Matzav Shmooze: Should Jews Watch The Super Bowl?

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Dear Matzav Shmooze,

I think I speak for many people when I say that I am upset about the infiltration of a goyishe Yom Tov into the Jewish calendar. I am talking, of course, about Super Bowl Sunday.

It has probably been 2000 years from the days of the Yevanim since Jews got together to watch glorified athletes compete against each other. And even then I’m sure the sports weren’t as violent and brutal as the game millions of Americans will be watching this Sunday.

Now if watching the Super Bowl was did in private as a way to pass the time or because someone is addicted to sports, dayeinu. But every year the gatherings and parties made to watch the “big game” are becoming more commonplace.

Now if watching the Super Bowl was just at parties or gatherings for sport fans and it stopped there, dayeinu. But this year I was shocked to see Jewish restaurants advertising special sales in “honor” of “Super Bowl Sunday!”

Have Jews become so assimilated that we openly advertise our affiliation to non kosehr sporting events? Why are my children being exposed to such things? How do I instill in them the pride of being the Am Segula when everywhere they look they see Jews openly trying to become like other nations? When will we as a community finally say DAYEINU?

C Heizler

 


37 COMMENTS

    • Superbowl is a football game which was created to keep the lowlifes off the streets and out of trouble. Football, basketball, all these sports games are there to keep lowlifes and others from causing trouble. Shtuus.

    • SUPERBOWL CAN BE PURCHASED ON SALE ALL WEEK FROM BINGO IN LAKEWOOD AND FROM TARGET OR WALMART. Its made from aluminum about 10 in deep and 18”wide. great for Shabbat family style salads or anything. SEPHARDS ESPECIALLY LOVE IT CAUSE WE THROW IN THE WHOLE POT OF RICE IN IT ON PESACH SO EVERYONE DIGS IN FOR A SCOOP. There is a wacko rabbi saying that you ashkanaz can now have kitneyot. I sent him the words to that song
      ”TRADITIONNNN TRADITION!’ THEN I SENT HIM passasges from Devarim/Deut 13 , 28, 30 etc etc…..AVI WEISS AND HIS GUITAR PLAYING FEMALE ‘RABBIS’, I HEARD, WERE UPSET WITH ME. So I stopped writing in to these comment sections and went back to herding my goats and camels as all good sephardeem do. By the way, another news link commentsection is upset with the spehardis who buy volkswagons and other german made cars… UNFORTUNATLEY SEPHARDIC PICK UP HABITS OF OTHERS LIKE WEARING BLACK SUIITS TO DENOTE RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE, BUYING GERMAN CARES TO FLASH THE MONEY AND NOW,,,NOW THE NEW THING WITH BOROPARK IS THEY ARE BUYING HOMES IN GERMANY….I CANT IMAGINE GERMANS SELLING/BUYING SHAWARMAS IN PITA….Snitzel yeah, corned beef yeah, but shawarma with tehini in the pita…NEVER!!! WELL GOTTA CLEAN OUT MY GARAGE IN FLATBUSH BROOKLYN FROM THE 2 CAMELS I OWN….

  1. I agree with you.

    And I am ashamed how low klal Yisroel has sunk away from Hashem and into the goyish world. Is this the way to raise our Torah families? What will be next? I cant imagine how much lower we will keep sinking R”L

    save yourself now and hold back these goyish world desires and save you children from being affected in their chinuch and yiddishkeit. YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE are role models 24/7 and are being watched every step you take in life by your children and by Hashem.

    Start now by holding yourself back from the super bowl and showing your children what a nothing it all is and how goyish avoda zara it is and let them see you learning in your dining room instead. Your children will be so impressed and it will make such a positive impression on them.

    • You are “ashamed of how low Klal Yisrael has sunk?”
      You should be careful with your words, my friend. Moshe Rabbenu was chastised by Hashem for being mekatreig on Klal Yisrael.
      You want to learn in your living room? Good for you. Do it. But be careful with what you say about Hashem’s People.

