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Alef Interviews: Tamir Goodman
When asked to name the most famous Jewish professional athletes in history, most respondents would likely toss out names like “Hank Greenberg” and “Sandy Koufax” without too much hesitation. Give them a few minutes more, and some people might even come up with “Kerri Strug” or “Mark Spitz.” But, over the last several years another name has begun to gain traction. From his native Maryland to basketball courts across Israel, an entire generation of sports fans is cheering on professional basketballer, Tamir Goodman: “The Jewish Jordan.”
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Goodman first attracted national attention after profiles in Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and 60 Minutes, and raised eyebrows after a series of high-profile college recruitment offers. Ultimately, Goodman decided to play college basketball for Towson University, and in 2002 made aliyah to play professionally in the Israeli basketball leagues for Maccabi Tel-Aviv, and then Maccabi Haifa. Goodman recently announced his retirement from professional basketball, and has been focusing on leading basketball clinics, workshops, and motivational seminars in the United States. Goodman is also one of the leading figures advocating for the Haifa Hoops for Kids program, which allows American donors to provide basketball tickets for underprivileged children in Israel.
Alef recently caught up with Tamir by phone, and talked to him about his life, his work, and what it’s like to be a Jewish sports hero:
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Thanks for talking to us Tamir. Tell us a little bit of what you’ve been up to.
I’m in the States, i’m on an extended speaking tour. We have a reality TV show, we have a campus initiative, we have basketball caps and clinics and tournaments around the world, and we’ve really been working hard on Haifa Hoops for Kids. Here in America I do motivational speaking at Zionist organizations, at Chabad, Hillel, Aish ha’Torah. And, we do it to connect to Israel and Judaism. And, there’s Haifa Hoops for Kids which is a tzadakah program that raises money and empowers underprivileged kids from the North. [of Israel] It’s a great way to connect to Israel because you get to meet with kids, and teach them the sport that you love, and you can do it all through basketball.
Some of our readers might not be so familiar with your story- Share a bit about how you got to where you are, today.
I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and my older brother played basketball, and was very good. He took me to the gym one day, and I kind of never left. I grew up in a house full of Jewish pride, where we were taught from day one that we needed to take our talents and use them for ha’Shem. I learned very young that my biggest talent was basketball, and my goal is to try to show the world that you could play basketball, play division 1, play professionally, and not play on Shabbat.
Tell us how it feels to be playing a sport largely invented by Jews. Do you feel like you’re a part of that tradition?
I know that there’s been a lot of great Jewish athletes, and I was raised to be a fan. I remember my father teaching me about Jewish athletes in ALL the sports. I remember, as a young kid, seeing them talk about Hanukkah on ESPN and thinking that was the coolest thing! I think everyone has their specific mission, and their special talent, and their own way, and for me it was being the best basketball player that I could be, and at the same time, not playing on Shabbat. I had the opportunity to play for the number one team in the word at the time, University of Maryland, they won the national championship. Let me put it this way – if I would have played on Shabbat, I would have a national championship ring today, but on the other hand, I have Shabbat today, and I don’t have a national championship ring, and to me that’s more important, because Shabbat will last forever.
You must meet a lot of aspiring Jewish athletes. Tell us about them.
Most recently I had an opportunity to speak with Dmitriy Salita, a Jewish champion boxer who doesn’t fight on Shabbat and I was very happy to hear that he saw everything that was going with me in the papers with Maryland and everything [Editor's note: Goodman refused to play for the University of Maryland's basketball team, as games took place on Friday night and Saturday, during Shabbat] and as a Jew it helped inspire him. On all levels, from elementary school kids, to professional boxers, to collegiate athletes I’ve been getting a lot of feedback and I hope my life story can help inspire them in one way or another.
How does it feel to be both an athlete as well as representative of the Jewish Community?
I think that’s what ha’Shem created me for, [and] I think Judaism teaches us that it’s really all one thing; that our job as Jews is to take something physical and make it holy. It’s not like when we play basketball we’re “not Jewish”, or that we’re only Jewish when we’re in synagogue. The way that we play basketball, the way that we work, the way that we eat, everything we do, there’s a Jewish way to do it. I’m not a Rabbi or a Sage. Obviously we’ve all made mistakes, and will make mistakes, and continue to make mistakes, and continually grow, but I’ve tried to make that my mission- that basketball and Judaism can be one thing. I love Judaism, but I feel a special connection, a closeness, with Jewish athletes. We understand each other and the things we go through.
-Alef
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Learn more about Tamir
Learn more about Haifa Hoops for Kids
Learn more about Maccabi Haifa
Matzah Ballers
By Bennie Cohen
The scene is set: January 20, 2010 the Sacramento Kings take on the home favorite, and Eastern Division leader, Atlanta Hawks. Phillips Area, located in downtown Atlanta, can hold roughly 60,000 people. Tonight, it sold a whopping 10,000 tickets. However, this was no ordinary game, a fact proven by the Israelis in the crowd. As I walked to the 200 level, where my friends and I had tickets, I was in shock- Not because of how many people weren’t there, but how many people were. It may not have been a packed house, but tonight, thousands of people had come out to see the Israeli Phenom; Omri Casspi, the first Israeli drafted in the first round of the NBA draft had come to town.
There were people wearing Maccabi Tel-Aviv jerseys, along with Sacramento Kings jerseys with “Casspi” in Hebrew. Israeli flag hung in various part of the arena. It was an amazing site. I have always been fascinated about the pride Israeli’s have for each other and this was no exception. The game started, but Omri wasn’t on the court. Then, a timeout! Omri jumped off the bench, takes off the sweats he had been practicing in before the game, and the crowd goes wild!
