After making it to the NCAA Division III basketball tournament, Yeshiva University is now working with the college sports organization to ensure their first game will not be held on Shabbat, as it is currently scheduled to be, the school’s athletic director says.
“They are keenly aware of our restrictions – they’ve been talking about how to accommodate us since at least Saturday evening,” Yeshiva University athletic director Joe Bednarsh tells The Times of Israel.
An initial version of the schedule for the college basketball tournament shows the Modern Orthodox institution’s team squaring off against York University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, which would conflict with the players’ ability to observe Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest.
This would be the first time in the school’s history that it made it to the national basketball tournament, known collectively as March Madness.
Bednarsh says the published schedule is not final and will likely be changed later today.
“We are not going to be playing on Shabbat,” he says.
Bednarsh reiterates his appreciation for the international response to the Yeshiva University basketball team’s story.
“Nothing has been making me happier than seeing the global reach this story has!” he says, in an email.
— Judah Ari Gross
Gabriel Leiter of Yeshiva University drives on a Purchase College defender in the Skyline Conference championship game, February 25, 2018. (Courtesy of Yeshiva University via JTA)
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