears the blogger is a pretty well-known radio and news personality. I’m pretty surprised and am trying to learn more about what gives. Very odd but then, if that’s how he feels…maybe his bosses either need to know or, if they feel the same way…need a little blog attention?

  3. 3 Clueless WW on August 19th, 2008 4:13 pm

    I lived in North Canton for a couple summers and have an uncle in Akron. While I’m not extremely invested in northeast Ohio political issues, this one I’d love to see follow-up on…

  4. 4 Craig on August 19th, 2008 4:20 pm

    Hi Jill,

    You commmented on my Blog about the Maccabi Games. I apparently offended a few and since you left a comment I just wanted to say…I loved the games and talked to some intelligent teens and was more than welcomed with open arms by all.

    My blog was, I thought, pretty transparent with the number of stereotypes I stuck in it…I was ribbing those who are small minded and will only accept one faith and look down on others for what they believe.

    I have more than a number of Jewish friends, very close as a matter of fact, they laughed at me and what I wrote. I wrote the blog because I heard such anti-semitism from a more than a few folks who just are not very smart. I was poking fun at them.

    They way I see it…if you can’t laugh at yourself…making jokes about your own life..you are either not that into it..or are questioning your beliefs. If I offended you, or your readers, I deserve all the criticism in the world.

    Thanks..if you have any comments or thoughts, please pass them on. Thanks and continue the good work.

    Craig

  5. 5 Jill Miller Zimon on August 19th, 2008 5:01 pm

    Craig – thanks for commenting.

    I confess, I didn’t get the humor or poking fun part of what you wrote. But then again, I’ve been accused many times of not getting people’s humor, from writers all along the political spectrum.

    Maybe a footnote would be in order but as I wrote you, I’m not the blog police (though I’m pretty good at Jewish guilt) (now that’s a joke) (promise).

    Thanks for commenting and I’m glad the games went well.

  6. 6 Clueless WW on August 19th, 2008 5:23 pm

    You certainly may not have intended it badly, but if you have to explain the joke (or explain that it is a joke), it’s missed the mark. Loaded with stereotypes is all too common for anti-semitism (anti-anything, really!). Sorry :)

  7. 7 Jill Miller Zimon on August 20th, 2008 10:20 am

    Clueless WW: Check out Scott Piepho’s follow-up post – he nails it (and I left a comment there as well).

  8. 8 Clueless WW on August 20th, 2008 11:53 am

    Ah, thanks.

    Interesting to compare the tone of his apology here to his apology on Pho’s blog.

  9. 9 Ed Esposito on August 21st, 2008 12:29 am

    Pho and Jill, thanks very much for posting this thread. I did not see the post nor was I even aware of Craig’s blog. I do know him to be a cynic with a very well-developed politically incorrect sense of humor but based on what you and Jill have written I am appalled. I do note the original post was taken down and the blog itself seems to have been deleted but will discuss this in more detail with Craig (in Washington on business now.) I’m very sorry I did not catch any of this earlier; it certainly does NOT represent our coverage of the Maccabi games, either on-air or web, nor our viewpoint.

    Ed

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