The people sitting next to us heard us cheer as Omri scored. We quickly explained to them that, yes, we were Hawks fans, but tonight were going for the player on the other team. The guy laughed, and tipped his Hawks hat said “I hear ya” and quickly followed up with a “shalom.” Â We all laughed and finished the game together.
With five minutes remaining in the game, those of us going to the “Meet and Greet” (put together by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta ) set off to gate 113, to be taken onto the court to shoot a basket or two, and wait for Omri to come out. When we got there, we found a line of about 300 people waiting. Being one of the first people, I felt lucky. Passing time on the court I shot a few balls- the rust was definitely there: I airballed, followed it up with a rebound, and still missed the layup.
The crowd started to head to the seats under the basket, and waited patiently for the Israeli superstar. Finally, after about twenty minutes, Omri came out and was immediately swarmed! Everyone was trying to get a picture, a hug, and in my case, an autograph. Luckily I had my people help me out; I got my ball signed and was able to help get a picture of Omri and one of my friends before Omri was taken away so the “big shots” in Atlanta could get their time with the superstar. About fifteen minutes went by. People were shoving each other, and I couldn’t help but think “Am I at Machane Yehuda on Shabbos????” The security guards were getting irritated, but no one seemed to care- this was # 18 on paper (# 1 on our hearts) OMRI CASSPI! After about twenty minutes Omri left to head out on the road. The Kings had a game in Charlotte the next night.
The experience was amazing. I don’t really care about the Kings or the Hawks (I am a Miami Heat fan, myself) but for one night I was the biggest Omri Casspi fan in the South.  I consider myself lucky to have seen the first Israeli to play a meaningful roll in the NBA. Next time, who knows? Maybe a football game with an Israeli playing quarterback in the NFL! Imagine those autobles….
Seton Hall Jews
By Benjamin Levin Purkert
My friend Dave and I are your typical Jewish guys. We both fast on Yom Kippur, and we both quote Larry David. But there is one thing that sets us apart: We’re completely fanatical about Seton Hall men’s basketball.
If you’ve never heard of Seton Hall, you’re not alone. (Although you probably wouldn’t “survive” growing up in New Jersey.) With approximately 5,000 undergraduates, SHU is a relatively small university, serving students mostly from the metropolitan area.
Oh, and it’s Catholic.
So, how did two Jews end up such die-hard Seton Hall fans? It’s definitely weird, and even weirder considering neither of us matriculated there!
For the answer, you first need to understand a little more about this Seton Hall team. Frequently overmatched and seemingly outnumbered, Seton Hall is one of college basketball’s scrappiest. In a Big East conference full of Goliaths like Syracuse and UCONN, Seton Hall is truly a David among them, stone in hand.
Let me introduce you to Seton Hall’s reserve point guard, Jordan Theodore. At just under six feet, Jordan compensates for his lack of size with lightning quick defense and gritty determination. With seemingly more arms than a Hanukkah menorah, Jordan frustrates opposing guards by contesting passes and swiping at every dribble. Talk about making the most of your oil!
Will Jordan Theodore ever make the NBA? Fat chance. But that doesn’t mean he can’t dream, that he can’t give everything he’s got, training constantly to improve every facet of his game.
As Jews, we know a little something about overcoming odds. Perhaps this explains why every Seton Hall game is so endlessly engaging. Perhaps it explains why Dave and I have traveled so many hundreds of miles to support our team, including visits to Louisville, Morgantown, and San Juan. (I recommend the plantain omelet.) And we’ve cultivated countless friendships along the way, getting to know our fellow boosters and even the players themselves!
But there’s another dimension to our passion. While Seton Hall’s never-say-die spirit is what we may identify with culturally as Jews, it’s the university’s motto that we find most compelling. A mixture of Norman French and Old English, the Seton Hall seal reads: “Hazard Zet Forward.” Roughly translated: “At whatever risk, yet go forward.”
What’s the significance, you ask? Perhaps the only thing that defines our collective Jewish identity more than our people’s improbable survival is our legendary neuroticism. How often do we fixate on details? Brood over decisions? I know I do.
Seton Hall teaches us that it’s okay to move on. That, even in the face of “hazard,” we must step boldly without constantly looking back. It’s Jordan Theodore taking the court without second-guessing or over-thinking. He just plays his heart out. And that, even Larry David would agree with.
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Want to read more about Dave and Ben’s passion for Seton Hall hoops? Follow them on their blog: www.setonia.blogspot.com
The "Jewish Jordan" is retiring. No word yet on the Jewish Ron Artest.
The JTA, citing the Baltimore Jewish Times, reports that Tamir Goodman is retiring from basketball.  Goodman has played in both the U.S. and Israel, and is considered by many to be the greatest Jewish basketball player since Jews dominated the sport over 100 years ago.
To mark the departure of this tefillin-wearing titan of the court, take a look at this recent MSNBC report on the life, times, and career of Tamir Goodman, “the Jewish Jordan.”
According to the JTA, Tamir plans to continue his work with Haifa Hoops for Kids and will be living in Cleveland for the next few years.  We can’t help but think that, Haifa Hoops for Kids or not, Tamir is going to have some free time on his hands, now that they’re not busy slam dunking basket balls.
So, whaddya say Tamir? Wanna write for Alef?
-Alef
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