Israel Donates Tourist Gifts, T-shirts, Fight Terrorism Stickers to Maccabiah
By Frank Rosen
Israel News Agency
Tel Aviv----July 11.....As hundreds of Jewish athletes descend upon Israel for the 17th Maccabiah Games, Israel is putting out the welcome mat with a wide array of tourist gifts including hats, t-shirts, polo shirts, Israel flags, IDF uniforms, pins and bumper stickers that read "Support Israel - Fight Terrorism."
"Israel is now experiencing the worst economic days of her history, yet we retailers can still find the resources to donate to the Maccabiah Games athletes," said Andy Hauerstock owner of the Crazy Richards tourism store in Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv.
"Since 1981, my store has donated a substantial amount of supplies to pay for the uniforms of Maccabiah teams coming from the US, France, Canada, Germany, Australia, England, Italy and Spain. We also buy and sell uniforms for the various teams which include many sports such as softball, football, soccer, swimming, basketball and track and field."
This
week the 17th Maccabiah Games in Israel will commence, with sporting
events taking place from July 11-21.
The Maccabiah Games are often referred to as the "Jewish Olympics,"
which are held every four years in Israel. It is among the world's largest
showcases for amateur sport and the definition of Jewish sports.
The first Maccabiah, took place in 1932 and was a relatively modest affair with 390 athletes from 14 countries (including Syria and Egypt). Since then, the games have grown significantly. Some 7,000 athletes from 55 countries are scheduled to participate this year in Israel. The American contingent, with some 800 athletes and more than 1,200 people overall, comprises the largest delegation to the Games. Below are some of those to look out for.
The 17th Maccabiah will get under way today as 14 sports commence competition. The highlight should be at the Wingate Institute's swimming pool, where the first medals of the 17th Games will be handed out. In both men's and women's, the 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and 200m backstroke will all be decided. Elsewhere the first round of the men's Stableford will take place at the Caesarea Golf Club. Lawn Bowls gets under way in Netanya and Ra'anana. The racquet sports, squash and tennis, will also be taking place: squash in Tel Aviv and tennis all day in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem will also see the start of the chess competition. Balls will be thrown, passed, hit, shot and kicked up and down the country. Rugby matches at the Wingate Institute will include Australia taking on USA, Great Britain meeting South Africa and host Israel playing Canada. At Hadar Yosef, Israel plays India and South Africa faces England in open cricket while in youth cricket at Ashdod, Australia meets South Africa and Israel plays England.
The
Maccabiah has witnessed many moments of joyful tears, but only eight
years ago tragedy struck.
"This trip was one of reconciliation, one that represents real closure
for many of us," said Adam Zines, the son of one of four Australian
athletes who met their deaths as a result of the collapse of a foot
bridge at the opening ceremony of the 15th Maccabiah. He spoke at the
site of the tragedy in Ramat Gan, Israel during the dedication on Friday
of the Bridge of Remembrance commemorating Yetty Bennett, Greg Small,
Elizabeth Sawicki and Warren Zines, who had all been members of the
Australian Maccabiah team.
Zines was ready to forgive, but not to forget. "We recognize the olive branch extended by the Maccabi World Union, and we can forgive, but we can never forget what happened or how we were treated in the aftermath," he said. While disappointed with the way that the Maccabi World Union had acted on occasion, Zines said the time had come to move on. Zines praised the courage and strength of 69 athletes of the 15th Maccabiah who returned to participate in the 17th Maccabiah.
"We have many tourists and athletes entering our store from the Maccabiah Games," said Hauerstock. "We know that they are here not so much to compete but to illustrate their support for Israel. In kind, our store is operating overtime to customize T-shirts and hats for these athletes. Among the t shirts which are among the most popular are the IDF army navy surplus gear, shirts which shout out New York Yankees and Chicago Braves in Hebrew, and our collection of Tel Aviv Maccabi football and basketball t-shirts."
Hauerstock, who made Aliya to Israel from Montreal in 1979 at the age of 26, was first involved in commercial and tourist aviation in Israel. He was responsible for selling seats on aircraft which would take tourists from Tel Aviv to the Sinai. "I was hit hard by the first "disengagement" that Israel under took when she left the Sinai. But I soon found work in IDF army and navy collectibles. The business became so successful that I eventually opened two stores in Tel Aviv. "
With tourism at an all time low in Israel, Hauerstock has turned to the Internet to sell his customized t-shirts, hats, pins, Israel Defense Forces sweatshirts, videos, army coats, uniforms and keychains. "We are truly an Internet e-commerce success story," says Hauerstock. "A close friend of mine watched sadly as I closed one of my stores in Tel Aviv due to the lack of tourists frightened away by terror attacks. As the creator of Israel's first Web site in 1995 he suggested that I go on-line to sell my army navy t-shirts to the world. I ignored his advice. But then as my second store started to suffer I gave it a chance in 1997 and quickly found that I was overwhelmed with orders for t-shirts, hats, and anything that said Israel on it. I have to thank my wife Bat Sheva for creating and maintaining our Israel sports and army / navy gifts Websites which have now become our primary source of bread and butter."
Today, one can see this smiling Canadian greeting each and every customer who walks into his tourist gifts store in Dizengoff Center. While Andy shakes hands with those from the US, Canada, Australia, France and England, one can see a line of bags piled up next to the counter. Bags full of Israel and Jewish army surplus IDF t-shirts, sweatshirts, souvenirs, Judaica, fashion jewelry, patches, DVD's, baseball caps, jackets, pins, keychains, calendars, dead sea cosmetics, Israel flags and memorabilia all waiting to go to the post office for a supporter of Israel who is only a click away.
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