Jewish Athletes

Paul Farber is the creator and host of a new podcast about the Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia. (Gene Smirnov via JTA)

Interview

Jewish ‘monuments man’ on what Philly’s famous Rocky Balboa statue says about memory

As host of the new NPR podcast ‘The Statue,’ Paul Farber looks into how we carry memories as a collective – learning from a fictitious character’s very real sculpture along the way

February 7, 2023, 3:23 am

Jewish ‘monuments man’ on what Philly’s famous Rocky Balboa statue says about memory

As host of the new NPR podcast ‘The Statue,’ Paul Farber looks into how we carry memories as a collective – learning from a fictitious character’s very real sculpture along the way

By jacob gurvis

Ryan Turell will play his first NBA G League game in New York February 4. (Courtesy Motor City Cruise via JTA)

February 3, 2023, 4:30 am

YU fans prepare for Ryan Turell’s first G League game in NYC — right after Shabbat

The former Yeshiva University star returns to the Big Apple for the first time in his career, and though he’s playing for the away team, spectators will be shouting his name

By jacob gurvis

Dick Savitt hits a shot during a Davis Cup tennis match against Fumiteru Nakano of Japan, in Louisville, Kentucky, on July 20, 1951 (AP Photo/H.B. Littell, File)

January 12, 2023, 9:15 am

Legendary Jewish self-taught tennis champion Dick Savitt dies at 95

Star won Australian Open and Wimbledon in 1951, becoming 1st Jewish champion; insisted his removal from US Davis Cup team wasn’t due to antisemitism

By jacob gurvis

Former ESPN anchor Chris Berman speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class of 2020 enshrinement ceremonies in Canton, Ohio, August 7, 2021. (MSA/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images via JT)

January 7, 2023, 4:11 am

ESPN’s Chris Berman among 11 International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame 2023 inductees

The list includes athletes and sports figures from across sports and around the world — from water polo to fencing, and from the United States to Hungary

By jacob gurvis

A best-of-2022 Jewish moments in sports collage. (Getty Images/Design by Grace Yagel/ JTA)

December 31, 2022, 10:11 am

The top 8 Jewish sports moments of 2022, from Sue Bird to Sandy Koufax

Between antisemitism scandals, Maccabiah Games, Beijing Olympics and World Cup – to name just a few – this year has been filled with extreme highs and lows for Jewish fans

By jacob gurvis

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman leads Congregation Beth Yeshurun in the Hanukkah blessing on December 21, 2022. (Daniel Bissonnet/Houston Jewish Herald-Voice)

December 30, 2022, 6:29 am

Houston Astros star Alex Bregman celebrates Hanukkah at local synagogue

Hundreds of fans attend holiday reception, during which all-star recalls his bar mitzvah speech, his favorite Hanukah gifts and his not-yet kosher line of beef jerky

By Matt Samuels

Alon Leichman pitching for Team Israel in this undated photo. (Courtesy IAB)

December 25, 2022, 5:15 am

Wild pitch: How an Israeli kibbutznik became a Cincinnati Reds pitching coach

Alon Leichman is the first athlete born in Israel to make it to the major leagues, but even after years working his way up in the US, he hasn’t forgotten where he comes from

By Elli Wohlgelernter

NBA G League player Ryan Turell signs a fan's yarmulke following his game with Detroit's Motor City Cruise, November 17, 2022. The Yeshiva University graduate is the first Orthodox Jew to play for an NBA franchise team at any level. (Andrew Lapin/JTA)

November 25, 2022, 4:20 am

In Detroit, Orthodox NBA hopeful Ryan Turell’s fanbase turns up loud and proud

For a gaggle of Jewish kids, the NBA G-team rookie is a superhero embodying the idea that if you will it (and practice a lot), you too could become a basketball legend

By Andrew Lapin

United States goalkeeper Matt Turner talks to teammates during the second half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match against El Salvador, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

November 19, 2022, 11:38 am

All the Jewish players and storylines to watch in the 2022 World Cup

While the US has two Jewish players, that’s about it; Israel will not be at tournament again, but thousands of Israelis could take advantage of a rare opportunity to visit Qatar

By jacob gurvis

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried (54) works against the Tampa Bay Rays in a spring training baseball game, March 21, 2021, in Port Charlotte, Florida. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

November 3, 2022, 5:12 pm

Atlanta Braves’ Max Fried set to win third Gold Glove award

Major league star also named to All-Star team and expected to be finalist for Cy Young best pitcher award

By jacob gurvis

The Jewish Sports Review has ceased publication after a 25-year run. (Courtesy Ephraim Moxson; design by Mollie Suss/ via JTA)

October 26, 2022, 3:43 am

Octogenarian ‘Who is a Jew?’ sports writing team throws in the towel after 25 years

Since 1997, Ephraim Moxson and Shel Wallman have produced the Jewish Sports Review, a print-only magazine identifying Jewish athletes from college through professional sports

By jacob gurvis

Luke Kunin, #11 of San Jose Sharks, skates against Eisbaren Berlin during the NHL Global Series Challenge game between San Jose Sharks and Eisbaren Berlin at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 4, 2022, in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images/ via JTA)

October 7, 2022, 6:25 pm

The (surprisingly many) Jewish NHL players to watch this season

As the puck sets to drop for the 2022-23 hockey season, one item not widely covered is the abundance of Members of the Tribe taking the ice. Here’s who to keep an eye out for

By EVELYN FRICK

Shaul Ladany (seated, left) and Jeremy Schaap (seated, right) in Tel Aviv. (Frank Saraceno/ via JTA)

September 22, 2022, 12:26 am

ESPN documentary focuses on Holocaust and Munich Olympics survivor Shaul Ladany

The latest episode of the Emmy Award-winning ‘E:60’ series tells the story of a man with tenacity that characterizes his survival as well as the sport he chose

By jacob gurvis

JJ Harel shows off his AAU medals. (Lucy Harel/via JTA)

September 18, 2022, 5:12 pm

14-year-old eyes 2028 Olympic high jump team, but under which flag?

JJ Harel needs to decide whether, if he gets there, to march into the Olympic stadium under the American, Australian or Israeli flag

By Tom Tugend

From left: Michael Dunn, Anthony Firsker, A.J. Dillon, Greg Joseph and Jake Curhan are five NFL players to watch this season. (Getty Images/Design by Grace Yagel via JTA)

September 9, 2022, 3:40 am

Jewish players to watch as NFL’s 2022-2023 season kicks off

Jake Curhan, AJ Dillon, Michael Dunn, Anthony Firkser and Josh Rosen seek to climb depth charts while Greg Joseph aims to build on last year’s performance as Vikings star kicker

By jacob gurvis