Faith

Jewish High School Team May Be Forced to Forfeit After Private School League Refuses to Move Playoff Game on Sabbath

Citing a religious conflict concerning timing, a Jewish high school basketball team in Houston, Texas, is going to miss an important playoff match. See, the game is scheduled on the Sabbath and officials with the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) league have, so far, refused to accommodate the team by moving the game. Considering The Robert M. Beren Academy is Modern Orthodox Jewish school, this creates a conundrum. The students must either show up and break the Sabbath or refuse to play and forfeit the match.

The team is only two games away from winning the state’s championship and has an impressive 23-5 record. Unfortunately, this refusal to bend the rules to accommodate the Jewish faith will likely cost the team the opportunity to secure victory and inevitably relish in its hard work this season. The Washingtonian has more regarding Jewish tradition and the league that the team is voluntarily governed by:

In accordance with Orthodox Jewish tradition, the students at Beren refrain from a variety of activities during the Sabbath (from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday). Those activities include working, cooking, using electronics, and taking part in competitive sports. And the state semifinals are scheduled for 9 this Friday night.

Beren plays in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), a league composed mostly of other schools that, like Beren, feature religion as a key component of their mission. All season long, schools playing Beren have been only too happy to change their Friday tipoff times to an earlier hour, allowing the Jewish players to compete in the games and still get home in time to observe Shabbat. But now that the playoffs have reached the final four stage, the league has taken over the scheduling, and for reasons that defy understanding, it has taken a hard line that the start time for Friday’s semifinal, despite Beren’s requests, will not be moved.

Basketball Team May Not Get to Play in Playoffs Because of Sabbath | Robert M. Beren Academy

A screen shot from The Robert M. Beren Academy web site

Chris Cole, Beren’s head coach, called the refusal to accommodate the players “heartbreaking.” Cole, who is not Jewish, explained that the school and the league “just have different views of what we think is reasonable.” Oddly enough, TAPPS made a 201o accommodation for a Seventh-Day Adventist school (which observes the same Friday and Saturday Sabbath).

Despite this fact, TAPPS director Edd Burleson says that the league’s bylaws have since changed and that bending the rules this time could lead to a slippery slope. “If you make exceptions, we no longer have rules,” he said, going on to claim that one or two Jewish schools in the league shouldn’t dictate what 120 schools do.

Rabbi Harry Sinoff, who is the head of Beren, and the Anti-Defamation League have both spoken up against Burleson’s refusal to bend the rules and allow the students to play. The Washingtonian’s Brett Haber asks, “Is TAPPS’s refusal to change the game time rooted in religious bias?” While this may not be the case, the refusal to change times does, indeed, have critics pondering.

“The sacred mission will trump excellence in the secular world,” Sinoff told The New York Times in an interview this week. In the end, he said that the team, should it be forced to forfeit, will learn an important life lesson.

(H/T: Washingtonian)

Comments (103)

1 2
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:37pm

    If I were on the opposing team, I would be extremely upset that my win was due to the other team not being able to play. It is a private school group in playoffs they know there is a Jewish school they need to take it into account. For a group of religious schools this shows very poor character to do this it is something I wouldn’t really even expect from a public school if they were competeing with the Jewish school.

    Report Post »  
  • momsense
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:37pm

    Wasn’t it last year that a high school in Detroit scheduled football practice after hours to acommodate Muslim students? Seems kind of funny that the same rules don’t apply here.

    Report Post »  
    • dnha14
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:35pm

      The Muslims will do damage to their offices, the Jews will not.

      Report Post »  
  • Female
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:31pm

    The league should accomodate the request and should learn from the problem in the future! It is unsportsman and cheating competition to remove an eligible team by interferring with their day of worship.

    GOD is greater than atheletics!

    Report Post »  
  • vaman
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:30pm

    Hey, they chose a religious school, so follow the rules surrounding that religion. If you can’t play, too bad. Choose another school that permits playing sports on the sabbath if it’s that important. Blazers are always preaching how gods law trumps mans law. Here you go, guess gods law will make them forfeit the game.

    Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:39pm

      you really don’t get it. they are Jewish if they were at another school they would still be practicing the sabbath because the school isn’t what makes them Jewish it is their faith and bloodline. This is a private school that plays other private religious schools.

