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January 23, 2004/Tevet 29 5764, Vol. 56, No. 18
Many countries, one faithValley residents represent United States at Pan-Am Maccabi Games
JENNIFER GOLDBERG
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 More than 2,000 athletes took the field during the opening ceremonies. Athletes from 19 countries participated in this year's games. Photo courtesy of Julie and Dan Witenstein |
The crowd at the opening ceremonies of the Pan-Am Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile, watched as 2,000 Jewish athletes from 19 countries marched around the stadium carrying banners and flags.
"You are an inspiration to the Maccabi movement, particularly in hard times," Jeanne Futeran, president of Maccabi World Union, told the athletes during the ceremony. "This great celebration is about being Jewish together and it speaks volumes for our world Jewish community."
Eight Valley residents attended the games, which took place Dec. 24-Jan. 4, as part of the U.S. delegation: Shelby Kahn (gymnastics), Franklin Lewkowitz (doctor), Karen Lewkowitz (nurse), Noah Lewkowitz (soccer), Marc Skier (bowling), Brina Weissman (gymnastics), Dan Witenstein (gymnastics coach) and Julie Witenstein (gymnastics manager).
In Karen and Franklin Lewkowitz's role as medical staff for the Masters (over 35) and Mission (non-competing attendee) groups, they stayed in the same hotel as their charges and participated in many of the same activities. Karen says that the couple put in many hours attending to the needs of the athletes.
"We were sort of on-call," Karen explains. "At the other hotel where the rest of the athletes stayed, they had a clinic that was open one-and-a-half hours every morning, and we went over three times and staffed that for them." The Lewkowitzes were also stationed at different event venues in case of emergency, which allowed them to see their son Noah compete with the Men's Open (all ages) soccer team.
The couple brought pharmacy samples from Franklin's office to work with during the Games and donated the leftovers to local medical facilities.
For the Witensteins, who also attended World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 1989, these Maccabi Games were particularly satisfying: The couple, who owns Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics Center in Phoenix, coached the U.S. gymnastics team to a gold medal.
"They did exceptionally well," Dan says. "More importantly, they were good ambassadors for the U.S. They were friendly with everyone, signed autographs for the kids and brought gifts to trade and give away. They definitely did us proud."
Local team members Kahn and Weissman were also successful in the individual competitions. In the all-around competition, Kahn was second and Weissman fourth against all the competing gymnasts. Kahn also took first in two events, floor and beam.
"It was an amazing experience," says Kahn. "It was the best time of my life."
In between competitions, athletes and volunteers alike had ample opportunity to explore Santiago and its environs.
The U.S. attendees were treated to a dinner and entertainment in Castillo Hidalgo, a 16th-century building; a half-day tour of Santiago; and a full-day tour of the surrounding countryside, including the Tarapaca winery. On New Year's Eve, a South American-style celebration raged until the wee hours of the morning. Other available activities included hiking excursions into the Andes foothills, side trips to Easter Island and more.
Just as impressive as the Chilean scenery was the security surrounding the Games.
"We had the best security that country had to offer," Julie recalls. "It was the biggest event Chile had ever hosted, and from the moment we got off the airplane, there was security every step of the way."
Karen says, "It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. We had anti-terrorist police escorts. Everyone who entered the hotel had to go through a metal detector and was subject to a bag search."
The participants also wore special credentials that were scanned for entrance to sports venues and to the Estadio Israeleta Maccabeo (EIM), the main Jewish center in Santiago and the site of Maccabi events, meals and athletic events.
Although the thousands of Maccabi competitors were drawn together in the name of sport, the camaraderie and comfort of being with so many other Jews was the best part of the experience for some.
"The sports are somewhat secondary," says Julie. "The whole reason for the games is bringing Jews together through sport, but having the Jews together is really what the games are all about."
Dan encourages Jewish kids to come to Maccabi Games because "the experience of meeting so many Jewish people from all over the world is great for them. They will have long-lasting relationships from being a participant."
In fact, Weissman has "already been keeping in touch" with the people she's met. "I didn't think there were that many Jews in the world," she says.
Contact the writer at jennifer_goldberg@jewishaz.com.