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Sabbath or Gymnastics

At just seven years old, Amalya Knapp has already felt the sting of keeping a different holy day. Amalya is a gymnast, as well as an Orthodox Jew, that was trying to compete in the New Jersey state co

Maccabi Haifa Getting Closer to Title

After a 2-0 victory over the inept Maccabi Tel Aviv in August, Maccabi Haifa is now in firm control as the Premier League’s playoff winds down. In fact, Elisha Levy’s team is now merely one win aw

Tal Brody

After being retired from professional basketball for almost thirty years, Tal Brody was just inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in March of this year. Not only did he have an incredible care

Joshua Appell

I’m sorry, but it’s still summer and I’ve still got the baseball bug. But even my enthusiasm for baseball doesn’t top Joshua Appell’s enthusiasm for not just baseball, bu

Covenant Baseball

With the fourth of July just around the corner, I’ve officially got the summer fever coursing through my veins, and the best remedy for summer fever is to go to a baseball game with your Hebrew Nati

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Sabbath or Gymnastics

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Posted by admin on October 27, 2011 at 4:52 pm

sabbath or gymnastics

At just seven years old, Amalya Knapp has already felt the sting of keeping a different holy day.

Amalya is a gymnast, as well as an Orthodox Jew, that was trying to compete in the New Jersey state competition. When the competition was held on Saturday, Amalya was devastated to find that she wouldn’t be able to perform.

This year’s USA Gymnastics competition was held on two days, Saturday and Sunday. Since the Knapps observe a strict Sabbath, they knew that Amalya would not be able to go to any of the competition held on Saturday.

Despite her ability, Amalya was only able to score in the events that were held on Sunday which meant that her scores were not comprehensive enough to make the final ceremonies. However, she scored well enough that she was able to make fifth place, and was honored on paper, if not in the ceremony.

Her mother, Chavie, said their family was not bitter that they had to forego some competitions due to their religious observance of the Sabbath, but she knew it meant a lot to Amalya to compete.

The Knapp family’s struggle with compliance has aroused much debate and has even spurred Assemblyman Gary Schaer to join the cause for the young gymnast.

Although it might seem like Amalya is the victim of religious intolerance, this could just be evidence that there is more and more apathy toward religion.

Rather than open oppression, the Knapps feel as though they, and their religion, are being squeezed out of an increasingly secular world.

Especially in the world of athletics, there seems to be less and less room for religion, no matter which one you subscribe to.

Thanks to this 7 year old New Jersey native, we can all see how indifferent toward religion the world of athletics has become.

Posted in Gymnastics, News

Maccabi Haifa Getting Closer to Title

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Posted by admin on September 19, 2011 at 6:22 pm

maccabi haifa getting closer to title After a 2-0 victory over the inept Maccabi Tel Aviv in August, Maccabi Haifa is now in firm control as the Premier League’s playoff winds down.

In fact, Elisha Levy’s team is now merely one win away from wrapping up the Premier League Championship.

Haifa received a big boost earlier in the day, when Reuven Atar’s youngsters on Maccabi Netanya scored a late goal to draw defending champion Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-2.

This was followed by two lightning quick goals to take the lead in the second half thanks to a superb effort from striker Toto Tamuz.

Unfortunately, Hapoel’s Swiss cheese defense let the team down.

Nevertheless, the team nursing a 2-1 advantage, Netanya forward Sergiy Tretyak received a pass off of a free kick while he was unmolested in front of the Hapoel net.

Tretyak took this opportunity to blast a drive past a helpless Vincent Enyeama to even the score and to quiet the stunned Hapoel crowd at Bloomfield.

Now, Netanya will have a chance to spoil the chance of Hapoel’s rival for the Premier League championship. If Atar’s club draws or defeats Maccabi Haifa, it would grant Hapoel Tel Aviv another shot at closing the gap and a chance at mounting a comeback to take first place.

But a Haifa victory would bring the league title back up north, a satisfying result for a fan base whose heart was broken last season when the team lost the championship by virtue of Hapoel Tel Aviv’s last minute goal to top Beitar Jerusalem.

