Studying X’s, O’s and the Torah

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aaron-libermanThe New York Times reports: On a dark and cold morning last month, 19-year-old Aaron Liberman woke at his apartment and walked a block and a half to a two-story, redbrick synagogue in West Rogers Park, a predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in northwest Chicago. Inside, he was met by the hum of worship and a smattering of older men – some in black hats, some wrapped in prayer shawls – seated at long tables, surrounded by shelves packed with books, Hebrew letters on their spines.

Liberman removed his jacket and unpacked his worn prayer book. He unfurled his tefillin, small boxes holding prayers printed on parchment, and bound them to his left arm and his forehead with black leather straps. Then he prayed.

During the service, a man walked over, politely interrupting Liberman’s meditation, asked how he was, and then, rather proudly, said: “We’re going to get tickets for one of your games. My kids, they are very excited.”

So met two worlds – Orthodox Judaism and N.C.A.A. Division I basketball – that are making an unlikely connection through Liberman. Liberman, a freshman at Northwestern, is 6 feet 10 inches of lean muscle, topped on and off the court by a skullcap. He did not play basketball seriously until he was a sophomore in high school. Now, he is believed to be the third practicing Orthodox Jew to be part of a Division I team.

Read more at THE NEW YORK TIMES.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}


7 COMMENTS

  1. “However, Liberman has decided, after much reflection and consultation with rabbis, to play on the Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest. On one Saturday afternoon, he walked eight miles to practice.”
    Kind of lost interest after that!

  2. Kol Hakavod!!! Must not be easy for someone in his situation, yet even in his situation he holds strong to Jewish values- kol hakavod.

    May these acts inspire him and others to strengthen their Shmiros Hamitzvos

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