New York - Torah Replaces Rock Stars at YU Super Bowl Halftime Show |
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New York - With record number of Americans expected to tune in for Super Bowl XLVII, organizers at the self described oldest and most comprehensive Jewish educational institution in America are planning a halftime show of their own, this one with a twist of Torah.
The idea for Yeshiva University’s Torah Halftime Super Bowl Halftime show was born last year and close to 3,000 people tuned in last February to be inspired by a twenty minute video presentation featuring words of Torah, sports and inspiration by Rabbi Ely Allen, Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff and Dr. Yitzchak Schechter.
“There was a lot of talk in the media about spirituality in sports last year because of quarterback Tim Tebow,” Moshe Isaacson, director of interactive marketing at Yeshiva University told VIN News. “The idea of combining emerging spirituality and sports was right up our alley so we spoke to a few rabbeim and the idea just took off from there.”
In addition to featuring the video on YouTube, Facebook and its own website, the yeshiva also mailed out 300 DVDs of the program to shuls, yeshivos and individuals.
“Everyone enjoys the Super Bowl,” explained Matt Yaniv, director of media relations at Yeshiva University. “Instead of making the day only about football, let’s get some Torah into the festivities.”
This year’s Torah Super Bowl show consists of a sixteen minute clip featuring three different speakers, all of whom are on the yeshiva’s faculty, and will be speaking about hashkafic lessons that can be learned from the Super Bowl.
Noted speaker Charlie Harary will be discussing the importance of focus in today’s high tech world as well as the virtue of patience. Rabbi Kenneth Brander, dean of the yeshiva’s Center for the Jewish Future, will offer thoughts from parshas Yisro on the benefits of perseverance and resilience, even as an outsider. Mrs. C.B. Neugroschl, head of the Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls will speak about incorporating enthusiasm and excitement, two elements of the Super Bowl, into daily life.
Given the positive response to last year’s Torah Halftime Show, organizers at Yeshiva University decided to produce four hundred DVDs of the program, one hundred more than last year. All four hundred DVDs have already been mailed out, just one week after the program was announced. There are no plans to produce any additional DVDs but organizers invite viewers to enjoy the program on Youtube, Facebook and at http://yu.edu/half-time/
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Read Comments (11) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 20, 2013 at 12:29 PM unfortunate Says:Report as Inappropriate
while the whole "torah umadah" thing may be up for debate, how unfortunate that this is where modern orthodoxy is today. on paper the modern orthodox ideas may make a lot of sense and have some in the yeshivish community wondering, why can't that work? become a doctor, pursue a secular career and also maintain a vibrant torah way of life. well here is your answer. modern orthodoxy on paper and modern orthodoxy in practice are two different things. when the foremost torah institution representing modern orthodoxy has a super bowl halftime show you know modern orthodoxy is in trouble. maybe being a little more insular isn't that bad after all...
2
Jan 20, 2013 at 12:29 PM whateverworks Says:Report as Inappropriate
what a great idea!!! as a mom of a teenage son who's obsessed with football this is one half time show that i would happily endorse!!!
3
Jan 20, 2013 at 02:26 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
A definite improvement!
4
Jan 20, 2013 at 03:24 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ while the whole "torah umadah" thing may be up for debate, how unfortunate that this is where modern orthodoxy is today. on paper the modern orthodox ideas may make a lot of sense and have some in the yeshivish community wondering, why can't that work? become a doctor, pursue a secular career and also maintain a vibrant torah way of life. well here is your answer. modern orthodoxy on paper and modern orthodoxy in practice are two different things. when the foremost torah institution representing modern orthodoxy has a super bowl halftime show you know modern orthodoxy is in trouble. maybe being a little more insular isn't that bad after all... ”
It's not an official Super Bowl halftime show---it's a Torah learning experience that is timed to coincide with the Super Bowl halftime show. This will give people an alternative to the rock-and-roll show, and will spread some Torah. Perhaps you feel that Jews shouldn't watch the Super Bowl, but the fact is that many do.
