It’s easy to see why basketball is one of the world’s most beloved sports. There’s an ease and accessibility to the game, something that translates to all demographics in all corners of the world. Boca’s Katz Hillel Day School understands the importance the sport has on a youngster’s development and growth. So much so that it is bringing renowned former American/Israeli pro-basketball star, Tamir Goodman to its Play Hard Pray Hard two-day training camp.
Unstoppable on the court, Goodman has been dubbed as the “Jewish Jordan” by Sports Illustrated in 1999. He was the 25th ranked player nationwide coming out of high school and, equally as notable, was the first Orthodox Jew to receive a division-1 scholarship in basketball while remaining observant to his Orthodox Jewish upbringing and not playing on the Sabbath. Despite receiving a full scholarship to number-one ranked University of Maryland, Goodman chose to play for D-I Towson University, as their schedule better accommodated his religious observance.
In 2002, Goodman was signed by Israeli and European League basketball team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, fulfilling a lifelong dream of moving to Israel. Former NBA Coach, David Blatt, was the team’s coach at the time. In 2004, Goodman took a break from playing basketball to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) where he was awarded “Most Outstanding Soldier.” He retired from professional basketball in 2009 after suffering career-ending injuries.
He is currently based in Israel and dedicates himself to mentoring and training youth worldwide, running his own camps and other sports-based programs. He also serves as a motivational speaker and consultant for multiple sports and businesses and lives in Jerusalem with his wife and five children.
Rob Siemens, founder of Play Hard Pray Hard, is elated with Goodman’s upcoming arrival. “We are incredibly grateful that Tamir is coming all the way from Israel to run this camp with us,” he says. “We both believe that for kids to reach their full potential, they must combine the physical with the spiritual — something that Tamir feels strongly about, as he has practiced this all his life.”
Play Hard Pray Hard’s goal is exactly that: to empower and inspire Jewish youth, building a stronger Jewish identity and pride through a combination of programming, team sports, physical activities and meaningful prayer experiences. Not only does the organization aim to teach kids to have fun and enjoy the game, but also, to establish meaningful values they can carry throughout their lives.
The camp is for boys ages 11-17 and runs Aug. 16-17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. With only 45 spots available, space is limited and those interested are encouraged to visit the Play Hard Pray Hard website to register.