Basketballer Tamir Goodman Meets and Inspires Freshmen

Freshmen met basketball superstar Tamir Goodman, who energized them with vital lessons that apply both on and off the court. Throughout his career, Tamir regularly made sacrifices in order to maintain his Judaism, such as turning down opportunities that conflicted with Shabbat. While this resulted in many moments of disappointment, it also led to other amazing opportunities and moments of inspiration. For example, his dedication led his non-Jewish coach to gather all the Shabbat and holiday times and present them to the NCA, convincing them to change the team's schedule to accomodate Tamir. In another powerful moment, his observance of Shabbat galvanized his teammates to work harder and win a big Saturday game, so that they could move on to the final after Shabbat and give Tamir the chance to play.

To students, he stressed the importance of humility, only focusing on what you can control, consistency, sticking to their beliefs even in the face of opposition, and being kind. "We can only reach our potential with the help of other people," he said. "The world was created for relationships. Invest in relationships, support each other." He pointed out that "when Jews see something physical, we see the deeper meaning behind it." Tamir loves his basketball, for example, but when he looks at it, he sees how he can use it to make the world a better place. He encouraged students to do the same, seeing how they can use their passions to make a positive impact. He concluded that, when it comes to other commitments (such as schoolwork or hobbies) and their love of Hashem "It's not about 'balancing'— it’s one thing. Your relationship with Hashem helps you reach your goal. They’re one thing, connected."

Thank you to Alexandra and Rani Dishi '05 for sponsoring his visit.