Retired Soccer Player Assi Tubi: "The Torah is My Greatest Satisfaction"

Soccer player Assi Tubi is not just another player. In addition to his status as a seasoned forward who scored 109 goals in the Premier League and was twice crowned 'top scorer', he holds the equally interesting distinction of being the only Israeli player to break a world record by scoring four goals in just 13 minutes. Given this, it goes without saying what a bright future everyone foresaw for him. But on a clear day, the 'top scorer' decided to leave it all and retire from the profession because "Shabbat is more important to me today than soccer," he said.

Those who know Tubi (42), married and a father of children from Ra'anana, know that spirituality has always played a significant role in his life. Growing up in a traditional family, he always had a strong and deep-rooted faith in Hashem, although this wasn't necessarily reflected practically. Already in the army, Tubi began keeping Shabbat and laying tefillin, and he says this step was taken "purely out of love for Hashem." "I was never anti-religion," Tubi explains, "The religion has always interested me, and I saw beautiful things in it. Although I wasn’t deeply acquainted with it, I instinctively knew that when the time came to choose this path, I would know what to do."

Assi Tubi

And he did know. Over the years, Tubi strengthened himself in faith to the point where he made the clear decision to retire. In the last two years before retiring, he had to grapple with quite a few inner conflicts, feeling 'torn' between heaven—spirituality, which he aimed to base his life upon, and earth—the materialism and demands of professional soccer, which pulled him in the opposite direction. "It got to the point where I would pray on the field or ask to play games on Friday instead of Shabbat. I used to sleep in hotels and stay in my room all Shabbat, keeping my yarmulke in my pocket most of the time for fear of people's reactions. The team itself did not oppose this move; on the contrary, the guys always took care and asked: 'When is your Kiddush, when is your prayer?' Nonetheless, it was impossible, by any measure."

Despite trying to combine the two—spiritual growth and soccer—his efforts soon proved futile. "The straw that broke the camel's back was the moment a new owner came to the team and demanded that I work on Shabbat," Tubi recalls.

How did you react?

"My first instinct was refusal, but I decided not to make a decision on my own. I traveled to Baba Elazar Abuhatzeira of blessed memory, to whom I was close for 12 years, and consulted with him about the future. His answer surprised me greatly. All the years he knew me, he had never told me to retire. On the day I traveled to him, the decision to retire had been brewing in me for a long time, and I just needed his okay to carry it out. 'I trust you,' the rabbi told me, without elaborating. At first, I was confused, but as I delved into his words, I realized the rabbi was actually hinting that I should end the story once and for all, and that's what I did."

Past: Passing a Soccer Ball on Shabbat. Today: Passing Torah Lessons on Shabbat

The day after Tubi announced his retirement from the world of soccer, his quote 'Shabbat is more important to me today than soccer' became the highlight in the written media. Many reporters camped at his doorstep, hoping to hear something extraordinary, but Tubi told them all the same thing: The Torah is my joy.

Even today, 11 years later, he feels no remorse for the one-sided step he took. "I feel great satisfaction in my life as they are today, and I know that Hashem managed things with me in the best possible way. I used to miss the atmosphere, but today, not at all. Today, what interests and occupies me more than anything is sitting and studying Torah. Understanding a page of the Talmud, knowing another halacha, that's for me the greatest satisfaction and the most significant 'goal'."

And yet,if you had the chance to combine a career in soccer with faith, would you do it?

"No, because it doesn't interest me anymore. I am in another place. But at the beginning of my return to faith, when I tried to do it, I discovered it was impossible. The sentence the rabbi told me at the time still echoes in my head: 'You cannot embrace this world on one side and the next world on the other.' He was right."

Assi Tubi with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of Blessed Memory

To anyone who thinks that without soccer, his life is boring, Tubi disagrees. The former record-holder's daily schedule, which begins with the sunrise prayer at five AM and continues with studies at the Kolel Brachot Yitzhak in Ra'anana and giving Torah lessons in various settings, is filled with other peaks—no less fulfilling and joyful. "In my youth, I played the piano for seven years and performed in many settings, including with Assaf Amdursky. Today, I combine my love for the Torah with my old love—singing, playing, and making people happy," he says. This mainly happens at weddings where he's invited, and you’d be surprised to hear—there are quite a few. "Music brings joy to the heart, and honestly—what do we have in life besides happiness? People need to understand that the body’s life depends on the heart’s joy, and if there is no joy—it’s not it. No matter how hard they try to prove otherwise."

According to Tubi, his connections with most of his soccer friends have faded over the years—except for his connection with soccer player Eyal Berkovic, of whom Tubi has said, "We were always very good friends." The new and more important connection that took their place is with Hashem. "All I'm interested in is advancing in Torah and acquiring more and more fear of heaven. Being in good connection with Hashem and people, that's the significant achievement I strive for today."