      Report Post »  
    • walkandtalk
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:18pm

      You are talking about two kinds of law religious and legal law. The Jewish school was following religious law. The director was requiring the school and its students to violate religious law or forfeit the game. Legality may possibly be viewed as an issue because it could be viewed the league had already set a precedent by not allowing games on Sunday. It may be determined that making the religious beliefs and requirements of Sabbath belief a part of the rules already exists. Therefore denying a religious school the ability to play based on following religious Sabbath belief could be viewed as a violation of said rules and possibly require the schools have a makeup game as the forfeit could be ruled as non binding

      Report Post »  
    • tzion
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:35pm

      The issue isn’t about the school not letting the players play, it’s the league not letting the school play.

      Report Post »  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:26pm

    “JEWISH HIGH SCHOOL TEAM MAY BE FORCED TO FORFEIT AFTER PRIVATE SCHOOL LEAGUE REFUSES TO MOVE PLAYOFF GAME ON SABBATH”
    I thought it was WORK they weren’t allowed to do on the Sabbath–wouldn’t PLAY be just fine?

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
  • Razorhunters
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:24pm

    the needs of the one , out weigh the needs of the many…

    change the rules for 1 school…?

    this back a88wards thinking is killing us.

    Report Post » Razorhunters  
  • walkandtalk
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:20pm

    This is a league for private religious schools. The league does not allow games on Sunday so why is the religious beliefs of the Jewish school not treated with the same rights. The director was demanding that Jewish players violate their beliefs or lose. If faith based beliefs are going to be part of the league rules i.e. no games on Sunday then the same conditions must exist for Jewish schools in this league. All the coach of the school requested was the game be played earlier on Friday. It was scheduled for 9:00 PM. Had the TAPPS director allowed an eariler game so the students would not be playing after sundown the winner would have been based on team ability not forfeit. Why so late for the game.? This should be looked into further?

    Report Post »  
    • rpp
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:23pm

      Very good! Well said!

      Report Post » rpp  
    • wzanesdad
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:47pm

      Hmmmmmm….I‘ll bet you that burlson’s kid plays for one of the schools in the final 4.

      Report Post » wzanesdad  
  • Hickory
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:13pm

    This is stupid. What’s wrong with just changing the date?

    Report Post » Hickory  
  • Dave.the.Blaze
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:13pm

    Not accommodating this team is the height of ignorance. If they end up not doing so, it’ll be a victory for this Jewish team. They win either way. Texas, you should be ashamed if they don’t change this ruling.

    Report Post » Dave.the.Blaze  
  • JEANNIEMAC
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:08pm

    Isn’t 9:00 PM rather late for a high school game to start? Was this time deliberately set so that the Jewish school would forfeit?
    In upstate New York, baseball teams from New York City cannot play in the leagues. The city teams constantly won, and so the upstaters got them banned.
    Maybe the opponents could practice more, and play fair?

    Report Post »  
  • TAms
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:08pm

    they can play on Saturday night.probably 7-8pm start. What has happened to America. This used to be a benevolent positive place. Now it is just going downhill it seems to me.

    Report Post »  
  • just_around
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:03pm

    If their beliefs are that important, then they should forfeit. Show a world that what you believe in is more important than basketball….unless it’s not.

    Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:03pm

    They don’t roll on Shabbos.

    Report Post »  
  • JBaer
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:03pm

    If they’re just two days away from the state championship, then that says that there are not 120 other schools to have to “change rules” for – just ONE.

    Report Post » JBaer  
  • blackstone22
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:56pm

    give the kids a break, they’ve worked hard to get there, have some humanity and change the start time. Don’t punish them for having consistent religious values. Making an exception in this case is a sign of strength and understanding, not weakness. TAPPS, do the right thing, reschedule the game !
    You rescheduled a game for a Seventh Day Adventist School, don’t give some hogwash about the rules have changed… All you Texas Christians ask yourself “What Would Jesus Do?”
    As a Christian, I’ll tell you what Jesus would do, he would reschedule the game so these young men can compete.

