basketball player alex halpern travels an all-star celebration!

More documents

Recommendations

Info

center STORY No Sitting on the Sidelines for this JCC Maccabi Athlete By Andrea Kronzek Alex Halpern in action at the 2011 JCC Maccabi Games in Israel. Please describe your history of participation with the JCC Maccabi Games. I played on the JCCGW basketball team at the 2007 Mid-Atlantic Junior Games [modeled after the JCC Maccabi Games, but geared for athletes age 10-12 years] in Philadelphia, and at the JCC Maccabi games in 2009 (Westchester), 2010 (Baltimore) and 2011 (Israel). Tell us about your experience with the JCC Maccabi Games in Israel. The JCC Maccabi Games in Israel provided an amazing bonding experience, where I connected to Israel and my fellow teammates through basketball. Being in the Jewish Homeland, playing basketball and visiting the holy sites, was an experience that will stay with me for many years to come. Are there any experiences that stand out as you think back on your participation in the Games? All the players from the 2010 Baltimore games returned for the Israel trip. We were all great CENTER SCENE EDITORIAL STAFF Amanda M. Goldstein Communications & Marketing Director Mauricio Garcia Production Artist/Design Andrea Kronzek Editor Molly Rosenberg Advertising Manager friends and traveling together made it an even better experience. What has been your favorite part of the Games? My favorite part of the JCC Maccabi Games was meeting Jewish kids from all over the world. Having both the Jewish and sports connection with the other athletes was a perfect way of speaking a “common language.” Please talk about the friendships you have made through the JCC Maccabi Games. Some of the boys I knew from before the games, others I met through the team. But in all cases we became closer friends because of the shared experience. In addition, our coaches were fantastic and taught us so much. What impact has your participation in the JCC Maccabi program had on your life? Participating in the JCC Maccabi Games was a great way to bond with other Jewish athletes. For example, at the opening ceremonies of the JCC Maccabi Games at Madison Square Garden in 2009, the daughter of an Israeli athlete who Center Scene, the magazine of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, is issued monthly from September through June. The Center is a member of the Jewish Community Centers Association of North America, a beneficiary agency of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and 1 6125 Montrose Road • Rockville, MD 20852 • jccgw.org • 301.881.0100 It’s probably safe to say that at any given time, someone from Daphne Alexander Halpern and Irwin Halpern’s family can be found at the JCCGW. Members for 15 years, Daphne and Irwin frequent the Health & Fitness Center and attend concerts and films here. Daphne’s parents, Miriam and Yonah Alexander, have been active JCCGW members for years. Daphne and Irwin’s children Alex and Joel (12th grade and 9th grade, respectively, at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School) have taken Tae Kwon Do lessons with Master Mark Malakoff at the JCCGW , have attended the Camp JCC sports program, and have played in various sports leagues at the Center. With such a history, it is clear that Alex and Joel have been eminently qualified to represent our Center for the past few years at the JCC Maccabi Games®, an Olympics-style event for Jewish youth between the ages of 13 and 16, with Alex on the basketball team and Joel on the soccer team. Although the JCC Maccabi Games are always a meaningful and memorable experience, they were particularly so this year for Alex and the other members of the Team Greater Washington basketball delegation who traveled to Israel to compete. Please read on for some of Alex’s reflections on his JCC Maccabi Games experiences. was killed during the Munich Olympic Games in 1972 spoke to us about her father. It was a very moving speech and made us appreciate and understand the link between Jewish athletes all over the world. What advice would you give to a teen who is thinking about participating in the JCC Maccabi Games? I would encourage all Jewish teens to participate in the JCC Maccabi Games. Take the opportunity if it is presented to you. It will be a very rewarding experience. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know? The JCC Maccabi Games are a fantastic experience. The leadership skills and athletic training from the coaches will take you very far! For more about the JCC Maccabi Games, please see page 7. receives support from the United Way and Combined Federal Campaigns. For advertising information, contact Molly Rosenberg at 301.348.3725 or mrosenberg@jccgw.org. Center Scene assumes no responsibility for the kashrut status of products advertised.
