But I had a hard time finding anyone to integrate with culturally or even to speak to at first, and our real contacts came from outside the Montreal Jewish community.

JIAS helped us find our way when we got here, bought us our beds and mattresses, which we really appreciated.

We didn't want to leave our home. I never felt anti-Semitism there or anything like that, but we were living in fear: You would go out and didn't know if you would come home again. So we decided it was worthwhile living a safer life, a quieter life, even though we would have to sacrifice a lot to be here. We came with only our bags, nothing else.

We were both well-known, teaching, working at our professions and having a good standard of living. But then life got very violent.

It'll come. We've just got to take it one step at a time.

There were about 12 people in the stands the last time these two played. It was at an (Albuquerque) Academy tournament in 2003. There was never a rivalry between us. But this is going to be a lot of fun.