Sports Correspondent

Families often get chances to take memorable trips, but the Meltzers of Bethesda are really doing something special this summer ‹ they're going to Israel to take part in and watch the Maccabiah Games.

Alan Meltzer is one of the open wrestling co-chairs for the American team, and two of his children are going to be involved with teams. Max Meltzer, his son and an assistant wrestling coach, will also compete while Liz Meltzer, his daughter, will serve as the assistant rowing coach.

In addition, Alan Meltzer said his whole family is headed to Israel (with all four of his kids) to watch the games, take some tours and have some fun.

"I've been there many, many times," Alan Meltzer said. "To me, it's just an amazing place. The atmosphere is just fantastic."

Meltzer said he'll get to watch a lot of the sports that involve Liz and Max, but he'll also have a chance to do plenty with his other kids and family, seeing the wonders of Israel.

"I'll spend more time with the kids who aren't participating," he said.

That's understandable because Liz and Max will be rather busy. Now in her fourth year as the head rowing coach at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., Liz Meltzer is the school's director of rowing and oversees both the men's and women's teams.

But she's excited to be heading for Israel and working with that team and getting a chance to enjoy it with her family.

"I am honored and excited to be the assistant coach for the rowing team at the Maccabiah Games," Liz Meltzer said. "Adding to an already amazing experience will be that I can enjoy the time with my father and brother."

She'll be working with the athletes as they prepare to compete in Tel Aviv next month. Meltzer also said she's looking forward to working with and learning from coach Craig Hoffman, someone she respects a lot.

Max Meltzer might be even busier than his sister. He won a gold medal while wrestling in the 2005 Maccabiah Games and is going to try for another one. He won gold in the 66 kg division then and will compete in the 74 kg (163 pounds) class this time.

"It was a very special time for us [in 2005]," he said. "It was a very special trip."

But this time could be more special. Max Meltzer said he and his father wanted to be involved in all facets of building a team, just like his sister did with rowing.

Max, who wrestled for the Bullis School in Potomac and Blair Academy in Blairtown, N.J., during high school before taking the mat for Harvard in college, lives in Hoboken, N.J., and works in finance in New York. He said that having other family members involved will make these games interesting.

"I think it adds a whole [different] level," said Max Meltzer. "Last time, it was more of an individual experience. I think it's going to add significance. I think it's going to be unifying for us as a family. We've never competed behind the same banner before. This is something that kind of ties us together."

Alan Meltzer is very proud of his children and very happy to show them more about their Jewish heritage and going to Israel will help.

"[Israel] never ceases to amaze me and makes me proud of my Jewish heritage and background," Meltzer said. "It's something to behold."

Also in other Maccabiah Games news, Rabbi Irwin Kula has been appointed as Team USA's Rabbi.

Kula will be the Americans' spiritual advisor during the games, which take place in Israel from July 12-24. Overall, about 8,000 athletes from more than 60 countries are set to take part ‹ with more than 900 coming from the United States.

Softball playoffs begin

The Suburban Maryland Synagogue Men's Softball League will start its playoffs next weekend.

The large number of rainouts the league had to battle this year forced it to go to two playoff schedules. The top 16 teams will be in one group while there will be another for the other eight teams that didn't make the cut.

For the top 16 teams, the championship game is set for July 26 as the winners bracket victor takes on the team that survived the losers bracket.

Temple Isaiah of Fulton won the regular season with a 12-2 record and earned the top seed in the playoffs.

Israeli baseball's

local angle

Shlomo Menachem Lipman, a former Silver Spring resident, was recently named as a starter for the Israeli National Little League team.

The 12-year old played a big role in helping his Bet Shemesh team to the top record in his league as a starting pitcher. They went 10-1-1 and gave up just 43 runs.

The Israeli team heads to Italy in August to play in the European championships.

Shlomo started playing baseball in the Wheaton Recreational League at the age of 4. He played in that league for three years before moving to Israel.

In Italy, the team will be spending Shabbat in the town of Sienna where they'll be praying in a shul that's not in use any longer ‹ another good learning experience.