5
Jan 20, 2013 at 03:56 PM qazxc Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ while the whole "torah umadah" thing may be up for debate, how unfortunate that this is where modern orthodoxy is today. on paper the modern orthodox ideas may make a lot of sense and have some in the yeshivish community wondering, why can't that work? become a doctor, pursue a secular career and also maintain a vibrant torah way of life. well here is your answer. modern orthodoxy on paper and modern orthodoxy in practice are two different things. when the foremost torah institution representing modern orthodoxy has a super bowl halftime show you know modern orthodoxy is in trouble. maybe being a little more insular isn't that bad after all... ”
Very important to knock other people and their mehalech in yiddishkeit but now that you have fulfilled this important mitzvah it is time to back to shuckeling really hard and davening for the achdus everyone except you and the members of your kehalla are lacking and thereby cause the continuation of the golus.
6
Jan 20, 2013 at 04:20 PM MonseyLuke Says:Report as Inappropriate
I so like this, and one need not worry about wardrobe malfunctions ;) Luke
7
Jan 20, 2013 at 05:43 PM esther Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ while the whole "torah umadah" thing may be up for debate, how unfortunate that this is where modern orthodoxy is today. on paper the modern orthodox ideas may make a lot of sense and have some in the yeshivish community wondering, why can't that work? become a doctor, pursue a secular career and also maintain a vibrant torah way of life. well here is your answer. modern orthodoxy on paper and modern orthodoxy in practice are two different things. when the foremost torah institution representing modern orthodoxy has a super bowl halftime show you know modern orthodoxy is in trouble. maybe being a little more insular isn't that bad after all... ”
first,aren't there many very frum people who become professionals and then help support learning? and your being very naive if you think that plenty of frumme don't watch the super ball.
8
Jan 20, 2013 at 06:32 PM unfortunate Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ It's not an official Super Bowl halftime show---it's a Torah learning experience that is timed to coincide with the Super Bowl halftime show. This will give people an alternative to the rock-and-roll show, and will spread some Torah. Perhaps you feel that Jews shouldn't watch the Super Bowl, but the fact is that many do. ”
wrong. if there would be a sign in the beis medrash at y.u. saying that there is a torah learning experience that coincides with halftime that would be fine, even commendable. but a trailer with clashing helmets and lights and music with a football flying across the screen? come on. how pathetic. and yes, that's as official as it gets. and actually, what i feel about jews watching the superbowl is irrelevant. that's not my point. i will watch the superbowl too. i'm just saying that modern orthodoxy as an ideal doesn't look very good.
9
Jan 20, 2013 at 08:29 PM bored Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ while the whole "torah umadah" thing may be up for debate, how unfortunate that this is where modern orthodoxy is today. on paper the modern orthodox ideas may make a lot of sense and have some in the yeshivish community wondering, why can't that work? become a doctor, pursue a secular career and also maintain a vibrant torah way of life. well here is your answer. modern orthodoxy on paper and modern orthodoxy in practice are two different things. when the foremost torah institution representing modern orthodoxy has a super bowl halftime show you know modern orthodoxy is in trouble. maybe being a little more insular isn't that bad after all... ”
Although you are as correct, at least as much as the bubble you live in is pristine, you must ask yourself who will be tuning in? People who otherwise would be watching zonas lip synching. Or maybe you are afraid some of the people YOU know will be skipping second sedder to watch the game & maybe tune in to this and some of the ideas presented will resonate with them? Is that the end of the world? Or just the end of yours?
10
Jan 21, 2013 at 03:42 AM PatersonMan Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ It's not an official Super Bowl halftime show---it's a Torah learning experience that is timed to coincide with the Super Bowl halftime show. This will give people an alternative to the rock-and-roll show, and will spread some Torah. Perhaps you feel that Jews shouldn't watch the Super Bowl, but the fact is that many do. ”
Agreed!
11
Jan 21, 2013 at 02:25 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ wrong. if there would be a sign in the beis medrash at y.u. saying that there is a torah learning experience that coincides with halftime that would be fine, even commendable. but a trailer with clashing helmets and lights and music with a football flying across the screen? come on. how pathetic. and yes, that's as official as it gets. and actually, what i feel about jews watching the superbowl is irrelevant. that's not my point. i will watch the superbowl too. i'm just saying that modern orthodoxy as an ideal doesn't look very good. ”
If if were official, then Y.U. would have to pay the Super Bowl people for the right to use the phrase "Super Bowl". Haven't you noticed in regular newspapers (NY Post, Daily News) that the ads never mention "Super Bowl"? They say "The Big Game" or "Football Party"?