NFL Running Back Ricky Williams Considers Conversion To Judaism

Jews are not big players in professional sports, though there have been a number of highly successful Jewish sportsmen in history. Even with the small number of Jewish professional athletes, they have mostly been concentrated in sports that are not violent sports, such as baseball. The more violent sports, such a American Football, has seen just a few Jewish players at the professional level.

That makes this report, of a National Football League player considering conversion to Judaism, to be highly unusual and interesting:

He even already wears a yarmulka!

After a disappointing season, in which his Miami Dolphins failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs for the second straight year, Ricky Williams appears to be taking comfort in his latest interest.


According to an interview conducted by South Florida radio station, WQAM-560, the 33-year-old running back has recently been learning about the Jewish faith.


Williams began by studying the Jewish alphabet, and is currently interested in the Jewish Shabbat, Judaism’s weekly holy day.


Williams noted that prior to Miami’s final home game of the season, a 34-27 loss to the Detroit Lions on December 26, 2010, he even made an effort to observe the holiness of Shabbat. Asked if he was actually able to fully observe Shabbat that day, Williams responded “to a certain extent.”


“I had to go to the hotel on Saturday, but I didn’t watch television. I opened the Bible and I read.” Prior to the commencement of Shabbat the previous night, Williams says he also used his hot tub as a mikveh.


“In my reading, I read that (Shabbat) starts at sundown on Friday, and that right before sundown, (a Jew) traditionally takes a bath. So I went outside in the hot tub. It wasn’t on, so it was cold. And I jumped in the hot tub and dipped three times.”


Williams began his professional career with the New Orleans Saints, after being drafted fifth overall in 1999. After three seasons with the Saints, the 5-foot-10, 230 pounder from San Diego, California was then traded to Miami, where he has achieved some of his best statistics.
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Until then, Williams remains open-minded as he explores various Jewish customs and laws. According to Williams, his first real Shabbat experience appealed to his inner-spirituality. “When the day shifted from Saturday afternoon to Saturday night, even my thoughts shifted,” he recalled. “There was something very pure about that Saturday.”

I particularly enjoyed the line about using the hot tub as a mikvah. We can always use some new tough Jews and Jewish athletes, so if he is sincere, we will welcome him with open arms. And if not we will just watch Ricky Williams with curiosity.