  2. When everything becomes assur, everything starts to become muttar. People always watched, then they started with all the learning programs which ate probably 80% of people who wouldn’t watch anyways. But then, the casual fans who may not have bothered, but aren’t into learning said, well if it’s such a big deal, maybe I should watch it. Not everyone is interested in spending their free time learning, but when there is nothing else to do that doesn’t receive scorn from someone (e.g. you read goyishe books…shaigetz, you play basketball….oisvarf, you follow sports….you must be a goy). It had also become a time for friends to get together a little, which we all know is a moishav leitzim, so I guess it is worse to eat a little and schmooze than to sit by Kiddush getting drunk or watching other people get drunk. So yes, I will arrange for my kids who are interested to watch appropriately with the hope they will outgrow it instead of becoming so engrossed because it is the only way they can show they are not interested in learning all the time.

  3. Perhaps a link to the Agudah Convention Q & A session on the topic of where to watch the superbowl asked to Horav Brudney and Horav Elefant should be attached to this article. This way we can all decide if the letter writer is correct, or, perhaps the Roshei Yeshiva who realize people watch the game and even suggest you bring a device into your home to watch it rather then letting your child go elsewhere.

    Hmmmmm. Could it be that our Daas Toirah are so amazing that they understand the Nisyonos of today’s generation and offer great Toirahdiga advice, or, should we continue to be bombarded by letters from who knows who spewing their “insights.

    I choose Daas Toirah – What about you?

    • You didn’t watch that link carefully. Rav Brudny states that the question posed wasn’t whether one should watch or not. The answer to that is a resounding no. B’di’eved, if the boys will watch, it’s better to watch at home than somewhere else.
      That’s Da’as Toirah.
      So what did you choose?

  4. Of course it’s as treiff as treiff can be to waste a single second watching thugs who hate us hit each other with such force. For those that have this illogical desire to be like a goy and watch some stupid game, think about the schar you are going to get by sitting and learning during that time. Liphum tzara agrah.

  5. Another big problem is how excited people become about the game

    What does this show our children?
    What do we get excited about? A daf gemara? Doing a mitzvah? or its the super bowl?

    Think about it

    • Yes, think about it. People get excited in shul for the schnapps, the kids get excited about the Raffles and pizza every month shabbos (they just pay their dues to get it….and then we wonder why they have to be bribed in school by the rabbeim with nosh and Raffles to learn), people get excited when a crook (i.e. someone who knowingly broke the law and made false reporting) gets out of jail without showing remorse for anything he did. The mirror works both ways. Let me think about it…honor a crook or watch goyim bash their heads together. I’ll take the goyim, at least they appear to be more honest.

  6. To oy vey!
    Please don’t misconstrue that short clip. Rabbi Brudney CLEARLY states that the discussion there is NOT about whether one should or shouldn’t be watching. He said the discussion is only about a case where it’s gotten to the point that there’s no choice but to allow the child to watch, then where should he watch. It sure sounds like his Daas Torah might very well be that if you have any control over the situation then he should NOT be watching.

  7. The writer mentions that he is sure the games in Athens were not as “brutal” and “violent” as the super bowl?
    I suggest the writer looks up and gets some information on how brutal and violent those games were.
    The super bowl may be a waste of time and bitul torah but it does not qualify and brutal and violent….

  8. What is to be expected if we are building/ buying goishe homes with spas, saunas, indoor and/or outdoor pools, a bbq with all the briskeh hiddurim and chumrehs, exersise rooms (with a ‘le’shsim yichud’ on the wall to have in mind ‘ushmartem..’ while inside the room), let alone the wine cellar ( exclusively for Kiddush and Simchas Tom Tov), and the extensive “shabbosdik” bar filled with all kinds of meshakrim.
    But it has a full “ah Seforim shteib” and a “hachnosas orchim shteib” to kasher out the home.
    Don’t forget the driveway can’t stay empty – two cars would not do.
    (A Pesach kitchen would just be a waste since one can’t be home for Pesach.)
    And your trying to propose that the only goishe thing going on in town is the Super Bowl atmosphere???

  9. Good point! Throughout history, wherever Jews lived, whenever they considered themselves on equal footing with their non-Jewish neighbors by taking part in their culture, they ultimately are rejected by the non-Jews. Let’s not forget who we are and where we belong. We should continue to be a light unto the nations and merit the final Geula soon.

