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LEGENDS OF THE MACCABIAH TO BE HONORED IN NEW YORK CITY

Philadelphia, PA, October 19, 2018 – Maccabi USA will recognize 20 honorees as Legends of the Maccabiah at a Brunch on Sunday, December 9, in New York, New York. All the honorees were selected for the significant contributions they have made to the Maccabi Movement as athletes, volunteers, and supporters. This Legends event allows Maccabi USA to publicly recognize these honorees and to raise much-needed funds that will ensure all qualified Jewish athletes have the opportunity to participate in the Maccabiah Games in Israel.

The Honorees are:

  • Lorraine Abramson of Blessed Memory, formerly of New York who represented South Africa and the USA as a Track and Field athlete at the 1961-1973 Maccabiah Games
  • Richard Abramson of Blessed Memory, formerly of New York who represented the USA as a Swimmer at the 1961-1965 Maccabiah Games
  • Jeff Agoos, New York who represented the USA as a Soccer player at the 1985-1989 Maccabiah Games and a member of the US Men’s National Soccer Team
  • Steve Berliner, New York, who represented the USA as a Squash athlete at the 1993, 2005, and 2017 Maccabiah Games and a Tennis athlete at the 1997 Maccabiah Games, and is a member of the organization’s Executive Committee and Endowment Committee
  • Daniel Bukantz of Blessed Memory, formerly of Sarasota, FL who represented the USA as a Fencer at the 1950 Maccabiah Games and won the national singles championship in foil at the 1949, 1952, 1953, and 1957 Olympic Games
  • Jeff Bukantz, Montville, NJ who represented the USA as a Fencer at the 1981-1993 Maccabiah Games, a Golfer at the 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games and 2015 European Maccabi Games, and is the current President of the organization
  • Ron Carner, New York who is the immediate past President of the organization, former Vice President of Maccabi World Union, and continues to be a strong supporter and advocate for Maccabi USA
  • Mim Chappell-Eber, Plainfield, NJ who represented the USA as a Field Hockey athlete at the 1993-2005 Maccabiah Games, the 1995 and 2007 Pan American Maccabi Games, the 2006 Australia Games, and the 2011 European Maccabi Games
  • Mike Hartman, Hoboken, NJ who represented the USA as an Ice Hockey athlete and coach at the 1997 Maccabiah Games and a member of the New York Rangers winning team at the 1994 Stanley Cup Championships
  • Jane Katz, New York who represented the USA as a Swimmer at the 1957-1961, 1977, 1993-1997, 2005-2017 Maccabiah Games, 1999 and 2007 Pan American Maccabi Games, 2011 European Maccabi Games, and competed as a member of the United States Synchronized Swimming Performance Team at the 1964 Olympics
  • Tahl Leibovitz, Queens, NY who represented the USA as a Table Tennis athlete at the 1997 and 2013 Maccabiah Games, a US Olympic Qualifier in Table Tennis, has played in five Paralympic Games, and won his first gold medal at the 1996 Paralympic Games
  • Semyon Pinkhasov, New York who represented the USA as a Fencing Coach at the 1981-1985 Maccabiah Games and served as Head Coach at the 1984 United States Olympic Fencing Team
  • Marc Rosenberg, Morristown, NJ who represented the USA as a Basketball player at the 1981, 1993-1997 Maccabiah Games, and the 1995 Pan American Maccabi Games, and is a member of the organization’s Executive Committee
  • Fred Schoenfeld, New York has been an active volunteer, leader, and supporter of Maccabi USA
  • Sam Sporn, Brooklyn, NY who represented the USA as a Tennis player at the 1981-1993, 2004-2013 Maccabiah Games, 1983, 1995, 2003-2007 Pan American Maccabi Games, and who serves as Regional VP on the organization’s Executive Committee and Endowment Committee
  • Alex Sternberg, Woodsburgh, NY who represented the USA as a Karate athlete at the 1977, 1985-1989, 2001-2017 Maccabiah Games, the 1979-1983 Pan American Maccabi Games, and is a member of the organization’s Board
  • Stuart Weitzman, Greenwich, CT who represented the USA as a Table Tennis athlete at the 2005-2017 Maccabiah Games and is a strong supporter of the organization
  • Toni Wortman, East Northport, NY who served as President of the organization from 2001-2009, is a Yakir Award Winner, and former Vice President of Maccabi World Union
  • Wally Wortman, East Northport, NY who has been an active volunteer, leader, and support of Maccabi USA, and currently serves as a Regional VP on the organization’s Executive Committee
  • Ethan Zohn, New York who represented the USA as a Soccer player at the 1997 Maccabiah Games and the 2003 Pan American Maccabi Games

There are still sponsorship opportunities available for the Legends Brunch. All funds raised are used to support the projects and programs of Maccabi USA. For more information or to attend, please contact Dan Kurtz at 215.561.6900 x4158 or via email at dkurtz@maccabiusa.com.

About the organization:

Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The Organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, and the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.

MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities.  It strives to provide Jewish athletes all over the world the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings.  MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport.  Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.

Maccabi USA is a U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Multi-Sport Organization (MSO). The Organization is one of 38 MSOs nationwide to be recognized by the USOC for its ability to cultivate a national interest in sport and increase opportunities for participation internationally, nationally and at the grassroots level, and is rated as a four-star non-profit by Charity Navigator.

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