The role of faith in the public square has become an issue in the presidential campaign recently, but no candidate has done more to advance the cause of freedom of religion in this country than a Houston-area Jewish school. The Robert M. Beren Academy had won a chance to play in the state’s parochial school basketball championships semi-finals this weekend. But since their game is scheduled for Friday night during the observance of the Sabbath, the team will not compete.While the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools is facing some justified criticism for its refusal to make any accommodation for the Jewish team, the honor the school will win for standing up for their principles far exceeds any glory they might have gotten by playing the game.
The Anti-Defamation League has weighed in on the controversy and asked the organizers of the championships to bend a little and find a way to reconfigure their schedule to allow the Beren Academy their chance. The group’s position is the same rules should apply to all schools, but Beren’s win in the state quarterfinals was made possible because their opponent, Our Lady of the Hills, which is a Catholic school, were willing to move the starting time up last Friday to the afternoon before the Sabbath started. But because the private and parochial school group is a voluntary rather than a state-run outfit, the Jewish school cannot legally demand a reasonable accommodation. The association’s decision seems hard-hearted. But if they choose not to budge, it must be acknowledged that sometimes there is a price to be paid for loyalty to faith and principle. That’s disappointing for the kids at Beren, but it’s also something for them to be proud of.
In his book The Gift of Rest, Senator Joseph Lieberman spoke of the beauty of Sabbath observance. But he also demonstrated that his insistence on not working or conducting business as usual for the 25 hours that stretch from sundown on Friday to the appearance of the first star on Saturday has won him the respect of the non-Jewish majority in his state and the nation. There are times when being faithful to one’s principles will necessitate sacrifice, and it’s a shame the kids at Beren are learning that this week. Yet, in refusing to bend to the dictates of the majority, they have done more to honor the cause of faith than the histrionics of football star Tim Tebow. No matter who wins the state basketball championship in Texas this year, the Beren team is the true champion.
Why do you have to badmouth Tebow in this article? There's no reason for it. "Histrionics"? I think that the word does not mean what you think it means.
The cheap shot at Tebow in this article is absolutely uncalled for and totally negates whatever value this piece had. Is Commentary increasingly becoming the place for badmouthing Christians who try to live their lives according to the standards of their faith and taking the side of the elitist bigots who bash them on a regular basis?
I don't think Commentary is a place for badmouthing Christians. I think it is a very pro-Christian publication. I tend to agree that Tebow should not have been mentioned in this piece, but I suspect the author used him as an example of a very "loud and proud" form of faith. "Histrionics" was not really appropriate.
Yes, it was cheap shot at Tebow (and histrionics is indeed the wrong word). But "totally" negates? Why go so far? Also, how did you jump from the article's badmouthing of Tebow to claiming it badmouths faithful Christians in general?
As for this negating the rest of the article, all I can say is, that I'm not interested in what he has to say about the Academy and what they did if he's going to make that point in the context of a cheap shot aimed at one of the finest examples of standing up for faith in a sport that has become a cesspool of bad behavior. The whole thing comes off as a "Nyah-nyah, this is better than Tebow!" and when it has the element of focusing on the example of one faith as opposed to that of another, that's when I as a Christian have double reasons for feeling offended.
Yeah. What's the deal with the Tebow attack here?Totally inappropriate.
I agree. There is no need to bash Tebow who is a great kid beyond anything to be expected from the NFL “stars”. Having said that – Hats or kippahs off to Beren Academy. It takes a lot to sacrifice for your faith. Any faith. Whether it’s Jewish kids in Texas or a Christian Pastor in Iran or Cardinal Dolan in New York.
What does Tebow have to do with this at all? And if you are going to compare him please use some evidence of how he is not following something he believes in (as opposed to this school). You may not like how he acts out his faith but I don't think you will find many more genuine people than him. You can also lay the "histrionics" claim on the media. That kid just truthfully answers their questions. You are well and fine to point out this school and its stand. I hope that the league does accommodate them out of respect for them, but you needlessly bring another person into the discussion and contrary to most your posts come across as a terrible writer and hack.
Interesting… and just what percentage of Jews actually observe the Sabbath (not just light a candle)? I seem to recall it being just higher than the number of Christians who don't use contraception.
I am a bit sympathetic to the writer's Tebow example. I think displays of religiosity ought not be so constant and public. It is not a big issue with me at all. If Tebow wants to display his faith as he does on the football field, sobeit, and G-d bless him. But the natural conclusion to this is, of course, Jewish players chanting "baruch atoh adonai" after each great catch and Muslim players bowing prostrate on the field towards Meccah after making a great tackle. We will see a peculiar display of religious dance and song after each play. I would just prefer that it be kept football. I really don't want to see the rest of it.
Amen, Mr. Tobin. n nI'm not implying it's the case w/Tebow, but too many times a loud Christianity is ever ready to come unhinged. n nRecognizing my own defects, I'll leave it to St. Francis: n n"Preach the Gospel, use words if you must." n n
The above comments demonstrate how the main theme of a presentation can be undermined by a needless reference to another matter. Tim Tebow's public behavior on the football field is certainly worthy of debate, but it was not mentioned here in a respectful manner. Rather, Tebow's non-football acts on the football field were presented as a lesser, more undesirable, alternative to the behavior of the players at the Beren Academy. n I am proud of the decision of the Beren students, just as I respect, and admire, Tebow for his charitable activities with many children who are less fortunate than him. I do not believe that we have to make anyone feel better at the expense of another.
Tobin is a Jew and Jews have a latent fear of White American Christains because they fear Nazism. Jews fear that White Americans, at any moment, will don armbands with swatiskas on them. That's one reason why most Jews favor high immigration (since most immigrants are "non-White") – because they want to "dilute" the white majority of the US and thus weaken any chance of Nazism growing. n nHow's that for a theory?
I do think the Beren Academy decision is classy –in effect, expressing disdain for those who for no apparent good reason cannot and will not accommodate them. Mr. Tobin suggests that this is the right way to do religious witness in the public square (histrionics –eek!). Here we art company. These days, especially, the decision to quietly practice one's faith is precisely what the haters and ideologues like Obama want religious people to do: i.e. shut up, and accept the restrictions placed upon them. Which only makes me want all the more to get in their bigoted faces, a la Tebow. Histrionics? You ain't seen histrionics.
Ehat an insulting, gratuitous, and arguably false statement about Tim Tebow. Tens of millions of people watch the NFL and are aware of atom Tebow. How many people are going to read about this small school? There was no reason for Tobin to denigrate Trnow’s influence. But when your read Tobin’s writing for a while, you realize that this is not all that unusual. He is insulting and condescending to Sarah Palin as well, another person who shows her faith to countless millions. Jonathan Tobin is simply a snob, that is why he needlessly maligned Tim Tebow.
It makes a more dramatic and significant statement when Sabbath observance comes with a price. n nTim Tebow acknowledges his success is not his alone and his talents are gifts from is Creator. It is not so bad to be reminded of that. n nBaruch HaShem.
Aside from the obvious Tebow-love flare up you obviously knew this would cause (I'm guess its why you dropped the name at all, it can be the only reasonable excuse), my question is: whatever in the world does this have to do with religious freedom? Nobody is truthfully "persecuting" anybody. Sure, the athletics organization seems to be acting coarsely but, ultimately, who cares? No rights of conscience are being violated, or near violation. It is a scheduling gaffe, not much more. I was on the verge of subscribing to Commentary's magazine! The next couple articles will have to make up for this throw-away to keep me loyal.