Temple Habonim celebrates Jews and baseball in September

Since Lipman Pike first donned a uniform for the Troy (New York) Haymakers on May 9, 1871, Jews have had an indelible relationship with America’s pastime. For more than 150 years, Jews and baseball have been synonymous as the game’s growth and development have mirrored the American Jewish experience during the twentieth century. Whether as players, coaches, owners, umpires, promoters, commissioners, labor leaders, sportswriters or fans, the Jewish love of baseball has been felt in their pride for the game and their heritage.

The story of Jews and baseball is one that touches on such topics as immigration, assimilation, bigotry, anti-Semitism, identity, religious observance and Israel. Stars such as Hank Greenberg, Al Rosen and Sandy Koufax gave way to Kevin Youkilis and Shawn Green and to today’s stars such as Max Fried and Dean Kremer. Jews have had a significant impact on the game of baseball.

Temple Habonim, in Barrington, will celebrate Jews and baseball with a weekend-long series of festivities. Events will be held Sept. 13-15.

On Friday, Sept. 13, as part of a Welcome Back Night, a baseball-themed pre-neg (light dinner) will precede evening services. The pre-neg will be at 5:45 p.m. followed by Take Me Out to Shabbat Services starting at 6:45 p.m. Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman will provide a sermon on the relationship between Jews and baseball.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, Aviva Kempner’s 2000 documentary “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg” will follow Havdalah starting at 7 p.m. The film follows the extraordinary life of baseball player Hank Greenberg, who overcame religious prejudice to become one of baseball’s greatest players during the 1930s and 1940s. Refreshments will be served. The film will be followed by a discussion moderated by Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman and Adam Greenman, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, join the Temple Habonim community for an open house with the start of Religious School. The morning begins with a bagel breakfast at 9 a.m. followed by t’filah at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served.

At 11 a.m., award-winning children’s book author Richard Michelson will offer a program on his book “Lipman Pike: America’s First Home Run King.” Based in Northampton, Mass., Michelson is a poet, children’s book author and art dealer, whose books have received much acclaim and have been listed among the 10 Best Books of the Year by The New York Times, Publishers Weekly and The New Yorker, and among the 12 Best Books of the Decade by Amazon.com. “Lipman Pike” was a 2011 National Jewish Book Award finalist and a 2011 New York Times Notable Children’s Book.

Fans of all ages are encouraged to attend and to wear their favorite baseball uniforms. For more information, email office@templehabonim.org or call the  Temple at 401-245-6536. 

DOUG STARK, of Barrington, is the chair of Temple Habonim’s Jews and Baseball Weekend Committee.