  10. Here’s a tiny segment of a long list of arrests of NFL football players- those “upstanding ethical” people who provide us with such “wholesome” entertainment.
    2019-01-26 DET Trevor Bates LB Arrested Assault Accused of punching a police officer after not paying $32 cab fare in New York. Resolution undetermined.
    2019-01-26 KC De”Anthony Thomas WR Arrested Drugs Suspected of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia in Allen County, Kan. Resolution undetermined.
    2019-01-23 NO P.J. Williams CB Arrested DUI Pulled over for speeding, accused of driving drunk and careless driving. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-12-18 WAS Montae Nicholson S Arrested Assault Suspected of assault and public drunkenness after police responded to a report of a fight in Ashburn, Virginia. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-11-24 SF Reuben Foster LB Arrested Domestic violence Accused of pushing and slapping a woman in Tampa. Police observed scratch on woman”’s neck. Dropped by prosecutors. Released by team the morning after arrest.
    2018-10-30 NYG Kyle Lauletta QB Arrested Eluding police Accused of resisting arrest, eluding police and reckless driving in New Jersey. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-10-22 DEN Chad Kelly QB Arrested Trespassing Charged with first-degree criminal trespassing after police were called about a man inside a home in Englewood, Colo. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-09-16 LAR Aaron Neary OC Arrested DUI Suspected of driving drunk in Simi Valley, Calif., where he registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.17 percent. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-08-31 DAL Rico Gathers TE Arrested Drugs Suspected of marijuana possession in Frisco, Texas. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-08-29 CLE Mychal Kendricks LB Charged Insider trading Accused of taking advantage of non-public tips to enhance his financial portfolio in scheme from 2014, when he played for Philadelphia. Pleaded guilty. Released by Browns.
    2018-08-28 MIN Cayleb Jones WR Arrested Domestic assault Suspected of misdemeanor domestic assault, interfering with a 911 call and theft in Minnesota. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-08-05 CLE Antonio Callaway WR Cited Drugs Pulled over for traffic violation in Strongville, Ohio, accused of marijuana possession and driving with suspended license. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-07-14 CAR Vernon Butler DT Cited Assault Accused of pushing and throwing drink in the face of a woman at nightclub around 2 a.m. in Dallas. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-07-14 ARI Ricky Seals-Jones TE Arrested Assault Accused of pushing hotel staffer in effort to use the restroom in Scottsdale, Ariz. Pleaded guilty to misdemeanor, diversion program for alcohol abuse.
    2018-06-15 DAL Marquez White CB Arrested Assault Accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in apparent road-rage incident near Dallas. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-06-09 CIN Logan Woodside QB Arrested DUI Pulled over in Kentucky for speeding, suspected of drunken driving. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-06-03 IND Chris McCain DE Charged Battery Accused of spitting on a woman and grabbing her neck in Los Angeles in Jan. 7, when he was a member of the Chargers. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-06-02 NYJ Chris Herndon TE Arrested DUI Suspected of driving while intoxicated after crashing into the vehicle of a 76-year-old man. Resolution undetermined.
    2018-05-19 MIN Antwione Williams LB Arrested DUI Pulled over for speeding in Minnesota, suspected of driving drunk. Pleaded guilty to misdemeanor, one year probation.
    2018-05-19 DAL Terrance Williams WR Arrested Public intoxication Suspected of public intoxication after police in Frisco, Texas found his Lamborghini abandoned after hitting a pole. Diversion program in alcohol awareness, paid restitution.
    2018-04-15 GB Trevor Davis WR Arrested Bomb threat Accused of talking about explosives when checking for flight at Los Angeles airport. Dropped by prosecutors.

  11. It sounds like the writer lives in a goyishe country. That he chooses to live in a country that is dominated by goyim. Then he complains about a goyishe event that takes place and is worried about his fellow Jews who might be watching it.

    Wgat a hypocrite! Time to leave chutz laaretz, and live in eretz hakodesh

    • That’s funny. As if the democratic State of Israel is a Jewish Country. What a ridiculous load of bunk.
      It’s a tremendous zechus to live in Eretz Yisroel – one that I thank Hashem for daily. But let’s not go overboard.

