Bigger Than the Game: A Tefillah Experience

By Yoni Arzt ‘22

    With Golda Och’s new safety protocols come new experiences, including new options for students to understand Tefillah and Judaism. 
Early in the school year, GOA conducted Tefillah via zoom in all classrooms. While this was a safe choice, students started to grow restless with the current state. A relatively new Tefillah elective, Bigger than the Game, encourages students to compare Judaism with sports.
“I am grateful for the chance to learn back in school, but I miss the days of having an interactive tefillah elective to brighten my days,” senior Talia Lloyd said. 

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, there are now electives that students can choose where they discuss a wide variety of topics and relate them to Judaism.
    Bigger than the Game, an elective run by Mr. Stern and Yoni Arzt, focuses on current sports topics and their connection to Judaism. In this elective, the discussions cover topics such as COVID-19 in sports, peaceful protesting and current events. This elective allows students to come and learn about issues going on in the sports world and how they are relevant to these difficult times. 
“The new Tefillah system and new elective allow for us students to find enjoyment in prayer by comparing it to other fun activities such as sports,” junior Natty Bitran said. 
     The goal of this elective is to give students a chance to take a break from the stress of the day and talk about topics that interest them. Being able to have this break from the day not only allows people to forget about their stress but gives them a new perspective on Judaism. Instead of feeling restricted to solely Jewish topics, the elective combines the love of sports and the love of religion. 
    In the first meeting, Mr. Stern and Arzt discussed the topic of COVID-19 and the world series. Specifically, Justin Turner, a member of the Dodgers, tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of a game and was taken out. After the Dodgers won the world series, Turner was seen on the field hugging team members. Turner was also spotted next to his coach, Dave Roberts, a cancer survivor. 
The students in the elective discussed questions such as whether this was morally correct. Students gave their opinions and then related the conversation to the morals of Judaism. This topic allowed students to view Judaism from a relatable perspective and provide insight into the current world of sports. 
Bigger than the Game allows students to see Judaism as a guide. Sports has become an influence in many people’s lives, which helps create a hook for interest in Judaism. 
“In this Tefillah elective, we tackle real-world issues related to sports and Jewish life,” Mr. Stern said. “It is about the intersectionality of things like teamwork, responsibility, civic engagement, etc., and how we as Jews behave.”
By looking at sports through a Jewish lens, we can learn new things about ourselves and our actions. After only a few sessions the excitement has already grown.