Jan 19, 2011

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.
[...]
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.

11 comments:

  1. Williams is a real character.

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  2. Amazing. Judaism attracts many people. So why not a football player. Have you seen the guys who play tackle football in Israel?

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  3. I didnt say Jews dont play football. Just that at the poressional level, there are very few Jews.

    Also, you gotta admit that these guys generally go Muslim, not Jewish. Obviously it can happen, but it is not all that common.

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  4. Is it just me or does he resemble Moshe?

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  5. Are you Generation Israel http://www.facebook.com/genisrael

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  6. If rapper Shyne can convert why not Ricky Williams. By the way Ricky you need to start thinking about a Hebrew name and maybe join Shyne in Jerusalim were he is studying! whoops getting ahead of myself. good luck on your path. It is the right one and original REAL one.

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  7. Judaism attracts people, we do not try to convert anybody, people find out the truth.
    "Seek and you should find"

    Welcome to the Tribe Ricky!

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  8. It's passing fancy, he's been into Buddhism, yoga and many other spiritual journeys.

    "Judaism attracts people, we do not try to convert anybody, people find out the truth."

    Ha, you religious nuts crack me up.

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  9. Alan Veingrad, formerly of the Packers, owns a Ring, and is now a fully Torah observant Jew. He is not a convert, just Baal Teshuvah.

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  10. yes, Jody. I think I wrote about him a long time ago. His story is very inspiring.

    Jews in football is still rare.

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  11. I once wrote about another football player who saw the truth in Torah, although he never had time to gratify his curiosity in learning because of his premature death. (See my write-up on Reggie White, here: http://hezbos.blogspot.com/2009/11/reggie-white-tribute-to-giant.html

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