SPORTS Jewish Boxer Set to Fight in Brookhaven Soon, one of Israel’s leading boxers will be back in the ring June 19 in Brookhaven after an extended hiatus. Yuri Foreman, otherwise known as the “Boxing Rabbi,” was previously the WBA super welterweight title holder from 2009 to 2010 and is now making a comeback tour with his second fight at the Buckhead Fight Club this month. Foreman started boxing at age 7 in the Soviet Union, where he was born, before his parents made aliyah to Israel, bringing him with them. In 1999 he came to the U.S. to pursue his “American dream” to become a world champion Nathan Posner boxer, he told the AJT. He achieved that goal in 2009 but lost the title in 2010, and will now continue his boxing career. He has even described this as his “second career,” in an interview with a boxing magazine. As a lifelong boxer, Foreman is excited to make a return, he said in an interview with the AJT.
The varsity soccer team of Johns Creek High School is seen after winning the 6A championship.
Jewish Player Helps Johns Creek Soccer Win State By Nathan Posner
Last month, sophomore Sara Jacobs helped Johns Creek High School’s varsity girls soccer team win the state championships. Jacobs, who anchored the team’s backline, helped the team to a record of 20 wins and one loss, only giving up nine goals all season, including 17 games with no goals given up. Jacobs was the only sophomore on the team this year, as well as the only freshman last year. Playing outside back, she has been a two-year starter for the JCHS varsity team, including when it played rival Cambridge High School in the finals. JCHS won 2-0 in the 6A championship game. Jacobs told the AJT, “After setting the goal in the beginning of the season to win state, we were determined and worked hard every day at practice. Once we won, I couldn’t actually believe we did it. After five months straight of hard work, it all paid off and we ended up champions.”
Federation Talks Sports with Athletes, Owners By Nathan Posner Yuri Foreman, previous world champion boxer, returns to the ring in Brookhaven.
Foreman trained in Israel as a boxer before coming to the U.S. to compete on a higher level competitively. “Boxing is not generally very popular in Israel. … The only two groups that do training boxing in Israel are immigrants from Russia and former Soviet Republics and Arabs.” Training in a village near Haifa, Foreman became close with many Arab boxers, as they were his sparring partners. He said he “gained their respect. Nobody looks any different, from a Jew and an Arab, nobody cares. The boxing ring becomes an equalizer since you are not focusing on what is different but things we have in common.” As a Jewish boxer in the U.S., he had different training regimens than non-Jewish boxers. Now an ordained rabbi, he described his training to the AJT, as “more 6/24, than 7/24, 6 days/24 hours.” As a religious Jew he doesn’t work on Shabbat or holidays. “It’s the same as non-Jewish boxers unless the calendars and holidays are different, … it’s pretty much the same.” Foreman has been preparing over the past few months for the fight in Brookhaven, where he will be going up against Gordie Russ. The fight will have a crowd in attendance so supporters of Yuri can buy tickets to attend, and the fight will be streamed online for a ticketed price as well. For tickets and more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/underground-showdown-tickets-158535633347?aff=Foreman6702
28 | JUNE 15, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES
The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta held its business casual coffee event June 8, hosting a variety of athletes and those working in sports to talk with members of the community. Moderated by WSB-TV reporter Michael Seiden, the panelists included World Series winners, ACC basketball coaches, NFL team owners and others. The conversation largely focused on the experiences the panelists had on being Jewish in the sports industry. Josh Pastner, head coach of men’s basketball at Georgia Tech, spoke about the opportunities brought about by being a coach and Jewish, The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s business casual logo. mentioning the Hillel on campus that allowed him to be involved with the Jewish student community on campus. A major topic of the discussion was anti-Semitism in sports, from the comments made by Los Angeles Rams wide receiver DeSean Jackson last year to the personal experiences of the panelists. A number of the panelists, including Minnesota Vikings owner and chair of Jewish Federations of North America Mark Wilf, expressed optimism about the ability to transform remarks like Jackson’s into learning opportunities to get players and staff to understand Judaism and the dangers of anti-Semitism.
