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Sabbath hoops controversy deflected -- for now

John C. Ensslin

Published February 29, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated February 29, 2008 at 9:16 a.m.

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Herzl/Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy basketball player Sam Litvak high-fives athletic director Josh Lake as school ends Thursday. Thursday night, the school's boys and girls teams lost their playoff games, ending a possible game-scheduling conflict on Saturday - the Jewish Sabbath.

Photo by Linda McConnell / Special to the Rocky

Herzl/Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy basketball player Sam Litvak high-fives athletic director Josh Lake as school ends Thursday. Thursday night, the school's boys and girls teams lost their playoff games, ending a possible game-scheduling conflict on Saturday - the Jewish Sabbath.

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And on the seventh day, the Herzl/Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy Tigers will rest.

Both the boys and girls basketball teams of the Jewish high school lost Thursday night to the Shining Mountain Lions of Boulder, thus eliminating the Tigers from tournament play and avoiding a conflict where they would have had to put their faith ahead of their athleticism.

The twin losses sideline a looming controversy over whether the teams should have been allowed to compete in the tournament at times that did not conflict with the Jewish Sabbath.

That controversy remained unresolved as the Colorado High School Activities Association stood by its position that the schedule of games in a March 8 tournament in Sterling could not be adjusted to allow the Tigers to play after sundown on Saturday.

The boy's team played a nail-biter, trailing most of the game but keeping it close in a 38-35 loss.

"I'm just really proud of our boys," said Avi Halzer, the school's CEO, after the game.

"But I'm especially proud of the way they stood up for their values and faith, and the fact that they wouldn't have played if it came down to that."

The dilemma for the girls team also vanished earlier in the evening, when they lost to Shining Mountain 49-31.

CHSAA Commissioner Bill Reader read a prepared statement after the game that sidestepped the controversy.

"We congratulate the student athletes of Herzl/RMHA on their successes this season," Reader said. "They are great role models within their community, and we hope their participation this season met their goals."

Prior to the boys game, friends and fans of Herzl/RMHA held out hope for the team but were not optimistic about persuading CHSAA officials to relent.

"I can't believe them," said Julie Rotenberg, whose son, Desi, is a senior who plays for the team. "Even after being begged by the senators of Colorado to lighten up," she said, referring to pleas by lawmakers from both parties who called on the CHSAA to make some accommodation.

Bruce DeBoskey, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, also attended the game. DeBoskey said he planned to meet with the CHSAA regardless of the outcome of the games.

Comments

  • February 29, 2008

    5:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oh_Wise_One writes:

    I don't believe we should "accomodate" this request. I compare this to Harvard and their gym going to some women's only hours to "accomodate" Muslims which Harvard has.
    Both groups know the schedule and conditions of the facility/game. Either respect your own religious rules or play. Your choice.

  • February 29, 2008

    6:41 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mrfxx writes:

    One must also believe that Oh_Wise_One would have the Catholic parochial varsity boys' high school team in KC (part of a splinter sect which believes that "boys should not be under the control of women") should automatically forfeit every game which is scheduled to have a female referee, instead of KSHAA accomodating that team by finding a male referee in the building. (Of course, it's kind of hard to believe that the school REALLY believes that when it does hire female teachers, and the classes are co-ed. Anyone who has had a nun for a teacher knows that those ladies are in contol of the entire class.)

    This has NOTHING to do with Harvard's - or any other PRIVATE institution's - decision to accomodate a group. One must assume that Harvard found that while Muslim women were required by their faith not to be seen in the "state of undress" that working out typically requires, but that there were other women there who preferred to work out only in the company of other women - and chose to accomodate them all. I am also willing to bet that those "women only" gym hours are off-peak, as those beliefs are not mainstream.

    The question is: should a PUBLIC high school athletic association (CHSAA - supported by state dollars) only accomodate Christians (anybody who believes that it is only coincidental that there is a SUNDAY no contact/no play rule has nothing to do with most Christian groups celebrating the "Sabbath" on Sunday is fooling him/herself)?

    I suggest CHSAA start planning today for next year's basketball season - just in case either of the Herzl teams has another "fairy tale" season.

