Parents of (mostly) high school-aged students know that these offers come in the mail occasionally, playing to the emotions of those who want to give their children every opportunity to succeed (hidden motto: If you don’t spend oodles of money on these programs, you don’t love your kids and they will get into inferior colleges).

As the author of this piece in The Jerusalem Post notes, not every Jewish parent can afford to send their sons and daughters to these programs or, in this case, to the Maccabiah/Maccabi events. And that’s a shame. I’m sure there are lots of talented kids to would do well at the games, perhaps even those who have the benefits of private lessons and top-of-the-line gear, but can’t participate because they can’t cobble together the two or three grand necessary to attend. Some synagogues/JCCs/communities will hold a fundraiser here or there, but I think that’s the exception rather than the rule.

(Sorry for the JP format, it’s a bit hard to read through).

Ticket prices, ranging from $18-$100, include a Jewish Family Night T-shirt. In addition there will be a Glatt Kosher concession stand and halftime entertainment will feature the Hazamir Choir.

For ticket information, contact John Warnick at 201-635-3157 or jwarnick@njnets.com.

* * *

The news out of Dubai has been rife with speculation about who assassinated Hamas terrorist commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a local hotel.  Israeli agents and al-Mabhouh’s Palestinian rivals are high on the guess list.

But amid the who-did-it debate, a happier Dubai event was taking place. A few weeks ago, Shahar Peer became the first Israeli woman to compete in a professional sporting event in the United Arab Emirates.

Peer, a superb tennis player, defeated several highly ranked competitors on her way to the semifinal round of the annual Dubai championships. The 22-year-old then lost to American star Venus Williams, who went on reclaim the title she had won the previous year. But no less significant was Peer’s stunning performance and how she got there in the first place.

Her appearance was a year overdue. Peer was part of the draw for the 2009 Dubai championships, and her name like that of the other players had been supplied to the Emirates authorities long in advance. Yet the day before the opening matches, Peer received word that the UAE had denied her a visa.

Tournament director Salah Tahlak said Peer’s presence “would have antagonized our fans” because of their opposition to Israeli policies.

In fact, 2009 was dotted with international insults to Israeli athletes. Weeks after the Dubai event, the Swedish Taekwondo Federation blocked Israeli participation in the annual championships at Trelleborg. On the eve of the tournament, 45 Israeli athletes had to cancel their flight plans.

In October, at the fencing world championships in Antalya, Turkey, the Iranian team dropped out without notice. The Iranian government forbade its fencers to compete after learning that they were in seeding brackets with Israeli athletes. Iran’s disruptive behavior drew barely a nod from the Turkish hosts.

Effrontery to Israeli delegations was not limited to athletic competitions. Two Israeli women, both research doctors, were abruptly disinvited to a conference in Egypt on breast cancer. The sponsoring organization, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, told the women that the Egyptian Health Ministry was barring them. The doctors were doubly shocked by subsequent Komen and Egyptian claims that the Israelis themselves had decided not to attend.

Neither the Swedish, Iranian, Turkish nor Egyptian authorities were seriously criticized for their misbegotten behavior. But sponsors of the Dubai tennis tournament reacted differently, and therein lies a huge lesson.

Peer responded indignantly when she was notified of her ban in 2009. Larry Scott, the chief executive of the Women’s Tennis Association Tour, echoed Peer’s assertion that politics should be kept separate from sports. After consultations among the players, and with Peer’s concurrence, the tournament was not canceled, but the Dubai authorities were hit with an avalanche of penalties.

Scott warned that if Peer were prevented from playing in Dubai in the future, “they would run the risk of losing their tournament.” Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal’s European edition dropped advertising for the 2009 event and cable television’s Tennis Channel canceled its planned coverage.

Soon after, the WTA levied a fine of $300,000 on the Dubai tournament organizers. The WTA board also demanded that the organizers post a $2 million guarantee that henceforth all players who qualified would be allowed to compete. The UAE would have to show proof of entry permission for any Israeli player at least eight weeks prior to the tournament. Further, Venus Williams said she would not play again in Dubai unless Peer were admitted to the 2010 contest.

The threat of losing the tournament and its accompanying money, attention and prestige evidently impressed the Dubai organizers. Peer’s participation in 2010 made that point even though none of her matches were on the center
court. All were relegated to an outside court with limited seating, presumably as a safety measure.

Still, Peer’s iron determination to play, and play well, drew plaudits from commentators around the world. Above all, her presence signified the ability to rectify a wrong when good people are insistent.

The Iranian fencers in 2009 were permitted to let politics trump their commitment to compete. Their Turkish hosts and fellow competitors remained stone silent rather than call for penalties for the Iranians’ blatant discrimination. Nor were the Swedish and Egyptian authorities who disinvited Israeli participants even censured, let alone penalized.

If ignored, such injustices will be repeated. Dubai 2010 demonstrated how concerted efforts can help change errant behavior.