“We started the match very well,” Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Eli Guttman said. “We applied pressure and we played against a good team that has proved its worth this season. We just couldn’t score goals, but we came with the same determination to start the second half. We let in [the second goal] because of a lack of communication between the defenders.”

So if you’re sick of hearing about conflict in the Middle East that has to do with borders and regulations, stay tuned for the conflict between Covenant soccer teams.

Posted in Soccer

Tal Brody

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Posted by admin on August 26, 2011 at 5:08 pm

After being retired from professional basketball for almost thirty years, Tal Brody was just inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in March of this year. Not only did he have an incredible career on the court, but Tal Brody also showed the world how versatile Jews can be.

Tal was born in Trenton, New Jersey on August 30, 1943 to parents who had emigrated from Eastern Europe and spent a few years in what was then Palestine on their way over to the United States. His father worked as an engineer on the construction of the Rothenberg electric station, and his grandfather helped build the country’s first airfield in Herzliya.

Brody’s basketball career started when he was eight at the Jewish Community Center, and then moved up to Trenton Central High School. Not only did he lead his team to an undefeated season, but Tal was also the first selected for the Newark All-State Team in his senior year. His yearbook actually quoted Tal saying that he either wanted to be a professional basketball player or an FBI agent.

Tal excelled on the basketball court at University of Illinois, but he was also successful socially and was a prominent member of Zeba Beta Tau, the Jewish fraternity. But it wasn’t until he played in the 1965 Maccabiah Games that he became truly in touch with his Jewish roots.

After leading the American team to a gold medal, the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team approached Tal and urged him to play for the Israeli team. Although he had just been drafted to play for the Baltimore Bullets, Israel’s culture and thriving hub had enthralled him enough to stay and play for the Maccabis.

Tal brought the Israeli team a serious attitude and inspirational commitment, inculcating his teammates with his view of basketball as a way of life. Not only did the team hold double as many practices, but the team started making it through enough rounds that they made it to the European Cup Championships and finished second in the league.

The pinnacle of Tal’s career was during the apex of the Cold War and the Soviet Union was boycotting Israel. When the Israeli’s team came up against the Red Army’s team, it was clear that a team of vigorously trained communists clearly had the upper hand. But when Maccabi upset the heavily favored Soviets, it was not only a change for the basketball team, but a chance for Israel to say they are worthy to compete—in every sphere.

Posted in Basketball, Jewish Sports Hall of Famers

Joshua Appell

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Posted by admin on July 15, 2011 at 6:48 pm

Josh Appell I’m sorry, but it’s still summer and I’ve still got the baseball bug. But even my enthusiasm for baseball doesn’t top Joshua Appell’s enthusiasm for not just baseball, but football as well. Not only is he an All-Ivy League honorable mention recipient, but Josh is also a competent relief pitcher for the University of Pennsylvania. He chalked up 44 strikeouts in 33 innings last year. When asked about the rigors of his double life, Josh shrugged it off “It is definitely hard and it is a huge commitment to be in-season both semesters, but it’s my life at Penn and I enjoy it so much. It is well worth it and I wouldn’t give up playing sports for anything.” Born June 23, 1983, it is clear that we still can have much to expect from this young, Jewish athlete.

Career Highlights:
Appell an all-around athlete in high school, lettering in football, soccer, and baseball for Hewlett high. In fact more then one MLS scout paid close attention to the youngster but he preferred to concentrate on football and baseball. In 1999, Josh helped Hewlett to the Nassau County title with his sterling punting ability. He also made all-division, all-conference and all-county as a high school pitcher for four straight years. Josh won the same honor twice for soccer.

Appell then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania and played his first full season for U of P in 2002. His skills as a punter did not go unnoticed, as Josh was named team rookie of the year. He punted for 1,933 yards in 51 attempts for the season. He won the Football Gazette Special Teams Player of the Week after one of his best performances, an eight-punt, 289-yard gem in a game against Princeton. The Quakers endedthe 2002 season with a record of 9-1.

Joshua Appell is exactly the kind of athlete I need to help me transition smoothly from baseball to football.

