Maccabiah Medal Winners Arrive in Israel

Ten teenagers from the Arad-Tamar region of the Negev returned home from the US with no fewer than 18 medals, including 6 golds, from the North American Youth Maccabiah Games. Competing in the tennis and swimming competitions of the games in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in late August, the young sports people were able to participate in the event thanks to the Jewish Agency's Partnership 2000 program.

"We went there for two reasons," said Matan Vaknin, 14 from Arad who won a silver medal in the 100 meters backstroke and three bronze medals in other swimming events. "We wanted to compete and to learn about Diaspora Jewish life by meeting teenagers who live in New Jersey. We successfully achieved both aims."

In all the Youth Maccabiah attracted 1,400 teenagers from across North America as well as delegations from the UK. The Israelis were able to participate because Arad-Tamar is matched with New Jersey-Delaware within the framework of Partnership 2000. So that in addition to subsidizing the flight, the Arad-Tamar competitors were able to stay in the home of families in Jewish communities of five New Jersey/Delaware regions - Central, North, Atlantic, Cherry Hill as well as Delaware.

Fifteen year old Ola Abramov, who won two gold medals in the girl's tennis singles and doubles, recounted that the most thrilling part of the week long trip was to stand on the winning podium while the Israeli flag flew and the Hatikvah was played.

"It was very exciting seeing America for the first time," said Ola. "Everything is wonderful there."

"But Arad is home and its great to be back," she added standing in the arrival hall. Abramov immigrated to Israel from Moscow, Russia with her parents when she was a small child back in 1990.

The idea for the visit was initiated and implemented by two members of the Community Leadership, Haim Straze and Iris Koslovich who are active in the Partnership 2000 in Arad. Koslovich made all the logistical arrangements and ultimately led the teenage sports delegation to New Jersey.

"From start to finish this was a marvelous experience," she observed. "The only thing which matched the excitement of seeing our participants win so many medals was the warmth of the hospitality that we received from our New Jersey and Delaware hosts."

Amir Ofer, 14, who won a gold medal in the 500 meters breastroke, a bronze medal in the 200 meters freestyle and two more bronze medals in relay events, made some good new friends in New Jersey.

"The visit certainly helped my English," he commented. "I found that the youngsters in the US led very different lives from us but at the same time we had much in common, both generally and because of our Jewishness."

Tal Azran, 14, who won a silver medal in the 200 meters medley relay added. "The bottom line was that I have never had so much fun in my life," he said. "We stayed with wonderful families, met marvelous people, made great friends and won so many medals."

September 1999