  • February 29, 2008

    6:52 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BirdonaWire writes:

    Why not play on Sundays? Oh, that would really piss of those of Christian faith. Maybe they should play during the week?

  • February 29, 2008

    7:03 a.m.

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    Gary1 writes:

    The lesson learned in this controversy is that contractual agreements have significance. HRMA joined the CHSAA in a contractual agreement knowing some games would be played on Saturdays. Many people, not just athletes at HRMA, have had to decline opportunities because they would conflict with worship or other activities that they value higher than the opportunity. Many people routinely decline job opportunities for this very reason. This was a disagreement among private high schools, and not a proper area for the politicians to get involved. The state has no jurisdiction. If the state wants to force a solution, then they have opened a battle front on church/state separation issues. Parents enroll their children in private schools precisely to get away from the heavy hand of the state. The CHSAA board made the correct decision. No laws were broken, but I am sure this legislature will now pass a new law to fix something that was not broken.

  • February 29, 2008

    7:29 a.m.

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    stuckiniowa writes:

    And here I grew up thinking that the only reason we didnt play on Sundays, was so we didnt have to miss the Broncos.

  • February 29, 2008

    8:05 a.m.

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    plainsguy writes:

    Finally this can be put to rest. This wont matter the rest of the year or just until they have a team that THEY think could make it to the state tournement. CHSAA did the right thing here, they belive in education first not second. If they moved the times when their games would have been played they would had to miss all day of classes on friday. But I guess at this school sports are more important than their classes. They agreed not to play in any post seasone games so they really never had a valid point anyways. But I guess the lesson learned here is when something doesn't go your way, just threaten to sue so you can get your way.

  • February 29, 2008

    8:49 a.m.

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    timeandagain writes:

    Tough Tokhes!!

  • February 29, 2008

    8:54 a.m.

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    freethinker07 writes:

    Oh_Wise_One makes a point which should be discussed.

    The problem is that if we want cultural buy-in from all groups, then we need to accommodate all groups. If we don't do that then we need, as a society, to move to one of two other models, neither one of which has been an American ideal. One alternative is to aim for a homogeneous society. The other alternative is creating mini-cultures inside the larger culture which would have the ability to legally exclude people who didn't fit the desired profile. The constitutional term for this is "separate but equal" and has been rejected by the Supreme Court.

    A big problem with the traditional American model is that it is impossible to draw clear lines defining which accommodations are to be permitted, required or forbidden. People who are not part of a subgroup have trouble understanding the relative importance of various requirements and the relative repugnance of various messages. Each boundary has to be negotiated in good will on both sides.

    The goal of the first Amendment is to create a kind of truce among different philosophies and religious beliefs. I think that is the only outcome which will be acceptable to most Americans.

  • February 29, 2008

    9:01 a.m.

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    politwriter writes:

    Freethinker: A homogenous society has never been an American ideal? Certainly you've heard of "assimilation" and "the melting pot."

    It was the ideal and worked very well until the multiculturalist ideologues began leading us down the path to Balkanization, which is where I fear we're headed.

  • February 29, 2008

    9:06 a.m.

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    blacksho89 writes:

    BirdonaWire: The rule against Sunday play is so we don't miss the Broncos. Seriously, dude: Why the hate? It's Friday, the weather is beautiful, the Rockies are in spring training...

    Frankly, it may be time to do away with that rule. Play on Saturday and Sunday, and if your game is scheduled on your Sabbath, you can then decide whether to play or forfeit

  • February 29, 2008

    9:17 a.m.

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    FlyfishDude52 writes:

    So they lost and it's not an issue! As long as I can remember HS BB tournaments have always been on Friday & Saturday. So, knowing the rules, either play by them or shut up. I'm sick and tired of every group that doesn't conform to the ways of our country want some form of special dispensation. I don't receive any special dispensation other than the good fortune of being born in the USA!

  • February 29, 2008

    10:51 a.m.

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    polyglot writes:

    Isn't this a perfect opportunity to teach these young kids that believing comes with consequences? It is not easy to be Jewish or Christian in a world that does not respect your beliefs. We should not expect the world to make exceptions for us. We must figure out how to maintain our beliefs in a world trying to tear them down.

    What would Job do?