My boyhood "hero" was Sandy Koufax. His 75th birthday is today. I remember my beloved dad, A'H, in those halcyon days of the early 60's taking me, a budding little league enthusiast, to Dodger Stadium to watch the artful mastery of arguably the greatest left-handed pitcher in history.
On October 6, 1965, the Jews of America entered into the modern age of religious consciousness (a couple years before the lure of Eastern devotions countered with the baal teshuva movement were to erupt on the scene along with Vietnam protests, Six-day War, Chicago Seven, etc.)
On that day, with the eyes of much of the nation on this insanely talented and popular Jewish athlete, Sandy decided to sit out the opening game of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins - all because it coincided with Yom Kippur. Any major league baseball pitcher would have loved to be the first pitcher for his team in the World Series, and that certainly included Sandy Koufax. Our valiant IDF soldiers would galvanize its forces and gird its loins on that day eight years later to protect their country from annihilation, but Sandy would not pick up that 5 ounce orb to betray his God for the fleeting glory of mowing down the murderous lineup that included Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, and Bobby Allison. (Obvious difference between violating Yom Tov to preserve lives, or doing so to advance one's career!)
For many, Sandy Koufax alone made us face the most salient question of our existence as Jews in this incredible land of opportunity - one that most of our Jewish grandparents had no access to - will we place our 3300 years of religious principles and fidelity to the Almighty before any professional or vocational interests? We're being tested daily by that provocative question.
Happy birthday Sanford (Sanford Braun)! May you continue to inspire and be a catalyst to your holy brethren to face the moral dilemmas of being Jewish in America.
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