This past Motzei Shabbos Michael Neuman, 26, a psychotherapist living on Miami Beach, became the first and only Orthodox Jew to defeat a pro athlete on CBS’ Million Dollar Mile produced by Lebron James. He wore his yarmulke proudly as he always does when competing and winning at obstacle course racing competitions.
The show gives the contestants a two minute head start to complete as many obstacles as possible before a professional athlete chases and attempts to finish before the contestant. Michael defeated Veejay Jones in 3 obstacles while running more than half a mile to win $25,000, making Michael the top winner in the episode.
Michael outlined his Jewish background and love of sports on the show:
“Growing up as a kid, my passion was always sports but all of the leagues were on Saturday, and as an Orthodox Jew, we’re resting and having our Sabbath. So I was never able to compete as most kids get to do. But as an adult, I still have that passion for sports and I started to get into obstacle course racing which are on Sundays. Ever since that moment it was like a second chance at being the athlete I always wanted to be. This is my way to prove to the orthodox community that anything is possible and we can be strong and powerful and go for anything we want.
Anything indeed. He defeated Veejay Jones, notably one of the best athletes in the sport, the youngest obstacle course winner in history, and a Spartan Racer Michael looks up to. Michael told host Tim Tebow how much he admired VeeJay but by the end of the race, it was Veejay Jones who was doing all the admiring. Referring to Michael he said, “This guy has performed better than any other runner against me personally.”
Winning for Michael meant completing some incredible physical feats in near record time, including scaling a 15 story building before racing to the finish.
There was a moment when Michael thought he wasn’t going to win. But then, “I remembered a Holocaust survivor who told me to make a Kiddush Hashem by wearing my yarmulke proudly while doing positive things. It gave me an extra burst toward the end.” His yarmulke was on clear display because as Michael explains, “I must’ve put 8 Bobby pins and 2 clips to make sure that yarmulke was winning!”
https://youtu.be/gRPlZL9Apc0
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17 Responses
Wow
ואין לך דבר העומד בפני הרצון
I love this!
I suppose you guys call this a ‘kiddush Hashem’…..
….We are not Greeks who worship sports for public viewing….
V’Chai Bahem … Great exercise …
Yaapchik – no such Chazal!
Reb Dons
You are a Greek for being on the internet.
Thanks for worrying about everyone’s Ruchniyus.
There was no worshiping.
This was a competition.
Sorry you didn’t win 25k, maybe next time.
Awesome Job!!!!! Congrats!
Reb Dons …. Whats your point? no one is worshiping anything, Its a sport. Its Fun, its healthy. Good for him!
If only more Jews exercised and promoted a healthy lifestyle to there children instead of eating kugel all day we would be in better shape! ruchnius and gashmius. He is a great example to all!
Exactly @Reb Dons
I think he was wearing the magic yarmulka, of chananyah Yom tov lipa !!!
Thank You Reb Dons.
Sadly, too many people misunderstand the mitzvah of shmiras haguf.
Because obviously, we have never seen Gedolei Yisroel, whose lives are dedicated to Torah and mitzvos, emphasize the secular ideal of exercise in the the manner the fitness industry does.
And to all of the naysayers – Chazal tell us – אדוק ביה כמינות דמיה – that which one is committed up in is tantamount to heresy. Living healthy is certainly a mitzvah. Dedicating oneself to “fitness” is not.
So “worship” would actually be quite appropriate in too many instances…
Ah what a beautiful kiddush hashem. He should be zoche to win many more in good health.
Forsight: No I’m not a Greek for having internet, I have kosher filtered internet as instructed by Gedolei Yisroel- and I can’t view the video. And yes I ride 25 km everyday to yeshivah and back for excercise. But just don’t call this a ‘kiddush Hashem’ as though the Yid davening shacharis isn’t a real kiddush Hashem
The video does not work in israel. can you post in your other format not as a youtube video?
Is this the kind of thing people watch on TV? His feat was impressive, but I’m surprised this is what’s on TV.