Posted in Baseball, Football

Covenant Baseball

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Posted by admin on June 29, 2011 at 6:40 pm

With the fourth of July just around the corner, I’ve officially got the summer fever coursing through my veins, and the best remedy for summer fever is to go to a baseball game with your Hebrew National and just sit back and enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes. The only thing that makes the game any more enjoyable though, is when there’s an exciting Jewish player on the team. One player that’s been catching my eye lately is the New York Mets’ Ike Davis.

Born Isaac Benjamin Davis in 1987, Ike is the son of Baptist pitcher Ron Davis and Jewish mother Millie Gollinger. Millie has made sure that Ike is well aware and proud of his Jewish heritage by reminding him the hardships his family has had to endure and thrived because of them. Millie’s family was from Lithuania and, like so many others, a large percentage of it was killed in the Holocaust. Ike’s great aunt was a Holocaust survivor and Ike has said that he is so grateful that she was able to come to the United States and bring her story with her. Although he goes by Ike, he is very proud of the name Isaac and his Jewish heritage, saying that “I’m glad Jewish kids get to see that they can grow up to be professional baseball players.” When told that Shawn Green, a Jewish player for the Mets who came before Ike, used to receive marriage proposals from Jewish mothers, on behalf of their daughters, Ike laughed nervously and said: “I hope that doesn’t happen. I’m not ready for marriage.”

Being so young—just barely 24—Ike shows great potential in his baseball career. In 2009 he received the Mets Organizational Player of the year, and in 2010 he broke the Mets rookie total bases record with 230. He also tied the record for the Mets rookie extra-base hits with fifty three in the year 2010. And to top 2010 off, he tied the Mets rookie walks record with 72. Having only played two seasons in the league, we can only expect more and more from Ike Davis. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited for the meshugaas.

Posted in Baseball

Jewish Sports: Past and Future Bears

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Posted by admin on June 6, 2011 at 11:10 pm

In our family of seven boys and one girl there are 5 Chicago Bears fans including our daughter who this fall will fulfill her long held ambition of studying law, with a full ride scholarship to a school right there in the Windy City. Me, I’m a Jets fan dating back to the very earliest years of the 1980s about the time when those kids who old enough to choose picked the Bears, as Jim McMahon started his NFL career. They started to follow a great team and I choose the Jets because they were then (and forever shall be) the great under-dogs. As a few more kids came along a couple choose the Bears but one obstinate one latched on to the Denver team. I will tell you our young lady did flirt with the Cowboys before seeing some sense. Walter Payton is a great hero around here for most of us and Ben still has an unopened box of Wheaties featuring Sweetness, given to him by the Bears fan mother of a long-term girlfriend with whom he is still friends. He is now married and if ever his kids discover those Wheaties and despoil that special box there will be much less sweetness in that household!

So most of the family is looking forward to Gabe Carimi putting on the blue and orange. And that’s where we get back to the Jewish contribution to the NFL and particularly Da Bears. Word on the street is that Gabe might be a rival for top Jew Bear title now held by the redoubtable Sid Luckman. During his 12 seasons with the Bears he led them to four NFL championships. Could Gabe do the same? I know 5 fans who are probably praying that he can. I for my part am looking forward to seeing 5 smiling faces for a few seasons of Bears best behavior.

Posted in Da Bears, Football

Jewish Sports Medicine

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Posted by admin on May 20, 2011 at 10:38 pm

Good news for those interested in the community of Jewish Athletes and Sports Participants generally, especially if you know about the programs of the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare (JHSMH) systems that includes more than 70 health care facilities and 1,900 patient beds in Kentucky and southern Indiana.

In 1997, Jewish Hospital Frazier Rehab Institute implemented a comprehensive sports medicine program that has evolved into Jewish Sports Medicine (JSM), a program providing medical services to the physically active Kentuckiana community.

As part of the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare organization, JSM offers a comprehensive range of services including education, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and wellness from a specially trained and certified staff, ensuring the highest quality of care possible.

Certified Athletic Trainers and other professionals in the area of sports medicine provide a holistic approach to the athlete, no matter the level of competition.

JSM offers an extensive array of services, packaged with a multi-faceted approach. This approach keeps people in the game of life by helping them understand the need for education and preventative measures, for the entire individual-physically and mentally.

And more information about the involvement of JSM and the Senior PGA Championship in just a few days.

