Shabbat Like No Other: How Soccer Star Daniel Gretz Grounds His Soul

Yoga for the Soul

When Daniel Gretz, a 24-year-old player for the Hapoel Tel Aviv soccer team, talks about Shabbat, his joy is palpable, even over the phone. “There’s nothing that can replace the uplifting feeling when Shabbat arrives,” he says ahead of a special Tuesday night broadcast on the Hidabroot channel as part of their "#I_Deserve_This_Too campaign.

Originally from Givatayim, Gretz is a married father of a six-month-old baby girl. He has been Shabbat observant for the past four years. For him, Shabbat is more than a day off. It’s a full-body reset.

“It’s like yoga for the soul,” he says. “It’s a day of calm, with good food, connection, and family. Sometimes we have matches on Shabbat, but I walk to the stadium and never violate Shabbat.”

A Day of Spiritual Anchoring

“My Shabbat routine starts with going to Beit Knesset HaChalban near my home. It's my regular synagogue,” he shares. “After that, we either go to my wife’s parents’ house for kiddush and meals, or stay in. Later, I attend a Torah class on the weekly parshah and mussar (character development), taught by my Rabbi, Rabbi Yaakov Zissaulz.”

While Gretz loves the peaceful atmosphere in every synagogue, what he treasures most is the quiet. “Just being in a synagogue, with no phone, no background noise, that disconnection creates inner peace.”

His favorite Shabbat reading material? “The weekly Torah pamphlets, especially the ones from Hidabroot that we get at shul. I love those short Torah insights. Sometimes I also study from other books. The last one I read was Anaf Etz Avot by the late Rav Ovadia, a mussar work on Pirkei Avot.”

Honoring Family and Finding Rest

Although no one else in their extended family observes Shabbat, Gretz and his wife are always warmly welcomed. “Thank God, they really respect us. When we come over, they set up a hot plate, the food is kosher, and we make kiddush together. They try hard to make us feel comfortable, and we love spending time with them.”

And what does this top-tier athlete do on Shabbat that he can’t manage during the week?

“Wow, I take a nap! (laughs). During the week, it’s intense. I have training, gym sessions, and errands. I also try to pray Mincha (afternoon prayer) and Maariv (evening prayer) at the synagogue during the week, so there’s barely any downtime. Shabbat is literally the only time I can allow myself a nap.”

As Shabbat departs, Gretz doesn’t waste a moment. “I make havdalah for my wife and daughter, and then I pitch in at home. We start cleaning up, putting things away. After all, we’ve just spent 25 hours resting and doing nothing!”