Priorities

In the world of high school basketball, going to a state tournament is the stuff of dreams. This year, the North West Yeshiva girls basketball team from Mercer Island, Washington achieved their dream. Not only that, but the 613s (the nick name given them because of the 613 commandments they keep) set two records. They became the first Jewish high school to make it to state, and then they became the first team in the state to pull out of a postseason game.

Why would an underdog team like the 613s pull out of the tournament when they worked so hard to get there? Because their priorities are set on their faith, rather than their game. See, it all started when the team was scheduled for a consolation round game. That game fell on the afternoon of the Fast of Esther, a time where those observing Purim (a Jewish holiday) don't eat or drink anything. The coaches and the head of the school, Rabbi Bernie Fox decided that playing basketball without any water would be too dangerous for the players. All of the team members were dedicated to keeping the fast and were supportive of the decision to not play.

Rabbi Fox contacted the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and offered several different suggestions as to how they could still play and keep their fast. Among those suggestions were to move the game to the evening, when sunset would call the fast to an end, and moving the game to a different location in the evening. The school even offered to help finance any costs incurred in this move. But the WIAA refused saying that it would not be fair to any of the other teams, and that it would eliminate the "state tournament experience". Not only did the WIAA refuse to allow the game to be moved, but the group is considering sanctioning the team for forfeiting the game. At this point only time will tell if that happens, as the WIAA will not be meeting to discuss business until late March.

With nothing else to do but forfeit, the 613s wanted to be good sports, so they suited up, took the court and shook hands with each member of the opposing team, the girls from St. John-Endicott. This display of good sportsmanship and dedication to their religious convictions has brought media attention to the small school of 95 students. Rabbi Fox said that he is very proud of his team. "Whether you're in a public school or religious school, you want kids to gather not just knowledge, but values to guide decisions in life," Fox said. "This was a situation where the team was challenged to do that - to prioritize. And they felt that as important as this basketball tournament was, they couldn't compromise their personal values." Purim, the holiday being celebrated, is to commemorate a time in Jewish history when one person's dedication to doing what was right saved her entire people. I think that it is more than fitting that this group of students are facing these tough decisions during this observance. Personally, I think they made the right choice.