In the spirit of Hanukah it is hard to not realize some Jews have made it to the professional level – Sandy Koufax and Gabe Kapler in baseball….Howard Carl in basketball……Brad Peltz….Steve Dubinsky and this goes on. Yes, it is fairly short, however some have made the show. However, this article focuses outside of the field….ice….and more about life.

The Holocaust occurred in 1941 when my father was born, and it went on to 1945. The Jewish people were persecuted and tortured for that period. Slavery started in the early 1600’s and ended in the mid 1800’s. Both are parts of history that I was not alive for, however like most kids, I learned about them in school. Here is the problem…I learned about them…..but didn’t completely feel the impact of either. I was distant from history that was awful for my people and awful for good black families who were trying to raise their children like anyone else. Well, the Holocaust ended and so did slavery, but much of that inappropriate behavior exists today in different ways. This bothers me.

We fast forward many years later and new history resurfaces old history. In October of 2018 11 Jews were murdered in a synagogue for simply being Jewish. Yup…..for just leading a Jewish life. African Americans have also watched kids….adults…..be pushed around my police authorities by virtue of their color. This is wrong…..and this continues to be a weekly ritual with are police force and other authority figures like the police. Now…..I don’t think it is fair to generalize because there are plenty of great young men and women in police force across the country. I am friends with some of them. However, it is time to identify the “haters” and set them free from authority. As I said before, history has resurfaced its ugly head in the present.

I grew up in a home where being observant in the Jewish religion was important. However, most of my adult life I have distanced myself from religion. When my father died, I distanced myself even more. Why? I felt if there was a supreme being that took care of everyone, they would have never ended my father’s life so early. He was a good man…. compassionate…smart….and nice to everyone. He treated a bum and a billionaire the same way. So why take him away at 66 years? Well, I suppose life has a way of starting and ending. Who knows who controls it, but it starts and ends.

The Pittsburgh event had a direct impact on me being a Jew. It was my people. I felt things I had never felt before and was in fact angry at society. However, I was angry at things I can not control. I have the desire, but not the resources. So, I have decided to do something else. I have broken just about every Jewish tradition through the years. I have felt short of embracing who I am many times.

I have decided to find one Jewish tradition and perform in once a week for the rest of my life. Laying tefillin was something my father did every day up until he was to sick to do so. It was quiet time in the morning, and perhaps sparked memories of his father who once did the very same act weekly. I now have begun the process to do this once a week for the rest of my life. You see…. I am not trying to be “super Jew”, however I am trying to embrace who I am….what I came from….and also pray for other persecuted groups. This is not just about being Jewish, but rather connecting with a tradition…..praying for for the challenges we have today and ahead…. And somehow building a little unification.

A common thread in my life has always been the importance of peace amongst people. You heard me…..”people”. White or black we are all one of the same. Let’s start now. Find a tradition that means something to you….and more importantly be nice to everyone or at least try. It feels better to get alongthan engage in conflict. An in your own way….send positive vibes to those that are less fortunate. It seems like a better way to live.

As much as we all love sports….we should also value tradition to protect who we are.