LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Munich
11 tragedy and commending JCC Rockland for dedicating to the Munich 11
the 2012 Maccabi Games it is hosting

WHEREAS, Around 4:00 a.m. on September 5, 1972, members of Black Septem-
ber, disguised as athletes, scaled a 6-foot fence surrounding the Olym-
pic Village and made their way to the dormitory housing the Israeli
athletes; under their clothing and in the sports bags they carried, the
terrorists carried Kalashnikov assault rifles; and
WHEREAS, The two leaders of the group had previously gone undercover
in the Olympic Village prior to the Games and, knowing the location and
layout of their intended target, they made their way to 31 Connollys-
trasse, a building housing members of the Israeli delegation, and took
11 Israeli athletes hostage; and
WHEREAS, After several failed rescue attempts by German officers, the
terrorists demanded safe passage for themselves and the hostages to a
friendly country; that failing, the terrorists then attempted to negoti-
ate, demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from
Israeli jails in exchange for the hostages; and
WHEREAS, During one last rescue attempt, German officers opened gun
fire which led to the deaths of several of the terrorists; unfortunately
the remaining terrorist opened fire on the hostages killing them all
before the remaining terrorists were killed; and
WHEREAS, This summer's Olympic Games in London, England, mark a
profoundly significant milestone, the passage of 40 years since Munich,
the most tragic point in the history of Olympic sport; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body urges the International Olympic Commit-
tee to reconsider its rejection of an official commemoration honoring
the Israeli athletes murdered at Munich in 1972; and
WHEREAS, In August 2012, JCC Rockland will host the 2012 JCC Maccabi
Games, bringing together over 1,800 Jewish teen athletes from around the
world; the event will also engage over 1,000 volunteers, 600 host fami-
lies, and thousands of spectators; and
WHEREAS, The JCC of Rockland's CHANGE4CHANGE project involves youth
and families across Rockland County and beyond volunteering to assist in
collecting 11 million coins in homage of the Munich 11 tragedy; and
WHEREAS, The JCC Maccabi Games is a week-long Olympic-style athletic
event which provides a unique combination of sports competition with
cultural and social activities and, each year, includes a tribute to the
Munich 11; and
WHEREAS, From August 12 to 17, 2012, delegations from throughout the
United States, Canada, Europe and Israel will not only test their phys-
ical skills, they will also participate in a cultural journey while
learning the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, compassion, and communi-
ty; the annual Games cultivate an appreciation of Jewish values and a
connection to the Jewish community, enriching participants' Jewish iden-
tities while promoting their health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, As the proud host of the 2012 JCC Maccabi Games, JCC Rockland
is undertaking a substantial outreach mission to the greater Rockland
community to involve government, business, non-profit and religious
institutions, and every community member in this momentous and exciting
event; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Munich 11 tragedy, urging that a
moment of silence be observed during the 2012 Summer Olympics and
commending JCC Rockland for dedicating to the Munich 11 the 2012 Maccabi
Games it is hosting; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to JCC Rockland and to the 2012 Maccabi Games.