Bronx Bombers fans are facing a unique dilemma this Yom Kippur.
As the Jewish high holidays approach, rabbis are emphasizing the importance of maintaining religious commitments, even amid excitement over the highly anticipated postseason clash between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
Yom Kippur, a solemn 25-hour observance, directs the Jewish community to refrain from eating, drinking, and work, while focusing on repentance and attending synagogue services.
This means devotees of the Yankees will have to prioritize their temple visits over catching a glimpse of star player Aaron Judge, lest they face a different sort of judgment.
“Record the game, but don’t miss the Yom Kippur service. Don’t skip the service and go to the game instead,” advised Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis and a friend of Yankees legend Mariano Rivera.
Michael Nussbaum, who once led the Queens chapter of the Jewish Community Relations Council, underscored that Yom Kippur represents “the holiest day” for Jews.
“Missing a game is trivial compared to the significance of Yom Kippur. There are far worse things in life than missing a match,” Nussbaum remarked.
A fan lamenting from the Mets’ camp joked, “If the Mets were in the playoffs, I’d be really upset,” highlighting the irony of the situation.
This situation is not unprecedented. The intersection of important games and Yom Kippur has historical precedent, such as when Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax famously opted out of Game 1 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins due to the holiday, resulting in a loss for Los Angeles.
“If they didn’t postpone the game for Sandy Koufax on Yom Kippur, then it’s unlikely they will ever reschedule a game for the holiday,” stated Rabbi Shluchim Choli of Chabad of South Bronx, located just a short distance from Yankee Stadium.
Rabbi Choli noted that his community is accustomed to prioritizing their faith over their love for baseball during this sacred season.
“Being Jewish often means placing our connection with [God] above local cultural and recreational activities,” he explained.
Major League Baseball appears unfazed by fans’ challenging decisions between their faith and fervor for the game; however, the league has made adjustments in the past to cater to its Jewish supporters.
In 2009, a Yankees playoff game was rescheduled from evening to afternoon to avoid a clash with the onset of Yom Kippur. The Yankees emerged victorious that night and clinched their 27th World Series title, which to date remains their last championship triumph.
<pJim Berman, a devoted Red Sox follower, expressed disappointment upon learning his team would be playing during Yom Kippur.
“How can they schedule this? We haven’t seen the playoffs in four years!” lamented Berman from Connecticut.
“It’s playoff season! I’m not just a casual fan, I need to see the game live!” he added, referring to the term ‘pink hat,’ which is used for fans who only support the team when it’s winning.
Despite his allegiance to the Red Sox, Berman stated he would fulfill his obligation to attend temple services, while cheekily requesting his rabbi to slip in the game’s updates during the sermon and readings.
For the Jewish community, skipping Yom Kippur service is not an option and can even be perceived as a harbinger of bad luck, Berman noted.
“It’s the most sacred night of the year where we seek God’s forgiveness for our misdeeds over the past year. Ignoring this could mean not only a rough season for the Red Sox but also impact the Patriots and the Celtics. We could face a real disaster,” Berman said.
“Kidding aside, attending temple is non-negotiable. Anyone who’s alive must be there,” he concluded.
Neither Major League Baseball nor the Yankees returned the Post’s request for comment.
Additional reporting by Reuven Fenton
