The Magaziners are veterans when it comes to the JCC Maccabi Games.
For nearly a decade, the family has participated in the games as players, coaches and volunteers.
So when the opportunity came for the family to host visiting athletes, they immediately took advantage.
“We wanted to have an opportunity to open up our home and our hearts and showcase our community,” Suzanne Magaziner said. “We have delegations from all over the world here.”
The Magaziner family is hosting a group of athletes from Orange County, Calif. Orange County is one of a few teams from California to travel coast-to-coast for the Maccabi Games.
Having participated in the games for a number of years, the Magaziners have traveled to various other games in the United States. Suzanne’s son Ethan was formerly a player and is now an assistant baseball coach for Team South Jersey. Her younger son Noah is on the Team South Jersey basketball team.
The kids have stayed with various host families when playing in past games. The experience was incredible. Suzanne said they remain in contact with some of the past host families.
“You sometimes develop lifelong relationships with these kids,” she said.
Marcia Newfield shares the same thoughts. Newfield’s family hosted two boys from Chicago the last time the games were in Cherry Hill in 1999.
“Fifteen years later, we’re still in touch with the kids,” Newfield said.
The connection between the families and the athletes begins before they arrive. Suzanne said the family contacted the Orange County athletes in the weeks leading up to the games to get to know them.
“We like to find out what they like to eat and what they want to have in the house,” Suzanne said. “We want them to have everything they need so they feel as comfortable as they can in our house.”
Suzanne also helped to bring various host families together in an event on Tuesday night. With Tuesday designated as a “Host Family Night” for the athletes, Suzanne organized a backyard barbecue.
As word got out and other host families heard about the get-together, excitement grew. The laid-back barbecue turned into a party at Woodcrest Country Club. Suzanne said more than 100 people were going to be in attendance.
The large number of athletes and families attending the event was exciting to Suzanne. She said the athletes look forward to making friends from across the country and around the world.
“The kids love to hang out together and meet other kids,” she said. “This is why we’re all here.”
Unlike in 1999, the Newfields did not host any athletes this year. However, Marcia has been able to connect with athletes from a different venue. For the 2014 games, she volunteered to serve on the hospitality team. Sitting in the middle of a bustling hallway at Eastern Regional High School, Newfield said her role on the hospitality team has allowed her to meet people from all over the country in a whole different way.
“I never thought it would happen here again,” she said with a smile.
Suzanne said the games have been successful in promoting friendship and unity among the visiting athletes and local members of the community. She feels Cherry Hill and all of South Jersey has forged a remarkable relationship with the visitors.
“It’s great for this community to come together and showcase what it is all about,” she said.
