Top Gun, the hallmark of summer, was rolling with success in its 17th annual year. With throngs of participants and volunteers ages 16-40, the tournament lived up to its name as “the summer’s signature event.” More than just a fun-filled day of tournaments and thousands of community members, it is a meaningful fundraising event whose proceeds finance our community’s children to attend many different summer camps. As Ezra Bibi and Eddie D. Sitt explained, “Top Gun is a great experience for the youth of our community to do what they love and contribute to the community at the same time.”
The setting was perfection. The gorgeous land of the Jerome’s, the delicacies of Zami Catering, a beautiful Chinese Auction and most importantly, our community’s up-beat attitude were all in attendance.
The rough economy did not stop our loyal community members! Throngs of guests attended and showed their support. Jacob I. Kassin noticed this rarity and reflected upon it, saying, “It’s nice to see that though times are tough and people are preoccupied, they still come out to support a cause that holds together the fabric of our community."
With Eli Yedid as narrator of the game, the male basketball tournament was intense and extreme! The bleachers were full of enthusiastic fans rooting for their favorite team. Ralph Mandil, head of men’s basketball, exclaimed how proud he was to be apart of Top Gun as it is surely “the original and best tournament of the summer.”
The men’s volleyball tournament was bursting with energy! Members of the winning teams are Victor Gindi, Gal Horowitz, Jonathan Benun and Daniel Haddad. Victor Gindi who won MVP rejoiced, saying, “It’s a wonderful day, and a wonderful tournament which I enjoyed immensely. I look forward to next year!” Joey Mizrahi (aka “Stick”), the head of men’s volleyball, told us, "Top Gun helps Bikur Holim endlessly support our community. The day is also a great opportunity to build new friendships."
A fervent surfing competition took place on the Kassin Beach as the dedicated Alyson and Nathan Mamiye organized the event. Athletes weren’t the only ones participating in the sports. Guests flocked to the rock-climbing and carousel with their friends and families! To top it all off, people of all ages were competing in one of our community’s favorite past-times, backgammon.
This summer, Top Gun showcased the talented female athletes of our community. From volleyball to soccer to basketball, the girls played aggressively and proudly. Vicki Ades, the head of the female basketball tournaments, said, “basketball from dawn to dusk, can’t ask for anything more! The competition was high, the weather was gorgeous and the fans were on their feet! What an amazing day!”
Caryn Lubin, part of the winning girl’s basketball team, said, “My team played awesome today; we worked hard together and had great chemistry. Hopefully we’ll win again next year!”
At the female volleyball tournament, new YOF graduates Raquel Betesh and Gali Dahan said they loved participating in the event because “We were always on the high school varsity volleyball team and now this gives us a chance to play together again.” Shirley Mamiye, who administered the women’s volleyball tournament, said, “Everyone’s having a blast doing what they love and I can’t wait till next year!”
“It’s hard work but in the end it’s all worth it,” said head of the women’s soccer tournament, Marcelle Arzt, who has put hours of planning into the event.
An event so big couldn’t possibly take place in one location—community members opened their homes and hearts to host the various tournaments. Thank you to Charles and Nancy Grazi for use of your land for the girl’s volleyball; to Caroline and Stevie Dayan for use of your land for the girl’s basketball; to Joey and Esther Jerome for use of your land for men’s basketball; and to Jack and Joyce Kassin for use of your beach for the surfing competition.
Jeffrey R. Gindi and the entire board of SBH would like to thank: Steven Novick, Chairman who ran the event with the help of JoJo Chehebar, Ezra Bibi, and Jacob I. Kassin; Ralph Mandil, basketball; Joey Mizrahi, volleyball; Vicki Ades, girl’s basketball; Shirley Mamiye, women’s volleyball; Marcelle Arzt, women’s soccer; Isaac Saayed, male soccer jerseys; Eddie Esses, Abie Hamui, men’s soccer; Robert Rezack, dodgeball; Nathan Mamiye, surfing; David Bibi, backgammon.
Beatrice Esses helped plan as well, and she did a wonderful job! Thank you, Jojo Chehebar and Marcy Franco, for a beautiful Chinese Auction. We would also like to thank our volunteers, Chuckie Beyda and Alex Torgueman, for all their help on the event; Teddy Chattah and Freda Torgueman for all their help at the Chinese Auction; Eddie D. Sitt for making sure the girl’s soccer division ran smoothly; and Ikey Arzt, David and Abraham Kassin, Mollie Elbaz and many more for all their help at the store.
Thank you, Morris Antebi, for supplying us with gorgeous photos. Another special thanks to the Long Branch fire department, police department and Hatzolah who assured everyone’s safety. Thank you to the JCC’s Shlomo.
Last but not least, we’d like to thank everyone who joined and helped continue Top Gun’s success. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
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Raquel Gabbai is a freelance writer in her last semester of Hunter College. She is studying sociology and music for voice. Raquel has performed at many community functions, and is on the SBH Future committee.
