Tamir Goodman

How did sports impact your Jewish identity?

Sport, in particular, basketball, was my way of connecting with Hashem, to Judaism and to Israel. When I stepped on the basketball court it was with the intention of representing the Jewish people through sports. I never felt that I was playing just for myself. I was fortunate to grow up in a proud Jewish home and have my parents and friends who were supportive of me. For me, Judaism and sports were never two separate things but a channel by which to serve Hashem.

 

What advice would you give to a young Jewish athlete?

My advice is to take all of the life skills that you get from sports and apply them to your day-to-day life. So many great lessons and skills come from sports: resilience, time management, work ethic, communication, teamwork, dealing with loss, commitment and more. When we realize this, sports can provide people with a chance to develop and refine tools that contribute towards living a meaningful life.

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HaYidion Athletics Winter 2015
Athletics
Winter 2015