Rabbi On The Sidelines

Nate Fish, CEO of Israel Baseball America and manager of Team Israel, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his Jewish journey, his Israel journey, and his journey, and how he has combined all three passions to bring Team Israel to the Olympics.

Heather Brooks Karatz, owner of Angel City Football Club, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about her faith and sports journeys. Heather, the grandchild of Holocaust survivors who met in Auschwitz, has traveled through the sports world with a lens of her faith. In a post October 7th world, Heather continues to make a difference in a most meaningful way.

Donna Orender, former president of the WNBA, senior executive of the PGA, CEO and founder of Generation W, and current commissioner of the Maccabi basketball collective speaks with Rabbi Sherman about her journey that is at the intersection of sports and faith, the importance of using the ball as a social changemaker, and her connection to the people and state of Israel through sports.

Henry Schipper, author of the new book of poems, “The Ball Dreams of the Sky” joins Rabbi Sherman to speak about the deep connections between the game of baseball and the metaphors of our lives. Schipper, the son of Holocaust survivors, speaks about his inflicted wounds, relationships, and the will to achieve a perfect game.

Elana Horowitz, Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader and Super Bowl Champion speaks with Rabbi Sherman about her faith journey through Jewish day school, NATIV gap year in Israel, and Camp Ramah inspired her to share her Jewish identity as she became a world champion Eagles cheerleader.

Paul Olden, PA announcer of Yankee Stadium for the last 17 years, and the voice of 12 Super Bowls, speaks with Rabbi Sherman on his expertise in the box, bringing the game to life for the fans.

Ryan Lavarnway, World Series Champion of the Boston Red Sox, Team Israel Olympian, and author of new children’s book, “Baseball and Belonging,” speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his upcoming visit to Sinai temple and Sinai Akiba Academy. How did his connection to Team Israel transform his Jewish journey and how has that allowed Ryan to represent the State of Israel through his sports career.

Ohad Poraz, injured IDF combat solider, speaks to Rabbi Sherman about Brothers For Life, the non-profit created

by and run by Israeli injured soldiers, who provide immediate and long term need to IDF soldiers sacrificing

their lives for the safety of the Jewish people. Ohad speaks about his upcoming trip to Los Angeles with a Brothers For Life delegation. A true hero on Rabbi On The Sidelines!

Guy Sasson and Adam Berdichevsky, Israeli Tennis Paralympians have just returned from the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Guy earned a bronze medal in singles and Adam was Israel’s flag bearer after competing in Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. Adam is also a 10/7 survivor from Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak. Rabbi Sherman is in conversation with these heroes and their journeys of sports and faith.

Daniel Posner, founder and chairman of Athletes For Israel, speaks with Rabbi Sherman on the origins of how and why he founded Athletes For Israel, which combats antisemitism and racism by bringing professional and college athletes to Israel. AFI has brought Arizona, Auburn, Kansas State and other teams to Israel, along with a crew from ESPN. Enjoy this inspiring story!

Ben Kaplan, author of Pipeline To The Pros, speaks to Rabbi Sherman about his book, detailing how Division III athletes make it to the NBA's coaching and general manager positions.

In addition, Ben speaks about his Bar Mitzvah video message from Inside The NBA's Ernie Johnson, and how the favor was repaid when Ben's father was battling cancer. This inspiring story will lift your soul.

Asael Shabo lost his leg in a terror attack in Israel in 2002, when a terrorist entered his home, and killed his mother and three of his siblings. He found healing at the Israel ParaSport Center, where he became a national champion in 50 meter swimming. He is now a professional wheelchair basketball player in Germany and brings hope to those with disabilities. In 2022, Asael was selected to light the torch on Mount Herzl for Israel’s Independence Day.

Teresa Strasser, Emmy winning writer, Emmy nominated TV host, who has appeared on Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN, The View, and a regular on Dr. Phil, speaks to Rabbi Sherman about her book, "Making It Home" lessons of how to grieve for her brother and mother through time with her father at the little league field.

Coach Bruce Pearl, Auburn University men's basketball coach, 2006 coach of the year, and gold medal Maccabi USA coach in 2009, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his Jewish journey, his basketball journey, and his dedication to the people and land of Israel.

Producers of American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing, Loren Mendell and Omar Al Dakheel join Rabbi Sherman on the 11th anniversary of that fateful day to discuss its historic significance in America and in the world of sports.

Emily Austin, social media influencer, with 2.1 million Instagram followers, NBA podcaster, and Israel advocate speaks with Rabbi Sherman about her journey, both in Judaism, and in the world of sports. How has her Jewish identity challenged her and helped her challenge others to find commonality between faiths. Learn about the new Abrahamic Athletic Academy, that will bring Jews, Muslims, and Christians together to learn and to play.

Father Patrick Kelly, associate professor religious studies at University of Detroit-Mercy, author of Play, Sport, and Spirit, speaks with Rabbi Sherman on the important connection between sport and spirituality. What is the connection between work and play? How does this affect the current state of intercollegiate athletics? After meeting at the conference for the Service of Sport and Humanity, Rabbi Sherman and Father Kelly continue to be in dialogue in bringing people together on and off the field.

