Flatbush Falcons Soar in Memphis

YOF Joel Braverman High School Boys Varsity Basketball team recently set out on a four day adventure to the southern city of Memphis, Tennessee. The Falcons were joined by 15 teams from around the country and Canada, including the tournament’s host, Cooper Yeshiva High School. There were teams from Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Greensboro, Skokie, St. Louis, and Toronto as well as from the New York area’s Metropolitan Yeshiva High School Athletic League. Accompanying the team were their coach, Mike Gelber, assistant coach Jan Sandusky, and parents, Zach Mishaan and Jeffrey Dayan. The Falcons’ power and skills won them third place in the tournament.

They won individual honors as well. Sam Mishaan was named to the All Tournament Team and Charles Haddad was named a Tournament All Star. Also, Salomon Schwartzbard won the Mike Miller Three-Point shooting contest.

The three day tournament was watched by 27,000 viewers on the Internet, along with lively fans in the gym.

Chris Wallace, Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) General Manager, was the tournament’s first guest speaker. Wallace, while not Jewish, is an ardent supporter of the State of Israel and an active member of AIPAC. He spoke about the strong influence athletics has on lives, the effect Israel’s entry into the European Basketball Championships had on his life, and the plight of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

On Friday night, the athletes were hosted by various families of the Memphis community. The team was moved by their warm display of Southern and Jewish hospitality. Shabbat was a great opportunity for the athletes to make new friends as they joined together during meals and at the hotel. This let them get to know people from different kinds of Jewish communities around the United States.

In our large Jewish community here in New York, we are not always aware of the variety of experiences that other communities have. Meeting observant Jews from other regions heightens our awareness and strengthens our bonds. During Tefillah, each of the 16 teams contributed to the minyan, reading from the Torah, leading the Tefillah and sharing Divrei Torah. Falcons Coach Mike Gelber said that it was truly an inspiring experience.

On Shabbat morning, Josh Pastner, head coach of the Memphis State men’s basketball team, addressed the crowd. Pastner is one of only five Jewish head coaches in Division One college basketball. He spoke of his pride in Judaism and how seriously he takes his responsibility to represent his religion in a positive manner.

Dr. Ed Weiner, the first ever Jewish basketball player to be a member of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball program, spoke after Pastner. In 1955, Weiner was drafted into the NBA by the Philadelphia Warriors and played for one year. He then went on to become a dentist and settled in the Memphis area.

Josh Kahane, the Cooper Invitational’s founder and coordinator, provided all of the visitors with a first rate event, leaving all the guests feeling good. It was an experience the participants will remember for a very long time.

Kahane wrote a letter to Flatbush expressing the wonderful impression the Falcon Varsity boys left on him and his community, and the honor he felt hosting them. He said, “I believe that our Cooper Yeshiva students, as fine as they are in their own right, truly gained by having the time to spend with your young men.” YOF is proud of the fine character traits demonstrated by their team members.

On the weekend of December 2nd – 5th, the Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School will host its own national basketball tournament promoting achdut (unity) among Am Yisrael. Athletes from Detroit, Michigan, Livingston, New Jersey, and Memphis will join together at the YOF Thomas Hausdorff A”H Memorial Basketball Tournament and Shabbaton held in memory of the former beloved principal. The Falcons visit to Memphis was a wonderful prelude to this event.

A very important thank you goes out to Mike Gelber, Jan Sandusky, Zach Mishaan, and Jeffrey Dayan, whose support made the weekend possible and a great success.

Highlights of the games can be viewed at www.cooperinvitational.com; click on “2010 Highlight Reel.” Photos are available for viewing in the photo gallery at www.flatbush.org.