All-star lineup of Yeshiva University faculty members to tackle “Torah and Sports” during Super Bowl XLVII
Yeshiva University announced on Monday that it would air its second annual YU Torah Halftime Show during Super Bowl XLVII, the February 3 showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, LA.
The 20-minute online experience will feature exciting and inspiring presentations on “Torah and Sports” from an all-star lineup of YU faculty members, including Rabbi Kenneth Brander, David Mitzner Dean of YU’s Center for the Jewish Future; Charlie Harary, clinical professor of management and entrepreneurship at Sy Syms School of Business; and C.B. Neugroschl, head of school at Yeshiva University High School for Girls.
Last February, close to 3,000 people tuned in to watch YU’s first-ever Torah Halftime Show.
“Last year, the media became obsessed with the unabashed on-field religious exploits of NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, and spirituality in sports became a hot topic. We realized that merging spirituality and sports was right up our alley, so we began speaking with some of the Roshei Yeshiva and the idea flowed naturally from there,” said Moshe Isaacson, YU’s director of interactive marketing. “This specially-produced video will focus on the Jewish lessons that can be gleaned from football and the Super Bowl.”
Noted speaker Charlie Harary will examine the importance of focus and the virtue of patience in today’s high-tech and social media-driven world; Rabbi Kenneth Brander will offer insights from Parshat Yitro on the benefits of perseverance and resilience, even as an outsider; and C.B. Neugroschl will discuss incorporating enthusiasm and excitement into our daily lives.
“Everyone enjoys the pageantry surrounding the Super Bowl. With so many people coming together to watch the game, it just makes sense to integrate Torah into the festivities,” said Matt Yaniv, YU’s director of media relations. “At YU, we see Torah lessons and educational opportunities everywhere we look. We are excited to demonstrate that even the Super Bowl, the biggest football game of the year, can be about more than just football.”
In addition to featuring the video on its YouTube channel, Facebook page and a dedicated page on its website, Yeshiva University also mailed out 400 DVDs of the program to synagogues, yeshivas, and individuals.