center LEADERSHIP OFFICERS Scott M. Cohen, President Bradley Stillman, Vice President for Administration/Treasurer Mindy Berger, Vice President for Development Heidi Hookman Brodsky, Vice President for Member & Guest Services Randi K. Meyrowitz, Vice President for Program Abbe D. Lowell, Vice President & General Counsel Robyn Judelsohn, Secretary Darryl Shrock, Assistant Secretary Andrew P. Shulman, Assistant Treasurer Robert G. Epstein, Ombudsperson EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Rick Cantor • Felicia K. Gottdenker Matthew Weinberg • Michael E. Winer Daniel H. Abramowitz Gilly Arie Brent Berger, M.D. Robert I. Black Nathan Bortnick Andrew Bridge Monique Buckles Andrew Chod The Honorable Brian Feldman The Honorable Douglas F. Gansler Barbara Goldberg Goldman Amy Guberman David S. Bender Stuart Bindeman Bernard Forseter Greg Friedman Toni Goodman Eric Kassoff Michael Kay Mark Lerner Jeffrey Linowes Morris Cafritz z”l Marcella E. Cohen The Honorable Stuart E. Eizenstat Barry P. Forman Rosalie B. Gerber z”l Michael S. Gildenhorn Col. Julius Goldstein z”l Simon Hirshman z”l Lesley Israel Rosalyn Levy Jonas Edward H. Kaplan Joel S. Kaufman z”l Harry King z”l Fred Kogod z”l Robert P. Kogod Samuel Lehrman Harry M. Linowes BOARD OF DIRECTORS COUNCIL OF ADVISORS PAST PRESIDENTS Neil Gurvitch Nancy Jacobson Andrea Felzer Marmon Brian Pearlstein Sandy Perlstein Arthur Polott Adam Polsky Helen Rubin Andrew Sachs David Shapiro David Waghelstein Samantha Wasserman Sharon Zissman Lawrence Mann Alan Meltzer Pamela Nadell, Ph.D. Howard Ross Julie Silver Kathy Sklar Marc Solomon Susan Zuckerman Steven D. Lustig Philip N. Margolius Col. Benjamin Ourisman z”l Sydney M. Polakoff Richard B. Reff, M.D. Leo Schlossberg z”l Burnett Siman z”l Beth C. Sloan Charles E. Smith z”l Andrew M. Stern John D. VerStandig Bernard M. Weisz Bernard S. White z”l Morton H. Wilner z”l Donald E. Wolpe z”l of blessed memory EXECUTIVE TEAM Michael Feinstein, Chief Executive Officer Ruth E. Carski, Chief Financial Officer Tracey E. Dorfmann, Chief Program Officer Amy I. Gantz, Chief Operating Officer Tasha Museles, Chief Development Officer Amanda M. Goldstein, Communications & Marketing Director Yvette Segev, Membership & Guest Services Director When I saw the photograph below in its current condition, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. The last time I had seen it, it was hanging in the Goldman Art Gallery as part of Elaine Hoffman’s beautiful and moving exhibit “Slices of Life through the Lens of an Artist,” which presents an intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary people through photographs. I could not fathom the degree of hatred that led to the destruction of this photo, as well as the destruction of another photo that also depicted a Muslim woman. I certainly couldn’t comprehend that this heinous act was committed by a member of our community in the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington. And I was even more bewildered that the incident took place on Erev Simchat Torah before a joyous worship service to celebrate the giving of the Torah, a holiday on which we read that we are all created b’tzelem elohim—in the image of God. Yes, I am appalled. I am appalled that it happened, and that it happened here. I recognize that the person who committed this act does not represent our community in any way. But I am shocked that even though the act was witnessed, no one interceded or immediately reported it. Our tradition rejects standing idly by, just as it rejects the crime itself. NOVEMBER 2011 Let’s Stand Together against Intolerance Message from Michael Michael Feinstein, CEO We just stood in synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, to confess our sins and ask forgiveness. “For the sin which we have committed before You in passing judgment…For the sin we have committed before You by causeless hatred.” The rabbis tell us that our confessions are in the plural because if we didn’t commit the sin, someone in the community did, and the sin of one is the sin of all. We are one community. Hatred has no place in our Jewish community and certainly has no place in our Jewish Community Center. We are outraged when something like this is done TO us. We need to be just as outraged when something like this is done BY us. As a community we must have a zero-tolerance policy for these types of acts. As a community center we stand firm against intolerance and we honor our core value of Kavod Ha-briot— respecting the dignity of every person. Our mission is to connect the people our Jewish community with each other, Israel and the broader community. That is exactly what the photo exhibit was about and what the artist tried to do. That is what the Center will continue to do and we know that you will support us in that effort. Receive a FREE Month of Membership Just by Introducing a Friend to the Center! Do you have friends, colleagues or family members who you think might be interested in joining the JCCGW? Tell them to stop for the grand tour and to hear about all we have to offer! For each of your referrals (maximum of three) who joins the JCCGW as a full-facility member for at least three months, you earn a free month of membership (maximum of three free months). Your referral(s) must mention your name upon joining. This offer, which expires November 30, 2011, is not valid with any other promotions. For more information, call the membership office at 301.348.3800. 2
Page 1: Cover Photo: Susan Stillman and Lee
Page 5 and 6: center JEWISH FAMILY LIVING & LEARN
Page 7 and 8: 2011 GREATER WASHINGTON JEWISH SPOR
Page 9 and 10: From Head to Toe, We’ve Got You C
Page 11 and 12: 42 nd Annual Book Festival Author E
Page 13 and 14: Dazzling Violinist Caroline Gouldin
Page 15 and 16: center CAMP, YOUTH, TWEENS & TEENS
Page 17 and 18: Our Gift to You; Your Gift to Futur
Page 19 and 20: center NOVEMBER 2011 CALENDAR TUESD

basketball player alex halpern travels an all-star celebration!

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?