Giving Up the Game for Shabbat

“It Wasn’t Easy, But I Chose Shabbat”

When professional soccer player and captain of the Hapoel Ashkelon team, Yair Azulai, committed to observing Shabbat, he had no idea he was about to make one of the most significant sacrifices of his career. After two years of climbing the ranks and earning a coveted spot in Israel’s Premier League, Azulai was faced with a dilemma: all league matches were held on Shabbat. And so, he made the bold decision to walk away.

“It wasn’t easy to make this decision,” Azulai said last year when he announced his life-changing choice. “Those who know me, and Hashem knows too, can testify how deep my love and passion for soccer run, which made this an enormous test. If I were chasing fame and recognition, every strong performance in the Premier League would’ve landed me in the headlines. So yes, it’s a big deal to give that up.”

“I Played on Shabbat for Two Years and Felt Terrible”

With his decision came a public letter explaining his move to the people of Israel. “I want to thank the Creator of the world for giving me the strength to make this meaningful and special decision and accept and uphold the sanctity of the holy Shabbat,” he wrote. “That means giving up the glory of soccer for the sake of Shabbat.”

“Shabbat with my family is a special time with them and with Hashem. It's something that can’t be replaced. I encourage anyone who is thinking about Shabbat observance to taste the sweetness of Shabbat and discover the unmatched joy it brings.”

Azulai continued and shared that for years he had no choice but to play on Shabbat. “Soccer was my life and my livelihood. Even on the rare occasions when matches were scheduled for Saturday night, I still had to leave home on Shabbat to arrive early for warmups. For two years, I played regularly on Shabbat and felt awful about it. Lately, that feeling became unbearable. People search for all kinds of segulot (spiritual remedies) for success, and we shouldn't forget that Shabbat observance is the ultimate source of blessing,” he concluded.