    • you have how many…. 50,000 LOST CONVERTED jews <(lower case intentional) THROUGH MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES
      IN ISRAEL running rampant. YOU HAVE DURGS ALL OVER THE YESHIVOT YOU HAVE PROSTITUTION,JEWISH GIRLS , CORRUPTION BY POLITICIANS, YO HAVE RUSSIAN MOSTLY GANGSTERS, YO HAVE FAKE RABBIS FINDING LOST TRIBES OF JACOB, last count was up to 86 lost tribes discovered, you have fake , I said fake jews politically accepted by rabbis prominent rabbis afraid to say NO! such as the fake African falshas ethioians Chinese indianrussians arabs ALL FAKE GETTING FREE RESIDENCY MONEY FOOD HEALTH LOVE ONLY TO protest against ISRAEL WHO ACCEPTED THEM,THEY DID NOT HAVE A RABBI OR JEWISH LEADERSHIP IN 500 YEARS AS THEY THEMSELVES AND THOSE FAKE RABBIS ADMIT THEREFORE TRIBAL INTERMARRIGE IS NOT LONGER''INTERMARRIGE' THEY ARE ONE BIG HODGEPODGE OF ACCUMULATED EREV RAV, you have fake kosher resturants YOU HAVE fake doctors trained and practicing in ISRAEL refusing to treat JEWS, YOU HAVE ARAB TERRORTISTS IN THE GOVERMENT VOTING AGAINST THE GOVERMENT AGAINST JEWS, YOU HAVE JEWS AGAINST JEWS…..AND YOU WANNA TELL US IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK AND LAKEWOODNJ AND OTHER JEWISH AREAS LIVING AS JEWS SEPARATE AS HASHEM SAID WE SHOLD BE WHAT TO DO, TOLEAVE GALUT to be assaulted in THE HOLY LAND THAT YOJ PERMIT TO BE DESECRATED? ISNT THAT WHAT ISRAEL DID, DOING NOTHING WHILE THE EREV RAV BUILT THE GOLDEN CALF?.

  12. When one picks the most severe spiritual challenges facing our community as a whole in 2019, superbowl doesn’t make the cut. Every argument to not watch it hasn’t changed but the times and its needs have.

  13. I agree with the writer 100%. Back when I was younger, after we spent the 10 days mid-winter break in Florida, nobody would waste time watching the super bowl. What has become of us?

  14. Enjoy the game at home in a family venue.

    There are those who love political bowls, food fest bowls, hedge fund bowls, World Series or PGA golf/tennis bowls, or dance a thin/concert bowls, color war bowls & skiing/snowboard bowls. Bh to hashem who has given us the arches to make leisure choices.

    • Enjoy the game at home in a family venue.
      Correct. But please don’t lump politics in with sports.
      Sports is a complete waste of time. Political Conventions and/or forums determine which direction our country goes hence it determines the direction of things that affect your way of living.
      Now I see why we have elected officials like Ocasio-Cortez, Schumer, Pelosi, Obama and other losers. You think that politics is a sport and try to pick winners instead of being really serious about who these losers really are and how they stand against us and our values.

  15. The Commish
    Schmooze & rap time about politics & viewing all the congressional/media/tv talk shows (except for Ben Shapiro & Tucker) is non-combative sports. Don’t kid yourself…

    • Torah is true,
      You confirmed my observations. Everything including politics is a sport to you. Maybe you should take politics (real politics) more seriously so that you don’t end up with elected officials who are opposed to your values. We have Torah values. How can you compare the importance of voting for someone to a sport?
      Next time you go to vote do your homework. Forget the Fake media and all the phony talk shows. Do some serious research on every candidate in each Party and see who represents your values. Politics is not a horse race.

  16. Lets be honest. Each Yid has his own superbowl. For one person it’s speaking lashon hara while for another it’s not making brochos. Human tendency is to latch onto another’s fault so as to not have to look at oneself. The superbowl bashers who condescend are really reflecting upon themselves that they are insecure with their own observance weakness in other areas. A loving Rav knows how to convey a message where the recipient feels his true concern for him.

  17. since none of you have been kids in 2019 you all have no idea. like zero. It hillarios reading what you superficial maniacs have to spew. PATHETIC

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