Kevin Jordan, UCLA All-American football player, and sports chaplain for UCLA football and Pittsburgh Steelers, speaks with Rabbi Sherman on how faith and God consciousness help athletes become better people in their own lives.

Yakir Kanefsky, Ilan Barnea, and Maddy Ganz, college students from University of Maryland, Washington University, and Duke University speak with Rabbi Sherman about the upcoming National Hillel Basketball Tournament. How does sports inspire these leaders of the next generation to engage their Judaism on campus?

John Eisenberg, author of 11 books, speaks to Rabbi Sherman on his most recent book, Rocket Men. What is the history of the black quarterback in the NFL? How does this story fit into the racial history of America and what challenges still exist today?

Jared Armstrong, Israeli-African-American basketball player, founder of JAB basketball, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his struggle to gain Israeli citizenship, his experience in Israel on and after October 7th, and how his mission of using his voice and a basketball to make

a difference with the next generation.

Ravit Markus, producer, director, and writer of Nina is an Athlete, joins Israeli Paralympic badminton player Nina Gorodetzky, to hear her story of becoming a paraplegic and having the faith to enter the sports world, working hard to become an Olympian

and balancing life as a mother and school counselor. What does this mean after October 7th?

Three days before the Super Bowl, Rabbi Sherman is joined by Gary Myers, NY Times best selling author of Brady Vs Manning, NY Daily News NFL journalist, and author of "Once A Giant." Myers, who is a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame takes us behind the scenes of the NFL, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and searches for moments of faith from America's most popular sport.

Yoav Bruck, 3 time Israeli Olympic swimmer an owner of ISSTA Sports Travel and Kenes Tours speaks with Rabbi Sherman on the deep connection between his career as an internationally acclaimed Israeli swimmer and his mission to bring people to Israel to see the land. He shares with us how the lessons he learned in the pool relate to our lives.

Dr. Jeff Gurock, Professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University, and expert in Jews and sports, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his new book on hall of fame broadcasting legend Marty Glickman. What antisemitism did Glickman face during his time as an Olympic athlete that shaped his career as an athlete, as a broadcaster, and as a Jew? What role do Jews play in sports today that affect American society?

Kurt Streeter, award winning journalist, ESPN The Magazine, LA Times, and NY Times, speaks with Rabbi Sherman on the journey to bring redemptive stories to the reading public. How has his experience in writing on crime and religion informed his voice on sports? What will sports journalism look like in the years ahead?

Prime Time Adam Schein, TV host of Time To Schein, podcast host of Rise and Schein, daily talk radio on Sirius XM, explains to Rabbi Sherman what it means to use your authentic voice in the public sphere. In the sports world, Adam Schein is not afraid to shy away from controversial topics, and proudly shows his Jewish identity while telling stories that uplift his audience. Rabbi Sherman and Adam Schein reconnect after meeting 20 years ago in Syracuse, NY.

Tracy Wolfson, CBS lead sideline reporter, who has covered the biggest games of the Super Bowl, Final Four, and College Football Playoff speaks with Rabbi Sherman on how to set career and life goals, the thrill to interview the world's greatest athletes and coaches in their highest and lowest moments, and the role faith and belief play in the world of sports.

Noam Yitzchaki, of the Israel Tennis and Education Center joins Rabbi Sherman to share the story of how the tennis center allows all children in Israel to dream for a better future. From inclusion of athletes with disabilities to bridging countries after the Abraham Accords to saving children at risk, the Israel Tennis and Education Center has brought together Jews, Christians, and Muslims, from all walks of life to play a sport that unites the world.

Coach Ryan Coleman, of the Shalhevet Firehawks, and his all star-players, Yalee Schwartz and Arielle Grossman, join Rabbi Sherman to share their journey of becoming the first Jewish basketball team in the California to win a state championship. How has this team bonded over sports and religion? What message do they send the next generation of basketball players? What has Coach Coleman learned from his team of deep faith? What life lessons have they learned from him?

Seth Davis, CBS Sports studio analyst, author at The Athletic, senior writer at Sports Illustrated, author of New York Times best selling book, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his experience meeting top coaches and athletes, what makes them succeed and how they deal with failure. Where does faith fit into their lives? How do they overcome their adversity and challenges while also celebrating their accomplishments?

Joe Alexander and Barak Swarttz speaks with Rabbi Sherman to explain how the worlds of basketball and Israel intersect in a deep way. Joe was the 8th pick in the 2008 NBA draft and then became a Maccabi Tel Aviv star after making aliyah and rediscovering his Jewish roots. Joe and Barak explain how other young kids in America can dream of a professional basketball career in the land of Israel. This summer, Joe and Barak will visit Sinai Temple with their new camp, Jabstep. https://www.jabstepbasketball.com/sinai

Make sure to sign your children up today!