Jewish Sports Medicine, a service of Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare, will provide on-site medical services for the Senior PGA Championship when the tournament comes to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville May 24-29, 2011.

A team of physicians, nurses and EMS personnel will be on hand to treat any medical needs among the 10,000 daily spectators and volunteers expected to be on-hand for the championship.

“We anticipate that we will treat a number of different types of injuries, but the most common during events like these are headaches, lacerations and allergies,” said Dr. Mario Maya, JHSMH medical director for the event. “Other injuries may include falls on the course resulting in sprains, strains, bruises, fractures lacerations, more. Our purpose is to keep everyone safe and well so that they can enjoy this wonderful sporting event.”

“There is also the potential for heat related illness,” Maya added. Volunteers and spectators alike need to be aware of the possibility of insect bites/stings; sunburns so wear the sunscreen; hydration so drink plenty of water; and wear cool comfortable clothing and shoes.

Jewish Hospital recognizes that athletes are not the only ones to sustain injuries while at these events. Attendees are often the ones that need medical attention.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for our community to have the Senior PGA Championship back in Louisville,” said Denise Wooldridge, RN, BSN, Director, JHSMH “It is important to recognize that athletes are not the only ones to sustain injuries while at these events. Jewish Sports Medicine is proud to be a partner and provide the care needed for volunteers and attendees.”

Jewish Sports Medicine has provided medical management for the last four major PGA tournaments held at Valhalla in addition to the 2009 Ryder Cup. Maya has been the medical director for all of these. Jewish Sports Medicine also provides medical management for many other regular community events including University of Louisville football and special events such as the 2010 USA Cycling Masters Road National Championship.

Maya is board certified in emergency medicine, practices occupational medicine with Occupational Physicians Services of Louisville, a local medical group helping provide leadership to the JHSMH EmployCare program, as well as working with the Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine program.

The 72nd Senior PGA Championship will be held at Valhalla Golf Club over five days. There will be a maximum of 156 players that represent 17 countries. Valhalla is only the third course in the nation to have hosted a PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship and a Ryder Cup.

Posted in Jewish Sports Medicine, Miscellaneous, News

Jewish Sports and the IJSHoF

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Posted by admin on May 10, 2011 at 8:42 pm

Just wanted to introduce some of you to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and it’s website as that is an organization that fully deserves the support of both Jewish and Gentile sports-fans, and also the World Jewish Community whether they watch or participate in sports, or are usually ambivalent towards sports generally. Sports in the modern Jewish culture are a bridge between peoples and nations, and Israel and the people of the world. In the section of the website dealing with the history of Jewish sports participation it is said the modern era of sports and the Covenanted People started in the late 18th century when a growing number of Jews were involved in the athletic contests of that time. Boxing attracted many a man who saw a way to make some mark on the world and earn a crust or two when maybe the avenues for advancement were narrow. The history books mention the Belasco brothers, Isaac Bitton, Barney Aaron and Samuel Elias as pugnacious pugilists at the top of the the pile. The very best known boxer was Daniel Mendoza from Portugal who held the English boxing champion crown from 1792 to 1795. His bouts under his self-titled “Mendoza the Jew” name brought him wide acclaim when boxing was a very different game than today. It was a much more brutal sport in the 18th and 19th centuries. In keeping with the age he was the subject of editorial cartoons and stories, and songs were composed in his honor. Mendoza was a source of pride among Jewish people and in addition became a favorite of the masses of ordinary people who flocked to fights in those days. Even the less ordinary, more extra-ordinary fight fans saw that Mendoza was one great battler and the Prince of Wales was a big fan. Mendoza became to be regarded as the “father of scientific boxing” as he match his wits against the brawlers who in a time of pure violence used their brawn rather than their brains to try to demolish their opponents. He was the forerunner of a great tide of scrappers who won the hearts of the British boxing fraternity in the years that followed.

The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame/Yad Le’ish Hasport Hayehudi was formally inaugurated on July 7, 1981. Its predecessor, the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, was founded in the United States in May 1979. The original Hall of Fame included only American honorees. The International Hall of Fame honors athletes and sportsmen and sportswomen throughout the world.

