She was told of the signs posted on the entrances to the swimming pools: "Dogs and Jews are forbidden to swim here." She was also told that anti-Semitism had spread, like a disease, throughout Germany and of the hardships the German Jews were experiencing in their normal everyday lives. The year is 1935, the place is Israel and the event is the 2nd Maccabiah Games. A young girl, Judith Deutsch, a 17 year old Austrian had, been selected to represent her country in the swimming event of the equivalent of the "Jewish Olympics." She was talking with her German counterparts who were telling her what was happening in Germany at the time.

Judith Deutsch was one Austria's finest woman swimmers. She was the champion of the 100, 220 and 400 meter freestyle events. In 1935 she broke 12 national swimming records and was selected to represent Austria in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Judith had a fair chance of winning a medal for her country. "It's almost impossible for a Jew to train in any sport," the young girl from Germany told Judith, "not only swimming. We have been kicked out of schools and sports clubs. The situation is bad."
So this young Jewish girl and two others, Lucy Goldiner and Linger Lorence, all members of the Austrian Olympic team did the one thing their conscience and maturity beyond their years bade they do. They decided not to be part of "Hitler's Olympics." They protested!

In her letter of resignation to the Austrian Olympic Committee Deutsch wrote, '...I protest...as a Jew I cannot participate in the Berlin Olympic Games. My conscience does not allow me. This is a personal decision and is not to be contested. I completely understand that I am giving up my rights to participate as the Austrian contestant in the Olympic Games. I sincerely hope you will understand this decision and not pressure me to change my mind.'

Bearing in mind that Austria was Hitler's birthplace, the Austrian Olympic committee's answer was swift and brutal. Deustch was at the peak period of her swimming career. They banned her from taking part in all national and international swimming competitions for two years, and excluded her from the Olympic Games. Judith's father "saw the writing on the wall" for European Jewry, decided to emigrate to Palestine before it became to late. The family settled in Haifa, the only city with an Olympic-size swimming pool. She soon became national champion and in 1939 represented the Hebrew University in the International Student Games held in Monaco where she won a silver medal, a day before the 1939 war broke out. This is the only medal Judith kept. Meanwhile, in her absence, the Austrians stripped her of all her titles. Her name was removed from the record holders book-as if she never existed.

The story might have ended there hadn't it been for Rivka Rabinowitz, director of the Maccabi museum in Kfar Maccabi, Ramat Gan. One day in 1995 Rivka came across Judith Deutsch's photo and file in her archives. In no time, Rivka wrote a letter to Otmar Bricks, president of the Austrian Swimming League, explaining the injustice done to this young girl.

"....I blushed with shame, humiliation and rage." He replied, after reading Rivka's letter. "I am deeply ashamed of the decision they made at the time." Otmar Bricks invited Judith to Austria to make amends and restore her titles and re-enter her name into the official book of swimming records.

On receiving his formal letter of apology, Judith explained, "nobody even bothered to inform me what the Austrians had done. This is the first time I have been told that I had been stripped of my titles." Deutsch refused to go to Austria in an official capacity, saying "...they threw me out once. If they want give me back my titles, they can give them to me in Israel." And so at an emotional ceremony held at Kfar Maccabiah in June 1995, the Austrian Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Herbert Karol, read out an official letter of apology written by Dr. Heinz Fischer, president of the Austrian Parliament, expressing "...it's deep sorrow for the event. Perhaps we are apologizing to late, but better now than never." All sanctions against Deutsch were lifted and all her medals and titles restored.

"I am happy to accept your apologies and the withdrawal of sanctions against me," she said in a brief response to the Austrians. "And in no way do I regret having done what I did sixty years ago." Today Judith Deutsch-Haspel lives in Herzlia. Her one team mate, Lucy Goldiner resides in Australia and Linger Lorence, the other, is living in London, UK.

Write a short explanation of the following sentence:
Judith's father "saw the writing on the wall"

CLOZE EXERCISE

You may work in groups, or individually. Read the story carefully. Using your dictionaries, write short explanations to the following words. Fill in the cloze with the missing words. Add them to your vocabulary and use them when you talk about this subject.

The year is 1935, the place is Israel and the _____ is the 2nd Maccabiah Games. A young girl, Judith Deutsch, a 17 year old Austrian had, been selected to _____ her country in the swimming event of the equivalent of the "Jewish Olympics" She was talking with her German ____________ who were telling her what was happening in Germany at the time.

In her letter of resignation to the Austrian Olympic Committee Deutsch wrote, '...I _______...as a Jew I cannot ________ in the Berlin Olympic Games. My__________ does not allow me. This is a personal decision and is not to be _________. I completely that I am giving up my rights to participate as the Austrian _________ in the Olympic Games. I sincerely hope you will understand this ________ and not _____ me to change my mind.'

The Austrian Olympic committee's answer was _____ and ______. Deustch was at the ____ period of her swimming career. They ______ her from taking part in all ________ and international swimming ___________ for two years, and excluded her from the Olympic Games.

STRIP STORY ACTIVITY
Read the story carefully. Put the sentences in their correct order.

The Austrian Olympic banned her from taking part in all national and international swimming competitions for two years.

Take me to Gail's EFL Garden, please

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