When Orthodox Jewish All Star Estee Ackerman was an 11-years-old, she sat out her final match at the 2012 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships because the game was scheduled for Shabbos, and they wouldn’t accommodate her. She made international news from that decision. Throughout her career, including missing out on Olympics trials, Estee has always […]
The Paris Olympics have featured several Israeli winners, but what about observant Jews? How many Orthodox Jews have reached the planet’s most competitive sports competition? The world of sports usually does not accommodate Jewish observance, which has hindered the professional success of some of the top athletes from the observant Jewish world. And yet, they […]
In the 1960s, New York-born secular Jew Sam Zeitlin loved cycling and wanted to follow his passion all the way to the Olympics. He trained incredibly hard and even earned himself the nickname, “Brooklyn Lightning.” He made it all the way to the U.S. Pan American Cycling Team and attended the 1967 U.S. Olympic Pre-Trials, […]
Ten years. Ten years is a long time. They say ‘time heals all wounds’ and ‘whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ but I think those phrases need to be updated. Because while time dulls the pain, it doesn’t heal wounds that aren’t fully treated. Ten years ago last month, my wife and I experienced […]
Dear Jew in the City, My friend said you can’t be buried in a Jewish cemetery with tattoos – is that true? Thanks, Alexander Dear Alexander- That Jews with tattoos cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery is a persistent myth, right up there with “Jews don’t believe in Hell.” And, like “Jews don’t […]
Dear Jew in the City, Why does Hashem need our prayers, especially when He already knows what we want and need? Why is prayer so important? Sincerely, Rachel Dear Rachel, Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, you’ve got things backwards. God is complete and perfect; we’ve got nothing to offer Him that He “needs.” Sure, […]