Overseers of all these events would do well to heed Scott’s words after the UAE agreed to the WTA’s stipulations: “Thanks to the courage of Shahar, and all those individuals and organizations, including her fellow players that supported her, the UAE has changed their policy and another barrier of discrimination has fallen.”

(Leonard A. Cole is the co-chair of the Task Force on Anti-Semitism for the Jewish Agency and former chair of the Jewish Council of Public Affairs.)

First it was Kobe Bryant who expressed an interest in being Jewish. Now it seems like teammate Ron Artest is at least learning the language:

Read commentary from Korner haver Rabbi Jason Miller here.

Meanwhile Omri Casspi scored four points in a 108-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on March 5. Jordan Farmar scored an even dozen in a 98-83 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on March 5 and zero (!) in yesterday’s 96-94 defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic. The Lakers have lost three in a row for the first time in recorded history this year.

Canada Israel — “Celebrating all that is similar and unique about our two amazing countries” — ran this wrap-up on the Israeli participants in the just-completed games.

A sample:

What a great opportunity, I thought, for this pair to represent the Jewish state and show the progress it has made in the world of winter sports. I was anticipated being able to write a glowing column about Zionism, ice and pride.

I was wrong…. They looked, I’m sad to say, like they were from a community theater performance of “Fiddler on the Roof.”

(That’s what it was, I knew it looked familiar.)

The most recent podcast of Slate’s “Hang Up and Listen” also touched on it briefly in their usual pithy manner.

The brother-and-sister duo — who reside in Garfield, NJ — earned a score of 90.64 in the free dance, and a score of 180.26 overall.

They skated to music from Schindler’s List, chosen in part as a tribute to 27 family members that died in Minsk, Belarus, during the Holocaust. “The music is amazing. We just weren’t sure we could skate it or not,” Roman Zaretsky said. “I think it brought the balance — music and skating together. It doesn’t matter when you hear it, it’s the greatest music, and we wanted to try it.”

On Sunday evening, Roman Zaretsky wore a kipa as part of the skaters’ costumes as they performed their program to “Hava Nagilla.”

Prior to competing, the Zaretskys had said they hoped to break the top 10 in their Olympic finish.

Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, who is Jewish, finished in fourth place with a total score of 203.07, missing a bronze medal by four points. They won the silver medal in 2006.

Alexandra and Roman Zaretsky. Photo by Andrew Mills/Star-Ledger

]]> http://njjewishnews.com/kaplanskorner/2010/02/23/mazel-tov-zaretskys/feed/ 0 http://njjewishnews.com/kaplanskorner/2010/02/22/lets-give-em-something-to-talk-about/ http://njjewishnews.com/kaplanskorner/2010/02/22/lets-give-em-something-to-talk-about/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:03:52 +0000 Ron Kaplan http://njjewishnews.com/kaplanskorner/?p=2661 Just happened to be flipping the dial in time to catch some of the ice dancing on the Olympics, in particular, the Israeli team of Roman and Alexandra Zaretsky.

I’m kind of torn Now, I’m no follower of the “sport,” but I understand you get props from the judges on costumes and music. Still, I was a bit ambivalent by their choices, and am even bothered by that (if that makes any sense).

The Zaretskys — a brother and sister team — hit the ice in “Israeli costume” — Roman was even wearing a kipa. The commentators mentioned the duo would be performing some Israeli folk dance moves, which is fine. But did that have to pick “Hava Nagilla?” (There must be some additional lyrics to the tune, because some of the words sound unfamiliar). Can we be anymore stereotypical? (more including a link to the video of the routine, here. Blogger Uriel Heilman wrote, “I wasn’t sure if it was fair to groan when I saw their cliched choice of costume and song — after all, performers from other countries also chose traditional folk songs that may have been no less cliched than “Hava Nagilla” — but I felt vindicated when I learned of their song choice for their final performance Monday night: Theme music from Schindler’s List.”)

By the way, the Zaretskys finished in tenth place, which, all countries considered, strikes me as pretty good. In fact, the way these things get scored, who knows, maybe they can earn a medal?

The other Jewish skate: The JTA reports that “Americans Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto, who is Jewish, were in fourth place following the compulsories. The duo won the silver medal in 2006.”

But the buzzworthy part is that four of the 23 couples in ice dancing are siblings. The Wall Street Journal addressed this in an article title, “That’s your sister?”

Sinead and John Kerr at the European Figure Skating Championships in January in Tallinn, Estonia. Ice dancing often requires partners to convey believable sizzle on ice. Photo by Reuters

Peer was not allowed to play in the tournament a year ago when she was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates government, citing security reasons, according to an AP story.

“Dubai organizers were fined $300,000 by the WTA for not allowing Peer to play in the event.”

Read more about Peer’s strong showing here.

Not to put too fine a line on this, but it’s difficult enough at any level to beat top-notch opponents without having to deal with other intrusions, such as politics and racism/anti-Semitism.

Take this piece, for example, submitted by loyal KK reader Ari. Remember the old cigarette ad, “Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch?” (Does anyone remember cigarette ads at all?)

