Synagogue: No football talk on Kippur
Temple Emanu-El in Alabama issues statement warning congregation 'not to even insinuate the scores of football games' during Holy Day. 'If even a peep gets out, our pages in the Book of Life will be compromised and all of us will suffer'
Also taking place that weekend in the United States are two critical college football matchups: Auburn Tigers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Texas A&M Aggies.
This means for all Jewish college football fans that there won't be any watching, discussing, trash talking or other sort of football-related activities taking place.
This news in particular has not been taking lightly by a synagogue in Birmingham, Alabama, the high-ranking officials of which have released this statement: "Saturday, September 14, is a big football day. Some of Temple Emanu-El, and all of the clergy, are college football fans. It is because of our support the past seven National Championships have been won by the Southeastern Conference and, the last four, in Alabama.
"On Yom Kippur, and the hours afterwards, we will not discuss or even insinuate the scores of football games. It is a violation of our Holy Day, and it will ruin the post Break-The-Fast experience some of us hope to have when the day ends. NO SCORES, or high fives, or Roll Tides or War Eagles. If even a peep gets out, our pages in the Book of Life will be compromised and all of us will suffer."
Knowing that football is the national pastime for all Americans, Jewish and otherwise, this is going to put all Orthodox football fans into quite the predicament, bringing to mind the Simpsons episode when Homer stayed at home to watch the game as opposed to going to church.
It's ironic, as Homer's house caught on fire in that episode, and Bama synagogue says if you even talk about the football game on Yom Kippur then "all of us will suffer."
Have a good fast.
Reprinted with permission from Shalom Life