    Report Post »  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:19pm

      It has nothing to do with “going back to Israel”. The true Sabbath day is the seventh day of the week; the day we call Saturday. The fact that Constantine decided to change it to the first day of the week and most of the churches blindly followed doesn’t change the true Sabbath.

      No, the week days haven’t changed order over the centuries. Several people have traced it back.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • grandpa1
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:14pm

      Absolutely correct. What would Jesus do?…….Well for Texas’ info, being that he was Jewish, he also celebrated the Sabbath from Friday at sundown to sundown Saturday. He didn’t revise the Sabbath to Sunday. Then again….there goes “Man” who knows better screwing around with the word of the Lord. It wasn‘t the first time and it’s not the last.

      Report Post »  
  • sethlevy
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:54pm

    This is antisemitism, possibly subconscious antisemitism but antisemitism nonetheless. The fact that they allow exemptions for any sect of Christianity but refuse to make the same for Jews is proof of that. Dallas Covenant should do the right thing and forfeit before Beren is forced to.

    Report Post »  
    • Pal5151
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:59pm

      If you can’t follow RULES properly, then get out of this country and go back to your crap hole Israel. This is America, not Israel you idiot.

       
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:02pm

      51
      You must be proud of all those 6th place trophy’s on your shelves.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • markranger
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:08pm

      It really depends on what alternatives they would have. The other school would also have to agree. Suppose they decide that the alternative is not acceptable…then what..does that make them racist too?

      Report Post »  
    • EGsimi1776
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:28pm

      @markranger according to the story on fox news the opposing teams coach has said they are more than happy to play on a different day and they hope the league moves the date.

      Report Post » EGsimi1776  
    • tzion
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:42pm

      @pal5151
      Yes this is America which means that there is no established religion or race. And these are rules set up by a committee not passed by government.

      Report Post »  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:49pm

    Do they play games on Sunday?

    Report Post » dmerwin  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:51pm

      Reading further they did change the rule for 7th day adventists. Therefore the school COULD take them to court.

      Report Post » dmerwin  
    • sethlevy
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:51pm

      No, they don’t due to the CHRISTIAN Sabbath.

      Report Post »  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:08pm

      sethlevy
      That is my point. It is time to schedule games on every day of the week.

      Report Post » dmerwin  
  • rpp
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:49pm

    Sounds like religious discrimination to me. If they accommodate the the SDA, why not observant Jews? They claim the bylaws changed since 2010, why?

    Report Post » rpp  
    • Pal5151
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:53pm

      That’s what happens when your conservative brain washed weak minded person that has a very low IQ. Gosh your dumb!

      Report Post »  
    • rpp
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:22pm

      @PAL5151, you are calling me dumb, yet you are unable to convey a thought, spell correctly or use proper grammar. Your post is proof of the proverb, “A man may be presumed wise until he opens his mouth and proves himself a fool.”

      In addition, your other comments on this story prove that in addition to being a fool, you are an antisemitic, anti-Christian, anti-intellectual bigot one unable to discuss any issue because all you are able to do is spew leftist and progressive talking points without actually understanding them.

      Report Post » rpp  
    • walkandtalk
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:29pm

      @pal5151 What is your problem.Try reading and doing a little research. You are a complete coward and a bigot.

      Report Post »  
    • capnbrit
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:18pm

      They would be accommodated if it was a Muslim holy day

      Report Post »  
    • azjefff
      Posted on March 1, 2012 at 5:17pm

      When insulting others about their intelligence, try to use 5th grade English (or higher). It’s “you’re“ not ”your”.

      Report Post »  
  • mccracken
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:48pm

    Homeschool your kids and play basketball in your driveway.

    Report Post »  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:33pm

      @mccracken
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:48pm
      ‘Homeschool your kids and play basketball in your driveway.;
      ****************
      Unless you have degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, literature, history, art, psychology–you will shortchange your kids by homeschooling.

      And playing basketball in the driveway wiuth your parents is not nearly as fun as making new friends your age and playing with them.

      Report Post » Baikonur  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:40pm

    Come on league, how many times is a Jewish basketball team going to make the playoffs? Oy vey.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:39pm

    Parochial-? Religious schools right? UM so you teach and observe religious practices?