Well that’s the philosophy behind the remarks of Hassan Shehata, coach of the Egyptian national soccer team, who was suggested for the similar post for the Israeli squad.

So much for sports transcending politics.

It’s not just that kind of intrigue that makes soccer amusing. Other issues are much baser. Avram Grant, coach of England’s Portsmouth Club, has been besieged by financial woes and other internal turmoils. But he’s got a good take on it: whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Israel, Rome tussle over soccer player

ROME (JTA) — Controversy has erupted over the acquisition of an 18-year-old Israeli player by Rome’s Lazio soccer team.

Eyal Golasa’s signing with Lazio was announced Sunday, but his Israeli team, Maccabi Haifa, says it still has him under contract until next year and has brought the affair to the attention of FIFA, the international soccer federation.

Media reports said Golasa signed a 4-1/2 year contract with Lazio and joined the team without Maccabi’s knowledge. They quoted Golasa as saying he signed the contract with Maccabi when he was still a minor, and since he turned 18 in October it is no longer legally binding.

After arriving in Rome, Golasa toured the city’s historic Ghetto neighborhood, stopping to visit the city’s main synagogue and Jewish Museum.

Italian sportswriters, meanwhile, noted that Golasa might run into trouble with some of Lazio’s fans, who include a far-right fringe group that has used racist and anti-Semitic slogans

Israeli flags defaced in Vancouver

Two Israeli flags that were part of an Olympic display in Vancouver were removed after being defaced.

The Israeli flags were covered in paint with the words “Free Palestine” written on them, the Vancouver Sun reported Sunday. They were removed last month.

The display on the streets of the city features 450 international flags from 80 countries.

The flags will be replaced before the start of the games, according to the Sun. Their slots are now empty.

Katz, a three-time national champion, met the International Skating Union’s standards for Olympic eligibility, but not her nation’s when she cam in 21st.

On the one hand: Her inclusion could serve as an inspiration to young Israeli athletes. How difficult must it be to excel at a winter sport in a country that’s almost perpetually in summer mode? And finishing among the best in the world is no small feat.

On the other hand: To put it in the vernacular, rules is rules. There comes a point where you know longer get props for participating, or an A for effort. This isn’t little league anymore. If the Israelis allow this, can they deny the same consideration for an athlete that finishing 18th? Sixteenth? Some countries want to win medals; others are satisfied with the pride of being there.

According to this article in the Jan. 20 New York Times,

Two weeks before the European championships in Estonia, Katz came down with a viral infection. She was off the ice for two weeks but recovered a few days before the competition. On the day of the short program Katz failed to execute her triple-lutz-double-loop combination, which would have been her highest-scoring element.

“Because of it, I missed qualification for the free program by half a point,” she said. “Had I been able to skate in the free program portion of the event, I would have been able to pull up from my current 21st position.”

Perhaps, but seven place? I hate to seem like an ogre here; the illness factor is certainly heartbreaking for Katz, but them’s the breaks.

Israel will send three athletes to Vancouver: a team of ice dancers and a skier. Way short of a minyan.

Efraim Zinger is the Secretary-General of the Israel’s Olympic Committee. according to the report, he believes the nation’s “best hopes of silverware will come in judo, wind-surfing and gymnastics.”

Does that mean he’s conceding the Gold already or is it merely a confusion in the use of jargon (silverware, hardware, bakeware, whatever)?

The new program features profiles of Maccabi Haifa forward, Davon Jefferson, a native of Southern California, and former San Diego High phenom Jeremy Tyler as they continue their acclimation to Israeli culture off the court as they are given cooking lessons on how to make Israeli delicacies, as well as a segment on American businessman and Maccabi Haifa team owner, Jeffrey Rosen, who has transformed the team into an elite squad since he took over the team three years ago. Additional featured segments include an inside look on how Maccabi Haifa’s international charity program, “Haifa Hoops for Kids,” benefits underprivileged and special needs children living in Israel.

The Maccabi Haifa basketball team is currently 7-2, ranked 29th in Europe, according to the “Top 100” ranking on Eurobasket.com. They were the surprise runner-up in the Israeli Basketball Super League last season.  This year’s team features a number of U.S. players, including Jefferson and Tyler, as well as Todd Golden, a former St. Mary’s College of California product; Jason Rich, a Florida State University standout; Jesse Pellot-Rosa of Virginia Commonwealth; and Richard Roby of the University of Colorado.

The program is hosted by Israeli actress and model Becky Griffin, and produced on location by Joseph Marc Sports (which produces shows including Yankees Magazine, Nets Magazine, and Inside Rutgers Football).

I must admit, I’ve never been much of a “football” fan, perhaps because it seems to be the most political of sports (perhaps due to the international rivalries which dredge up such relatively dark emotions).

A Beitar Jerusalem Hebrew sign with the word “Milhama” (War) is displayed at their match against Hapoel Tel Aviv.