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The Jewish Sport Report: Into ‘WrestleMania’? Then ‘Mitzvah Mania’ is for you.
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Good afternoon, sports fans!
This Opening Day was the first since 1968 to feature every MLB team playing on the same date.
According to Jewish Baseball News, there were six Jewish players in the league in 1968 — how many can you name? Send your answer to sports@jta.org! (And hey, no cheating!)
A Jewish wrestling show heads to temple
A wrestling event at Temple of Aaron Synagogue in St. Paul, Minn. (Darin Kamnetz/F1rst Wrestling)
Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles is a large Conservative synagogue with a full calendar of events — things like Shabbat dinners, text study and adult education programs.
This weekend, there’s something a little different on the docket: a Jewish wrestling show.
“Mitzvah Mania” — timed to coincide with WWE’s “WrestleMania,” which is also in L.A. this weekend — will feature Jewish professional wrestlers like Colt Cabana, Lisa Marie Varon, Chris Adonis and others.
It’s the passion project of Rabbi Jeremy Fine, a Chicago-area rabbi who puts on shows with his own wrestling company, 2econd Wrestling.
Fine says the overlap between Jews and wrestling extends beyond the ring, arguing that the connection is biblical — from Jacob wrestling with an angel in Genesis to rabbis intellectually wrestling in the Talmud.
“If we just take that and put it into the context of wrestling, we at our core, are storytellers,” Fine said.
Halftime report
RED CARD. Indonesia was removed as the host of the upcoming Under-20 FIFA World Cup after it objected to Israel’s participation in the tournament. Israel had qualified for the first time.
COMING SOON. A new HBO series will tell the story behind the new women’s soccer team in Los Angeles, Angel City FC. Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman played a crucial role in bringing the NWSL squad to L.A., and now she’s producing the docuseries on it, too.
STAND UP. You may have seen the viral post urging people to “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” with a blue square hashtag. The tweet has 6.5 million views and has been shared by celebrities, athletes and sports teams alike. It’s the work of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s organization, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.
Antisemitism is not just the Jewish community’s issue. It’s everybody’s. Retweet this video with # to show your support. #StandUpToJewishHate pic.twitter.com/fJrSRFtguW
— Stand Up to Jewish Hate # (@StandUp2JewHate) March 27, 2023
CHAMPIONS. Valley Torah, the L.A. day school where Ryan Turell played, won the 2023 Sarachek Tournament at Yeshiva University, an annual basketball competition for Jewish schools. Valley Torah beat New York’s SAR. Turell served as a coach for his alma mater.
ICYMI. When a Tel Aviv-based rugby team was disinvited from an international tournament in South Africa, major U.S. Jewish groups urged the American team that replaced it to withdraw. Here’s the story.
Jews in sports to watch this weekend
IN BASEBALL…
Atlanta Braves top prospect Jared Shuster will make his MLB debut Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET against the Washington Nationals. His teammate Max Fried, who made his third consecutive Opening Day start Thursday, left the game early with a hamstring injury and may spend some time on the injured list. Team Israel pitcher Dean Kremer takes the mound for his Baltimore Orioles Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET against the Boston Red Sox and Israel teammate Richard Bleier.
IN BASKETBALL…
It’s Final Four weekend in the men’s March Madness tournament, and the University of Connecticut features Israeli player Yarin Hasson, who hasn’t seen much playing time on the streaking Huskies. Over in the NBA, Deni Avdija and the Washington Wizards host the Orlando Magic tonight at 7 p.m. ET and face the New York Knicks Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
IN HOCKEY…
Buffalo Sabres goalie Devon Levi makes his NHL debut tonight at 7 p.m. ET against Adam Fox and the New York Rangers. Tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET, Jason Zucker, Mark Friedman and the Pittsburgh Penguins host the league-leading Boston Bruins.
IN SOCCER…
Rising Israeli star Manor Solomon and his Premier League club Fulham face Bournemouth Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. Solomon may be playing in Europe, but back home in Israel, he’s a superstar.
You have to watch this
The sweetest video of the week goes to Michael Rubin, the CEO of sports memorabilia giant Fanatics. When Rubin saw a young basketball fan with a stack of cards for her favorite NBA player, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, Rubin surprised her by FaceTiming Booker. Her reaction is worth watching.
The Jewish Sport Report is taking a break next week for the Passover holiday — have a great holiday and we’ll see you soon.
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The post The Jewish Sport Report: Into ‘WrestleMania’? Then ‘Mitzvah Mania’ is for you. appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Obituaries
PHYLLIS POLLOCK

Phyllis Pollock died at home Sunday September 3, 2023 in Winnipeg, after a courageous lifetime battle with cancer.
Phyllis was a mother of four: Gary (Laura), daughter Randi, Steven (deceased in 2010) (Karen), and Robert. Phyllis also had two grandchildren: Lauren and Quinn.
Born in Fort Frances, Ontario on February 7, 1939, Phyllis was an only child to Ruby and Alex Lerman. After graduating high school, Phyllis moved to Winnipeg where she married and later divorced Danny Pollock, the father of her children. She moved to Beverly Hills in 1971, where she raised her children.
Phyllis had a busy social life and lucrative real estate career that spanned over 50 years, including new home sales with CoastCo. Phyllis was the original sales agent for three buildings in Santa Monica, oceanfront: Sea Colony I, Sea Colony II, and Sea Colony. She was known as the Sea Colony Queen. She worked side by side with her daughter Randi for about 25 years – handling over 600 transactions, including sales and leases within the three phases of Sea Colony alone.
Phyllis had more energy than most people half her age. She loved entertaining, working in the real estate field, meeting new and interesting people everyday no matter where she went, and thrived on making new lifelong friends. Phyllis eventually moved to the Sea Colony in Santa Monica where she lived for many years before moving to Palm Desert, then Winnipeg.
After battling breast cancer four times in approximately 20 years, she developed metastatic Stage 4 lung cancer. Her long-time domestic partner of 27 years, Joseph Wilder, K.C., was the love of her life. They were never far apart. They traveled the world and went on many adventures during their relationship. During her treatment, Phyllis would say how much she missed work and seeing her clients. Joey demonstrated amazing strength, love, care, and compassion for Phyllis as her condition progressed. He was her rock and was by her side 24/7, making sure she had the best possible care. Joey’s son David was always there to support Phyllis and to make her smile. Joey’s other children, Sheri, Kenny, Joshua and wife Davina, were also a part of her life. His kids would Facetime Phyllis and include her during any of their important functions. Phyllis loved Joey’s children as if they were her own.
Thank you to all of her friends and family who were there to support her during these difficult times. Phyllis is now, finally, pain free and in a better place. She was loved dearly and will be greatly missed. Interment took place in Los Angeles.
Local News
Gwen Centre Creative Living Centre celebrates 35th anniversary

By BERNIE BELLAN Over 100 individuals gathered at the Gwen Secter Centre on Tuesday evening, July 18 – under the big top that serves as the venue for the summer series of outdoor concerts that is now in its third year at the centre.
The occasion was the celebration of the Gwen Secter Centre’s 35th anniversary. It was also an opportunity to honour the memory of Sophie Shinewald, who passed away at the age of 106 in 2019, but who, as recently as 2018, was still a regular attendee at the Gwen Secter Centre.
As Gwen Secter Executive Director Becky Chisick noted in her remarks to the audience, Sophie had been volunteering at the Gwen Secter Centre for years – answering the phone among other duties. Becky remarked that Sophie’s son, Ed Shinewald, had the phone number for the Gwen Secter Centre stored in his phone as “Mum’s work.”

Remarks were also delivered by Raquel Dancho, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, who was the only representative of any level of government in attendance. (How times have changed: I remember well the steadfast support the former Member of the Legislature for St. John’s, Gord Mackintosh, showed the Gwen Secter Centre when it was perilously close to being closed down. And, of course, for years, the area in which the Gwen Secter Centre is situated was represented by the late Saul Cherniack.)
Sophie Shinewald’s granddaughter, Alix (who flew in from Chicago), represented the Shinewald family at the event. (Her brother, Benjamin, who lives in Ottawa, wasn’t able to attend, but he sent a pre-recorded audio message that was played for the audience.)
Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by a group of talented singers, led by Julia Kroft. Following the concert, attendees headed inside to partake of a sumptuous assortment of pastries, all prepared by the Gwen Secter culinary staff. (And, despite my asking whether I could take a doggy bag home, I was turned down.)

Uncategorized
Palestinian gunmen kill 4 Israelis in West Bank gas station
This is a developing story.
(JTA) — Palestinian gunmen killed four people and wounded four in a terror attack at a gas station near the West Bank settlement of Eli, the Israeli army reported.
An Israeli civilian returning fire at the scene of the attack on Tuesday killed one of the attackers, who emerged from a vehicle, and two others fled.
Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, said one of those wounded was in serious condition. The gunmen, while in the vehicle, shot at a guard post at the entry to the settlement, and then continued to the gas station which is also the site of a snack bar. A nearby yeshiva went into lockdown.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced plans to convene a briefing with top security officials within hours of the attack. Kan reported that there were celebrations of the killing in major West Bank cities and in the Gaza Strip, initiated by terrorist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Hamas said the shooting attack Tuesday was triggered by the Jenin raid.
The shooting comes as tensions intensify in the West Bank. A day earlier, Israeli troops raiding the city of Jenin to arrest accused terrorists killed five people.
The Biden administration spoke out over the weekend against Israel’s plans to build 4,000 new housing units for Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also finalized plans to transfer West Bank building decisions to Bezalel Smotrich, the extremist who is the finance minister. Smotrich has said he wants to limit Palestinian building and expand settlement building.
Kan reported that the dead terrorist was a resident of a village, Urif, close to Huwara, the Palestinian town where terrorists killed two Israeli brothers driving through in February. Settlers retaliated by raiding the village and burning cars and buildings.
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The post Palestinian gunmen kill 4 Israelis in West Bank gas station appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.