CBS4 reports: A Denver high school basketball team may have to choose between their faith and their sport. If the Jewish school makes the state basketball tournament, the boys would have to play on a Shabbos. Competing on Shabbos would violate their religious beliefs.
The Herzl/RMHA varsity basketball team is 11-2, their best record ever. But senior Desi Rotenberg’s mom said their success is bittersweet.
“Tomorrow could be the last day that he could play in his high school career, and it’s very sad for him,” Julie Rotenberg said.
If the team wins two more games, it will have to play in the state tournament on Shabbos, and because of their Jewish faith, Rotenberg said they won’t play.
“The school says no games on Shabbos, so now we’re going to ask these players to go against their school and play, it’s not right,” she said.
“Believe me, we would make the change in a heartbeat if there was little or no impact on other people,” Colorado High School Athletic Association Commissioner Bill Reader said.
Reader said with 340 teams and 110,000 players, tournament schedules are always difficult, but that all teams know the rules going in.
“When they joined in 2002, the rules, the procedures of our association were made very clear, that the prime time for high school playoffs is Friday night and Saturday night,” Reader said.
School administrators say they’re working behind the scenes.
(Source: CBS4)
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11 Responses
Kol hakavod (more power to you 😉 to the Herzl/RMHA parents! I don’t know if any of you, or the kids are monitoring this site, but right now you need to work on a game plan – if you win, and you make this incredible sacrifice, what can you offer the kids? Not as a replacement, but as a positive affirmation of your principles that will leave them feeling good about this decision? Good luck, and we’re rooting for you, in every way.
Maybe invite the team to NYC to play against the Yeshiva League Champion?
these young men (and their families and school) are making a Kiddush HaShem and should be praised by all. Kol HaKavod. They have a big test and the support of their school and family to pass this test.
2nd or 3rd place in CO (or in Florida for that matter) with Shmiras Shabbos is #1 to HKB”H!
The Oilam should know that this is a school that is just a step above the many non-Jewish schools. Although they are proud of their Yiddishkeit, they have VERY minimal knowledge of a lot of the basics.
It would therefore be of tremendous Toyeles if the Chevra would e-mail the school stating how proud we are of their standing on a basic tenet of Yiddishkeit when they could have easily let it be done without caring what the reprucussions would be.
The e-mail address of the President of the school is Avi Halzel and it’s — [email protected]
I did as you suggestetd, #6; I sent an e-mail to Mr. Halzel; he thanked me immediatelly (from his Blackberry), and he wanted to know how I found out about the news. I referred him to this page at http://www.theyeshivaworld.com . I hope others send their support as well.
-MK
I figured two is better than one.
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Dear school,
I read of your tough decision to forgo the basketball play-offs on account of Shabbat. While I am someone orthodox and “frum” from birth, I have not had this sort of challenge. Would I have had your moral fortitude? I can not say. I pray that I would.
When Bilam attempted to curse Israel, (Numbers 23-10) and said “may I die among righteous people”, he failed to realize the greater challenge is to live properly. To be able to put on the line, moments of fame, and possibly gateways to more, puts you on a level of the supreme righteous. You must know of the Maimonedes teachings on the topic of Repentance/Yom-Kippur; the greatest sin is desecration of G-D, and conversely the greatest achievement a human can reach is sanctification of Hashem.
I don’t know what you teach to build the beauty of Shabbat amongst your student body, however evidently you are doing something right.
I stand in awe of your focus on priorities. If you do write back, please bless me.
I am joining #6-maybe this will awaken their Jewish awareness and their level of Yidishkeit!
Texas Torah Institute better known as chofetz chaim-Dallas already set the stage as they forfeited their chance as a 2nd year in a row state champion in basketball due to iys being played on shabbos. The previous year they were state champions.
#8 well said, it clearly came from your heart.
Chazak u’baruch
I’m guessing that this school is on the modern side and it just goes to show that we are all bonim la-shem. KOL HAKAVOD! I’m jealous of the Kiddush Hashem.