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The Hockey Shtick
Polina Schlafer Wheeler, REALTOR “Putting You First since 2009” Crye-Leike - Oxford 1310 University Ave. Oxford MS 38655 Direct 662.401.4632 Office 662.234.5344 polinawrealtor@gmail.com https://oxford.crye-leike.com/
IT’S TIME TO RENEW YOUR CAR TAG SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR NORMA LIVINGSTON OVARIAN CANCER FOUNDATION
What should one do with a difficult question? Ask a rabbi. Or, as said in some circles, ask a rav. Thanks to the minor league San José Barracuda of the American Hockey League, it’s possible to do just that. This season’s goalie is none other than Yaroslav Askarov. Formerly of the Nashville Predators, Askarov is a rising star. (Not a Dallas Star.) He has excelled this season for the Barracuda, which has had several games where one spectator wore a Birmingham Barracudas hat from that one-time mid-‘90s Canadian Football League team. Playing at a similar level as the Birmingham Bulls, Huntsville Havoc, Knoxville Ice Bears and Pensacola Ice Flyers, it’s only a matter of time until Askarov is having a biblical impact on the fortunes of the San José Sharks which, despite appearances in recent years, are still part of the National Hockey League. Is Askarov Jewish? Nothing indicates it. One could ask him, but that would entail reaching out. It’s simpler (Yiddish for “lazier”) to just assume he’s not. Surprisingly, the 2024-25 NHL season started with 13 Jewish players on NHL rosters. Also, at least five Jewish players graced opening rosters in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which is even more surprising, both because the PWHL exists and because there are Jewish girls playing ice hockey. Two of the Jewish NHL players are on the New Jersey Devils roster. This would seemingly upset a Jewish mother – because of devils, not because of New Jersey. But the Hughes brothers’ matriarch was herself a hockey player, and they’re the first American family to have three siblings (a third plays for Quebec) picked in the NHL draft’s first round, as well as the first Jewish trio of brothers to play in the same game. If Askarov were Jewish, what would he say about how hockey and Judaism are similar? After all, his name and occupation beg that he be asked about this. Of course, one could ask any of the confirmed-Jewish players – two of them play for the San José Sharks just up the street – but see the aforementioned “simpler (lazier)” clause. The origins of the word “hockey” are unknown. There are numerous theories. One heretofore unexpressed, non-existent theory hints that hockey is perhaps the most Jewish of sports. The word “hock” in Yiddish means to nag, bother, or pester – often done by someone who has numerous theories. As one grandfather used to say, “would you quit hocking me a tshaynik.” Hockey revolves around players pestering each other on the ice as they try to score, and bothering the fans with very few successful attempts to score. Are there other ways that hockey is Jewish? They’re as numerous as the stars on the ice in a Dallas game. In hockey, the goalie is a heavily-dressed protector of the goal. In Judaism, the gelila is called up after the Torah reading to heavily dress the Torah. Thus, the person who helps the goalie into all that heavy gear can be called the goalila. In hockey, a power play is when one team has more players on the ice than the other due to someone being sent to the penalty box. In Judaism,
Rabbinic inspiration can be found almost anywhere…
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! The Ovarian Cancer Research Tag may be purchased for private passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and pleasure motor vehicles (i.e., recreational vehicles).
Alabama is one of three states who currently have an ovarian cancer car tag. The Drive Out Ovarian Cancer car tag raises money for research in hopes that one day, doctors will discover an early detection test for ovarian cancer, so that women will be tested for this insidious disease at their annual checkups just like cervical and breast cancers. The mission of the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation (NLOCF) is to raise funds for ovarian cancer research and to increase awareness about the risks, symptoms and treatments of this disease. The net proceeds of the $50.00 are distributed to the NLOCF to be used for ovarian cancer research at the UAB hospital. The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Your $50 contribution is tax-deductible.
205-999-8021 cureovariancancer.org 46
December 2024 • Southern Jewish Life
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