hoop dreams Riverdale press

Hoop dreams

TAMIR GOODMAN, known as the ‘Jewish Jordan,’ visits the SAR Academy on Monday. Photo by Claudio Papapietro Photo Reprints

If there ever were a “celebrity” for Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy students, it would be Tamir Goodman. Known as the “Jewish Jordan,” Mr. Goodman, a professional basketball player and Orthodox Jew, has garnered media attention throughout his career for refusing to play on the Jewish Sabbath.

The 6-foot-3 redhead grew up in Silver Spring, Md. and attended the same school as Rafi Muller, SAR’s sixth-grade programming director. In February, Mr. Muller took eighth-grader Cory Greenbaum to see the Jewish basketball player shoot hoops for the Maryland Knighthawks, a Premiere Basketball League team. The two scored front row seats and Cory, currently recovering from an accident last summer, was particularly motivated by Mr. Goodman’s example.

Hoping to inspire more youngsters, Mr. Muller invited Mr. Goodman to SAR on Monday to share some wisdom and life lessons. Middle schoolers gathered in the gym and looked up in awe at the inspiring athlete, eager for autographs.

At their age, Mr. Goodman was already starting point guard for Yeshiva High of Greater Washington’s basketball team. Although heavily recruited by Division I teams, including the University of Maryland, Mr. Goodman remained steadfast in his Orthodox beliefs and refused to play on Saturdays.

To accommodate the successful player, Towson State University offered him a scholarship and even managed to change around the entire American East Conference schedule so that the majority of the games would not conflict with the Jewish Sabbath. The young man took the scholarship and became the first Orthodox Jew to play Division I basketball.

After his college career, Mr. Goodman played for professional teams in Israel for five years. He signed with the Maryland Knighthawks last year.

“Wear your kippa [yarmulke] when you play,” he reminded the youngsters, after sharing his story. He then encouraged the audience to use their bracha, or talent.

“Everyone has a different mission from God,” he said. “This is my mission.”

“I thought it was really motivational,” said eighth-grader Tamar Rothstein. “You can still be Jewish and achieve your dreams.”

Rani Kubersky, a budding ice skater, said she could relate to Mr. Goodman’s struggles.

“A lot of times my coach only has lessons on Saturdays,” she said, adding that it was inspiring to hear Mr. Goodman’s story.

This is part of the April 3, 2008 online edition of The Riverdale Press.