SPORTS The newly established Sports Desk at the Jewish Link of Bergen County aims to cover the full gamut of local sports. If we miss a story, an event or accomplishment, please email our Sports Editor at: sports@jewishlinkbc.com. Please also send submissions for Yasher Koach and Athlete of the week for your child or adult sports enthusiast to sports@jewishlinkbc.com
Jewish Men Can Jump! By Steve Gutlove n May 23 the Yeshiva High School Basketball Alumni Organization will hold its second annual dinner at Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, New Jersey. The Yeshiva High School Basketball Alumni have chosen to honor an impressive group of men this year. These nine honorees span more than 60 years of yeshiva basket-
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• Dr. Herb Schlussel, MTA Class of 1953 • Stuart Poloner, MTA Class of 1967 • Rabbi Avi Haar, HILI Class of 1971 • Dr. Allen Sapadin, HILI Class of 1979 • Abie Dweck, Sephardic Class of 1985 • Dov Wiener, Rambam Class of 1997 • Benjy Ritholtz, HANC Class of 2010 • Special Ring of Honor: Irv Bader, BTA According to dinner chair and event co-coordinator Elliot Auerbacher, the honorees were all great ball players, but they are modest and felt they were not worthy of such accolades. Auerbacher STUIE POLONER had to have several conversations and do serious arm bending to get some of the honorees to accept. When it came down to it, “These guys were all the best at what they did when they laced
IRV BADER IN UNIFORM
it up. Having them included gives the Ring of Honor legitimacy.” Last year more than 175 people attended the gala. The keynote speaker was Alan Dershowitz, the well-known
MITCH MERLIS A”H
ball greatness, and it will be a thrill for fans to see them all assembled in one room! The legacy of Mitch Merlis, z”l, lives on. The basketball legend will be honored posthumously because he was nifter five years ago Mitch is fondly remembered by former classmates, teammates and friends as being a warm loving person who was larger than life. Mitch attended Brooklyn Talmudic Academy, Yeshiva University High School for Boys, and played for the BTA Yugars, Class of 1974. In addition to honoring the memory of Merlis, the Alumni Organization will be inducting its inaugural Ring of Honor/Hall of Famers:
DR. ALLEN SAPADIN, IRV BADER, AND ALAN WEISS.
appeals lawyer and commentator. Dinner organizers note that the cost of the event ($118, dinner and annual membership, $100 for a virtual ad, and a special under 25 rate of $75) has been contained to encourage even greater attendance than last year, and early reservations are encouraged. The evening’s event will provide an opportunity for those in attendance to stroll down memory lane to fun and simpler times and recall some of the antics and hilarity of years past. Unlike many formal dinners, guests are encouraged to provide old photos and stories to share. The planning committee was specific in choosing a date in May, with Pesach and Shavuos behind us and prior to the busy wedding, graduation, camp and vacation season. The money raised goes to Yeshivat Kfar Zeitim in Tiberias, Israel. If you played in, coached or even watched a Yeshiva High School game, this is an event not to be missed. To reserve your seat visit the alumni organizations site http://www.yabausa.org/
The Jewish Link Yashar Koach of the Week: Jordan Silvestri n Sunday, April 28th the Rambammers of the Bnai Brith Softball League in Fair Lawn, New Jersey lost a nailbiter, 12 – 11. This week’s Yasher Koach winner goes to a team member who didn’t play in the game. Last week Rambammers team captain Jerry Schranz, received an email from Jordan Silvestri. The email was to let the team know that on Lag Ba’omer weekend Silvestri
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would be donating bone marrow and would be recovering from surgery and so would be too sore to attend the game vs. the Bombers. Jordan is the Rambammers’ backup catcher and the ultimate team player. He has been a member of the Rambammers for the past two years and while he’s not the starter, he never complains about anything. According to Schranz, “Jordan is the first one to sit on the bench, or take
the clipboard and take score.” Teammates were amazed that Silvestri was strongly considering coming to the game against medical advice. Silvestri’s family is originally from Fair Lawn and moved back recently from Washington Heights just so Jordan would not have to cross the bridge every Sunday to play for the Rambammers! Now that’s dedication. Yasher koach! 201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM