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'f gat paid for doing a fob' Jewish hockey star doesn't want tag as 'Jewish athlete' B«rni« Wolfe is a bit of a novelty among American Jewry, He is the only Jewish player in major league hockey. And as such, his interviews with the Jewish press usually include questions such as, “Have you en countered any anti-Semitism in sports?” "What is your involve ment in Jewish affairs?” and “How often do you attend syn agogue?” Wolfe answers them with dis arming honesty. “I don’t think of myself as a Jewish hockey player,” says the goalie for the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals. “What’s the difference? I have two hands, two legs. I find the question (about him as a 'Jewish athlete’) strange. I only get ask ed it by Jewish newspapers.” The 25-year-old Montreal native told the Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh, “I don’t get paid any more or any less because I’m Jewish. I get paid for doing a job playing goal. The only people that ever really consider me a Jewish hockey player are reporters. I consider myself a hockey player.” But Wolfe is aware of his pop ularity among Jewish sports fans, and like most professional athletes, he enjoys the recogni tion. “Everybody knows I’m Jewish, and I get lots of my fan mail from young Jewish kids. I’m sure they identify with me,” he said. According to Wolfe, he is pop ular among Jewish fans in- Washington because he is the only Jewish athlete there. He makes frequent public appearances “in temples, in churches, in other community centers.” About 50 per cent of his fan mail is from Jewish fans, he estimated; he is invited to area Jewish homes for the holidays, and he is asked fre quently to speak at Jewish func tions. "They think it’s great that I’m Jewish.” But among most fans, he said, “If I’m considered a hero, it’s not because of my religion.” During a game between the Capitals and the Los Angeles Kings shortly after Wolfe joined the team in 1975, he was given several standing ovations. After the game, according to the Washington Post, “hundreds of fans gathered around the Telescreen interview area, cheering interviewee Wolfe so loudly that announcer Marv Brooks was forced to request quiet.” In his two seasons with the , NHL, Wolfe has set team records for goals-against- average, consecutive scoreless minutes and shots-stopped percentage. Wolfe started playing hockey at the age of seven in “park leagues" in Montreal. “I always wanted to play goal.” His father had played goaltender on a Canadian Army team. Wolfe’s parents encouraged him to play sports, he said. (He played football, baseball and golf in high school.) But few , other Jewish boys played in his park ''l^W'Thg' ‘MttMTfWr- Beraie Wolfe (inset) and in action. that, he said, is “the way Jewish people are brought up.” “Jewish parents try to keep their kids away from contact sports. A mother doesn’t want her son to go out and get knock ed around. My parents let me do as 1 pleased.” Wolfe played four years for Montreal’s Sir George Williams University which he led to the collegiate hockey championship of Canada in 1974. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree; he has considered studying for a Master’s of Business Ad ministration degree at the University of Maryland during the off season, but has “hardly any free time.” ' Wolfe told the Washington Jewish Week he and his wife have little opportunity to attend synagogue. Because of the play ing schedule, he said, it would be PAINT YOUR HOUSE NOW!! by American Painters A Contractors 3300 Buckeye Rd. 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FOURTH COURSE choice of six entrees: 6.66 PRIME RIBS OF BEEF COLOSSAL FRED SIRUP BROILED mm STEAK ALASKAN KMC CRAB LEGS RIO EYE STEAK WHOLE ROAST CHICKEN CHOICE OF BUTTERED BROCCOLI OR FIFTH COURSE FR£NCH FRIES. OR BAKED POTATO (Butter or Sour Cream w/chives) SIXTH COURSE CANDIMINT SUNDAE or DESSERT BUFFET OPEN SUNDAY Brunch —11 a.m. til 4 p.m. Dinner — 4 p.m. til 9 p.m “very, hard” for an observant Jew to be a hockey player. “If you’re going to be religious, you can’t do it halfway.” He and bis wife “acknowledge the holidays.” The Jewish presa often asks Wolfe if he encounters anti- Semitism in sports. “No,” he told the Pittsburgh Jewish newspaper, “there’s no problem.” He said professional athletes only have winning on their minds.” The only other Jews who have played in the NHL recently are Ross Brooks and Mike Veisor; both are retired. Wolfe may not outrightly identify himself as a “Jewish hockey player,” but out of con sideration to his Jewish fans, he wouldn’t argue otherwise. IntertnounUin Jewish News Atlanta Division FAMILY LIFE SEMES CO-SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA JEWISH COMMUNITY GOITER AND THE JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S BUREAU IRTR00UCT0RY ASSERTIVENESS TRAIRIR6 Begins: Thursday. April 21 (4 weeks) Time: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Instructors: Dr. George R. Warsaw Dr. Richard Blue Fee: $26.00 Center Member $35.00 Non-Center Member Limit: 20 OUR BODIES - OURSELVES - TEENAGE SEXUALITY This six week workshop will locus on enhancing salt aware ness as sexual beings, and Increasing understanding ol members of the opposite sex. For teenagers 15-17 years ol age. Begins: Wednesday, April 27th Time: 4:30-6:00 p.m. Instructors: Steve Qerson, MSW Intern worker, JFCB Rhode Mergolis, MSW/CSW, JFCB staff Fee: $10.00 plus $6.00 material fee Limit 20 PARENTAL SIGNA TURE REQUIRED A T OPENING SESSION. Introductory meeting tor parents on Tuesday, April 26th at 7:30 p.m. CONFLICT RESOLUTION How to Recognize and Constructively Deel with Conflicts at Home and at Work. Begins: Wednesday, April 20th, (4 weeks) Tima: 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Instructors: Ira L. Tadotf, Ph.D, Clinical Psychologist Gwen Enfield. MSW, JFCB-Co-ordlnetor Fee: $25.00 Center Member $30.00 Non-Center Member Limit 14 JEWISH HOLIDAYS IN THE HOME; A VALUES APPROACH Begins: Monday, April 25th Time: 2.-00-3:30 p.m. Instructor Rabbi Meyer Weiner Fee: $10.00 per Individual for Center Member $16.00 per Individual for Non-Center Member $15.00 per couple for Center Member $20.00 per couple for Non-Center Member Limit 20 FOR FURTHER MFORMATNM CONTACT JER LEVISON AT THE AJCC 00 3 00 r vrtyiu? bftr, DO a DO Page 21 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE April 15. 1977