    WELL?

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:37pm

    This happened to our softball team. We played on Wednesday’s , no one could make it any other days.When they changed the Championship to Thursday, we said we couldn’t make it, but they were insistent. So we told the league president that we would show up,, but we Stooged the other team, lost the game and not one of us gave a rats a$$. As the cash prize was given to the team that won the regular league season, we just took the cash and donated it to charity. We still laugh about it to this day.

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • Pal5151
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:36pm

    Oh well, to bad. The game is scheduled to play on that date, follow the RULES. This is America not Israel! Typical Jews, always crying and complaining about everything. No wonder most people don’t like them, the proof is right above us and on an every day basis.

    Report Post »  
    • geonj
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:56pm

      idiot

      Report Post » geonj  
    • rpp
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:24pm

      Bigot. Lefty. Poster child for Planned Parenthood.

      Report Post » rpp  
    • Arthur Spooner
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:54pm

      Remember this when you meet your Maker. Jews are God’s chosen people.

      Eternity is a looooooooong time.

      Report Post »  
    • Pal5151
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:08pm

      @ Arthur keep telling yourself that. Your a typical sheep/robot. Tell your so called, made up Maker I said hello. I hope he teaches you the reality of life, instead of fairy tale lie. Man you people really have no clue, its sad and embarrassing. I feel really, really bad for all you idiots.

      Report Post »  
    • FarmSpy
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:20pm

      If the game was scheduled to play on that date, then the league administrators should have known that in their RELIGIOUS league that the JEWISH schools could not have played on their Sabbath. Obviously they couldn’t know for sure that the Jewish team would make it to the playoffs, but with a 23-5 record it might have occurred to them that a conflict might be coming up. It is a religious league that has made an exception before, and then changed the rules so that they wouldn’t have to do it again. Whoever changed the rules so that their religious league wouldn’t have to make an exception to a religious school for a religious reason should be fired for religious intolerance. The Beren administrators should get an injunction and force the issue so their kids can play ball while observing their beliefs.

      Report Post »  
    • Baikonur
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:51pm

      @Arthur Spooner
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:54pm
      ‘Remember this when you meet your Maker. Jews are God’s chosen people. ‘
      ***************
      Even if there is a God, he/she/it would be very unfair and hopeflully much too busy to discriminate on our tiny planet according to ethnic identification.

      But if you guys follow the Bible, or are just nice decent human beings, you understand that being kind and flexible to all kids who want to compete in a sport and qualify is the right thing to do.

      Sports, like music, and poetry, and music, and books, and the environment bring us together to have fun, to learn, to make the world around us better.

      Why not be inclusive and flexible and always open to these human connections?

      Report Post » Baikonur  
  • chameleonx
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:35pm

    What I can’t understand is why people are terrified of breaking a religious rule. Does this religion control your life so much you cannot even play basketball? Crazy!

    Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:43pm

      “remember the sabboth day, to keep it holy” isn’t a sugestion, it’s a commandment, and most of the people in this country who profess religion have forgotten that. Shame on us-good for that team, whenever and whatever the sabboth day is for them. Funny how we whine about taking down these commandments from public, but pick and choose which one’s to keep.

      Report Post »  
    • Pal5151
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:45pm

      Great post! Because they don’t know how to live life properly. That’s what happens when your conservative brain washed weak minded person that has a very low IQ.

      Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:35pm

      the trolls are out in full force today

      Report Post »  
    • tzion
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:47pm

      Well seeing as this religion also says you can’t have sex indiscriminately, you can’t murder, and that incest is an abomination, I‘d say it does control people’s lives. What’s your point? And Jews can play basketball just not competitively. A short pickup game for fun is usually fine.

      Report Post »  
    • holy ghostbuster
      Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:27pm

      @ Jenny Lind – I haven‘t forgotten the commandment not to boil a goat in its mother’s milk (Exodus 34)? That one I can assure you I will never break. What do you think of the commandment regulating your thoughts not to covet your neighbor’s property, such as your neighbor’s wife? God obviously viewed women as property. Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_lM61aDyPg

      Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
  • Bronx
    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:29pm

    Except if your muslim.

    Report Post »  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love