Jason and Randy Sklar, known as the Sklar Brothers, hosts of The View From The Cheap Seats podcast, and the show, Cheap Seats on ESPN Classic, speak with Rabbi Sherman about the intersection of comedy, sports, and faith. The Sklar Brothers teach us how to use humor in our lives to not take ourselves so seriously, while also learning deep lessons of life from humorous situations. Is a game just a game, or does sports bring people together to laugh and cry?

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the chaplain of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers basketball team speaks with Rabbi Sherman about her newly released book, "Wake Up With Purpose: What I've Learned In My First One Hundred Years." Sister Jean explains the value that religion can bring to the world of sports, the power of prayer and the ability to talk to God, and the way in which spiritual health can bring humanity together. Sister Jean, the most famous person in the 2018 March Madness NCAA Tournament details how her overnight celebrity status was simply continuing the small acts of kindness she brings to her work each day.

Jason Benetti, FOX Sports, ESPN, and Chicago White Sox broadcaster, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the lessons he has learned about himself through his journey with cerebral palsy, how his band director set him up for his journey to the broadcast booth, and what it is like to make the big call for an invisible audience.

Prof. David Hollander, Clinical Professor with the Tisch Institute for Global Sport at NYU, and author of "How Basketball Can Save The World," speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the real life lessons that are derived from the 13 principles of basketball from which James Naismith created the game. How do these 13 principles relate to solving the problems of loneliness, immigration, racism, and more?  Get your PHD in basketball and learn about how we an improve the world.

Father Robert Hagan, of Villanova University, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the spirituality he brings to the Villanova University campus, in particular to the basketball and football teams. He has cut down the nets in 2016 and 2018, and has guided young athletes both on and off the court, during their time in college and beyond. What lessons do we learn from the locker room sanctuary?

Josh Altman, reality TV star of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing, author of It's Your Move and The Altman Close, and place-kicker of Big East Champion Syracuse University Orange, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his own faith journey, the powerful lessons that sports has taught him through both his highs and lows in the real estate industry, and the tools for success for the next generation to work hard and do good for the world.

Len Elmore, University of Maryland All-American, NBA veteran, Harvard trained attorney, long time college basketball broadcaster, and Columbia University professor of athletes and activism, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the transformative power athletes can have in society at large. What responsibility do athletes have to be involved in causes of justice? What is the difference between community service and activism? 

Meyers Leonard, NBA veteran and University of Illinois star, speaks with Rabbi Erez Sherman, about his spiritual transformation after hurting the Jewish community with difficult words in March 2021. Meyers explains his process and how the Jewish community has helped him heal and bring more love into the world. Just a day after Leonard's exclusive interview on ESPN's Outside The Lines with Jeremy Schaap, Meyers visited Sinai Temple, spoke with the children of Sinai Akiba Academy and sat for a one on one interview with Rabbi Sherman.

Gary Belsky, ESPN The Magazine, New York Times Best Selling Author, "On The Origin Of Sports" speaks with Rabbi Sherman on the power of storytelling. What stories do we tell and for what purpose? How do our stories raise others up? Belsky also explains how the sports we know and love came into being and if this history has impact on how we watch sports today.

Steve Rosenberg, author of "Make Bold Things Happen," and chairman of the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame speaks with Rabbi Sherman about how the lessons of winning and losing in the world of sports can translate to success in life. How do you get to know your neighbors by playing sports with them? Who do you meet that will connect you to the next opportunitiy in your life?

Elissa Sagoskin, who grew up in Philadelphia, PA, was always involved with sports as a child, attending Barrack Academy. Her love of sports took her to University of Maryland, where she played intramural basketball. After making aliyah, she met the sport of flag football, where she has been a representative of the State of Israel on and off the field. What lessons has she learned from sports and from life? What role can sports play in bringing people together?

Shaun Tomson, 1977 world champion surfer, and author of The Surfer And The Sage, joins Rabbi Sherman to learn about the meaning of "riding a wave." how do we paddle back out after wiping out? How do we find purpose over fear? How do we write our "CODE," to live a meaningful life? learn the secrets of the sea.

Andy Hill, UCLA basketball player in 1970-1972, under the legend, Coach John Wooden, joins Rabbi Sherman to speak about the lessons he learned from Coach Wooden and his pyramid of success. Decades later, Andy Hill returns to Coach Wooden to thank him for the lessons that led him through challenge and success.

Meredith Shiner, accomplished journalist and communications expert speaks with Rabbi Erez Sherman about her newly released podcast, hosted by Tablet, The Franchise: Jews, Sports, and America. What story can sports tell about the role that Jews play in the history of America. What does Sandy Koufax represent and who are the new models that we look towards today?

Jay Bilas, ESPN College Basketball Analyst, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his inspiring trip to Israel, accompanying the Auburn University Tigers and Coach Bruce Pearl to the land of Israel, to see the home of the Abrahamic faiths.

James Andrew Miller joins Rabbi Sherman to speak about the faith it takes to give someone a chance to dream big, make mistakes, and eventually succeed. James Andrew Miller is an investigative journalist, host of the podcast, Origins, and author of New York Times bestselling books.