The purpose of the IJSHOF is to honor Jewish men and women, worldwide, who have accomplished extraordinary achievements in sports and to recognize other Jewish men and women, through its Pillar of Achievement, who have made significant contributions to society through sports. In addition, its Lifetime Achievement Award annually honors those individuals who have made significant contributions to the State of Israel and society through sports.

Elections to the IJSHOF are made annually. Announcements of each election are made on about December 1st for the succeeding year. Anyone can submit nominations to the IJSHOF. They should be made to the Executive Director, IJSHOF, Wingate Institute, Wingate Post Office, 42902 Israel. All submissions of nominations should be accompanied by as much support information about the candidate(s) as is available.

The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is a “partnership” between the Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports and some of the world’s leading sports authorities, and interested, active and philanthropic Jews.

So how about it. On your next trip to the Promised Land visit the Hall of Fame in Netanya and see what has been achieved in the wide world of sports.

Posted in Jewish Sports Hall of Famers

Jewish Sports Journalism

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Posted by admin on April 21, 2011 at 11:47 pm

Do you know the nine Jewish players in the NFL? That was one of the questions I saw at a very important website for those with a general interest in aspects of Jewish culture that encourage participation at a high level in sport by Jewish men and women. Who are the two NBA players who could be celebrating a most important festival and holiday right now. Passers at Passover: who are they?

The Jewish Sports Review claims that it is recognized as the foremost authority of Jewish athletes in the world! For just an annual subscription of $36.00 (or $60.00 for 2 years) you get 6 fascinating issues each year.

Like they say on the home page of the website www.glendobson.com/jsr/

“Be our stringer! If you know of any professional, college, or outstanding high school Jewish athletes, please let us know! Contact shel@jewishsportsreview.com.”

And you will get all this too, as the Magazine:

Selects Jewish All-America College teams in Baseball, Football, Basketball, Softball, Soccer and Lacrosse;

Has all-time lists for Jewish players in Major League Baseball, Pro Football, Pro Basketball, and the NHL;

Covers international athletic events such as the Summer and Winter World Olympics, and World Championships in various sports;

Selects High School Jewish All-America teams in Basketball, and names the top graduating Jewish high school athletes;

Covers the World Maccabiah Games;

Covers all “Minor” sports;

Covers Israeli sports; and

Verifies the Jewish background of every athlete covered.

This is a must read for all who are truly interested in the role of Jews in the World Wide Sporting Life.

Posted in Jewish Sports Journalism

#1 in a List of Wrestlers Who Are Jewish.

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Posted by admin on March 28, 2011 at 10:45 pm

THE RAVEN is the nom de ring of Scott Anthony Levy.

The Raven was born September 8, 1964 and is an American-born professional wrestler, wrestling producer, and writer. He is also five-time World Champion with the ECW world Heavy Weight title twice, the NWA equivalent once, the VCW title once along with the the 3PW also on one occasion. For one day only he also held the WCW US Championship. His achievements are many including a record number of WWF/E Hardcore Championships. He is an innovator in the wrestling world and has brought pleasure to untold numbers of the grappling, slamming sport’s aficionados. He came up with Raven’s Rules, Clockwork Orange House of Fun, and Hangman’s Horror, much to the delight of thousands if not millions.

The Raven is a college graduate with I believe a degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware, but after graduation decided on a career in professional wrestling under the ring-name Scotty The Body with the Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis. He played the toy-boy (or is it boy-toy?) of one Missy Hyatt. He then competed in his home sate of Florida.

After a number of short stints with the programs of other regional organizer’s of pro-wrestling which frequently ended with disagreements, Mr. Levy got his first taste national media attention while with the Dallas, TexasGlobal Wrestling Federation. His name by then was the “Palm Beach Heart Throb” Scott Anthony. He was a player in The Cartel, which was supposedly wrangled by a mysterious and never named “Boss.” The GWF aired on ESPN and so Mr. Levy was seen all over the country.

Mr. Levy is of undoubted Jewish ancestry with some Italian blood. And married Selina Kyle in January 2007. And should we be surprised that this successful business man possesses an IQ of 143 and is a member of MENSA and the Theta Chi Frat. His professional wrestling demeanor belies his other attributes and achievements; as they say you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.

Posted in Wrestlers

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