"My Father Told Me a Jew Doesn't Behave Like That, and It's the Greatest Lesson I Ever Learned"

"I started playing basketball at a very young age," recounts Tamir Goodman, who later became the first religious player in the top American basketball leagues, breaking many records. "I will never forget this moment: I was nine, and my team reached the finals of our league. The ball was with me in the last attack. In the final seconds, I scored the winning basket, and immediately made a gesture with my hands saying, 'I'm the greatest.'"

"After the game, on the way home in my father's car, we had a conversation that I remember to this day. He said he was very happy with how I played and praised me repeatedly, but he also wanted to make a point about my hand gesture that conveyed pride. After his compliments, my father told me that a Jew doesn't act that way, and it's the most important lesson I received in life. He said everything comes from Hashem, and we need to be humble, both on and off the court."

This lesson, which Goodman (36), married to Judy and father of five, currently involved in several basketball-related ventures, claims he remembers to this day and has indeed internalized. Nevertheless, Goodman says, the challenges were there from the very beginning. "I grew up in Baltimore, USA, in a religious family. As I said, I started playing basketball at a very young age, and at 17, I was selected as one of the 25 best players in the U.S."

"Beyond that, every year there is a very famous game in the U.S. organized by Michael Jordan for the best high school seniors. I was the first Jewish player ever invited to this game. It was a great honor to be invited, and b"H, I also won the MVP of the game, which I played with a kippah on my head."

"Thanks to that, and a few other things, I got an offer to play at Maryland, which was then the best team in the league. I also got a nice scholarship from them, but I said I was willing to join only if I didn't have to play on Shabbat. Initially, they agreed, but then they changed their minds, so I left and returned the scholarship."

"Maryland indeed won the championship that year, which is a huge achievement, but Shabbat was much more important to me. After leaving, I joined another team where I could not play on Shabbat, and even wore a kippah during games. I graduated from another school where they didn't play on Shabbat, and I even studied every day with the school's rabbi."

"After graduating from that school, I went to university and had a Muslim roommate named Mohammad. He actually helped me live as a Jew. He would assist me in various things, and once he even brought me food to the sukkah because there was no eruv."

"In general, many non-Jews I met during my career helped me continue practicing the values I believe in. For instance, many times when my kippah fell during the game, my non-Jewish friends would run to pick it up and hand it to me. There's simple assistance in that, but also a very strong symbolic act."

Missing the Most Important Game of My Life

Goodman says that more than once in his life he chose to give up on dreams he had since childhood due to his adherence to Torah and mitzvot. However, he does not regret this for a moment, and feels he only gained from it. "I never felt that Torah blocked me," he says.

"Quite the opposite. For example, if I had a good game, regular players might say to themselves: 'I don't need to go to practice tomorrow, I'm great.' But I couldn't say that because I didn't play for myself, I played for the Jewish people."

"I played to sanctify Hashem, and therefore the Torah always pushed me forward. And on the other hand, if I was in a professional slump, I couldn't be sad and despairing, but only strengthen and improve, because I knew I was representing a certain people, and I was doing what I did for the Jewish people."

"Moreover, I was often appreciated for sticking to my Torah and mitzvot. For instance, several times after my teams played games on Shabbat, the players would come to my hotel room and say they were dedicating the victory to me. By the way, because of Shabbat observance, I missed the most important game of my life a few years ago."

"Furthermore, I can say today that the Torah and Israel only empowered me to achieve my dream. When I played in U.S. colleges, it was during the difficult times of the intifada, and everywhere people always said bad and untrue things about Israel. I really felt that if I played well, behaved properly, and showed up with my kippah and tzitzit - I was representing the State of Israel and the Jewish people well, highlighting positive aspects and changing people's opinions. And yes, this is also Kiddush Hashem."

In what way do you think what you did was a Kiddush Hashem?

"The whole story of returning the scholarship because they wouldn't let me not play on Shabbat, even though it was a lot of money and a big dream of mine, and the times they changed the schedule for me, made a huge noise in the U.S. media, and it's Kiddush Hashem in the purest sense."

"I can't say I'm a saint, but I really tried to play with the kippah, not on Shabbat, and made sure to eat only kosher food. When people see that a person behaves properly and still lives life and fulfills dreams while standing on Torah and mitzvot principles, it causes admiration and Kiddush Hashem. Moreover, I also wanted to say and prove that Judaism doesn't mean giving up your dreams and aspirations, but how to fulfill them rightly."

It's Simply an Open Miracle

Talking with Goodman, his deep connection to Hashem and therefore to Torah and mitzvot is evident repeatedly. After discussing Kiddush Hashem, he talks about Hashem's will in sports. "I think that the Holy One, blessed be He, is happy when people play and engage in sports. In the end, our role is to build a sanctuary for G-d in this world, incorporating Him into every area of life positively."

"The true greatness is to take the material things and elevate them to the level of holiness. Moreover, once a person feels good about themselves, even physically, feeling strong and fit - naturally, they become a more patient and positive person. Sports do things to the body that help us feel better about ourselves, and because of that, we can also help others more."

And speaking of helping others, Goodman shares that he is now involved in several basketball-related ventures, particularly occupational therapy through the popular game. "After several good years in the United States, in 2002 David Blatt brought me to Israel, and I played here until the injury, which came relatively quickly."

"After a year in Israel, I started experiencing knee problems. Despite that, I feel I succeeded, and I don't live with a sense of failure because my career ended too soon, because I moved on and didn't give up even when it was hard to play with the injury. A successful person is someone who gives their maximum. That's what success means to me."

"At the same time, I can say the injury came at my peak, and it was very sad because I loved the game so much. I still feel pain every day, all the time, but because of the injury, I learned a lot about myself, became a better coach, and many good things came from it."

"Today, also thanks to the injury, I help special children through basketball. It's really occupational therapy through the game. Moreover, I have a patent called 'Zone 190,' which is essentially a device that helps players train, catch the ball from various angles, shoot, etc. I've already sold the device to many places and people, including the NBA, and I feel it's a great privilege for me. To this day, I meet with top people and go with a kippah and tzitzit. Beyond that, once a year, I organize a particularly invested basketball camp, where I bring 40 players from abroad every year."

"Although I've experienced a lot in life," Goodman concludes, "and with that many exciting things, two things stand above all. The most exciting thing I experienced in basketball was when I was told I'd been accepted to the best team in the league, given the scholarship, and I wouldn't have to play on Shabbat."

"Before that, it had never happened before. A religious Jewish player couldn't get accepted to such a thing. So when they told me it would happen - I was very excited. One year it worked, after that the coach was fired, and the new coach wouldn't let me not play on Shabbat, so I left, and it was very disappointing. But on the other hand, if he hadn't come - I wouldn't have left and come to Israel and met my wife. And here I come to the most exciting thing in my life, far surpassing all others, which is meeting my wife."

"The most exciting moment of my life was my marriage to my wife, and of course, the relationship born from the marriage. It's exciting because every day anew, I feel she is my source of blessing. There are so many people in the world, and it's amazing how Hashem connected us together. It's really an open miracle."

"I feel like we are two parts that have joined together to one, and Hashem wanted it to be exactly this way. We found ourselves partners deeply connected to each other 100%. It's like Hashem created her for me and me for her."