Twenty Yeshiva High School Teams Take Part in YU’s Annual Sarachek Basketball Tournament

From March 7-11, 20 yeshiva high school basketball teams from across the U.S. and Canada met at the Max Stern Athletic Center on Yeshiva University’s Wilf Campus in Washington Heights to battle it out for the top spot in YU’s 22nd Annual Red Sarachek Invitational Basketball Tournament. When the buzzer sounded, the Shalhevet High School Firehawks of Los Angeles, CA were crowned the tournament’s Tier I champions.

In a thrilling championship bout, the Firehawks defeated the Frisch School Cougars of Paramus, NJ by the score of 62-53. Playing before a packed crowd and a broadcast audience in the thousands, Shalhevet shooting guard and Sarachek MVP Joseph Fallas held off a determined Frisch squad with an impressive 25 points. Read the rest of this entry…

NBA Agent to the Stars, Leon Rose, Shares Strategies of Success with Yeshiva University Students

On March 7, members of Yeshiva University’s Sports Management Club had the opportunity to ask their biggest questions to someone who knows a little about the business.

NBA agent Leon Rose spoke about his career at a Sports Management Club event on the Wilf Campus.

That would be Leon Rose, attorney and sports agent, who represents National Basketball Association stars including Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, and formerly LeBron James. During the informal discussion on YU’s Wilf Campus, which was attended by dozens of students and community members, as well as visiting participants of the Annual Red Sarachek Invitational Basketball Tournament, Rose recalled his journey from aspiring basketball coach to legal professional and, eventually, adviser to some of the biggest names in the game. Read the rest of this entry…

High Schools Face Off at Sarachek Basketball Tournament; Watch LIVE!

Yeshiva University’s 22nd Annual Red Sarachek Invitational Basketball Tournament tips off Thursday, March 7 at 10 a.m. at the Max Stern Athletic Center on YU’s Wilf Campus. The tournament, named after legendary former Maccabees coach Bernard “Red” Sarachek, features 20 Jewish high school basketball teams from across North America in a dramatic five-day tournament before live crowds and broadcast audiences in the thousands.

This year’s field is seeded as follows: Read the rest of this entry…

Women’s Basketball Standout Rebecca Yoshor Named to Capital One Academic All-America Team

Yeshiva University junior forward Rebecca Yoshor has been named to Capital One’s NCAA Division III Academic All-America women’s basketball second team for the 2012-13 academic year. The teams were selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Yoshor is the first female student-athlete in YU history to garner Capital One Academic All-America honors, and just the second student-athlete overall. Former Maccabees men’s basketball player, Eric Davis was cited on the third team in 1991.

“This is an amazing honor,” said Yoshor upon hearing the news. “My parents and coaches, both in high school and college, have been very encouraging and supportive, to say the least.”

“Seeing Rebecca recognized by Capital One is wonderful,” said YU first-year head coach, Nesta Felix. “She is consistently one of the last players to leave practice and is very tough on herself. Knowing that, it is fantastic to see that her labors have not been in vain.” Read the rest of this entry…

YU Women’s Basketball Team Comes Together On and Off the Court

It’s nine o’clock on a Wednesday night and the Yeshiva University women’s basketball team is practicing basketball drills in a midtown high school gym. Poised on the sideline, guard Stephanie Greenberg holds a basketball close to her chest, scanning the court for an open teammate.

First-year Head Coach Nesta Felix has instilled the Lady Macs with a sense of confidence and cohesiveness.

Greenberg, a Stern College for Women sophomore, inbounds to Naomi Gofine, who curls around a defender and fires a pass to a cutting Rebecca Yoshor, who effortlessly lays it in the hoop. “I like that!” calls out Coach Nesta Felix. “When you do it right, basketball is like beautiful music. That was pretty.”

Felix, first-year head coach of the Maccabees, has worked rigorously, alongside Assistant Coach Garianne Brown, to mold the 2012-13 squad into one of the most hard working, tightly knit and cohesive teams to set foot on court for YU.

A native of St. Lucia, Felix was a two-sport Division I athlete, playing basketball and volleyball for Iona College. Her coaching career began right out of college in 2001, with Felix serving as an assistant coach for seven seasons at Monroe College, where she helped lead the team to four regional championships. In Fall 2012, Felix brought her discipline, determination and passion to Stern College—traits she has found in the Maccabees, as well. “One of the things I love about coaching here is the focus and work ethic of my ladies,” she said. “I’m driving them like they’ve never been driven before, but they are so committed because of who they are.” Read the rest of this entry…

Men’s Basketball Coach Honored with Court-Naming Ceremony and Scholarship Fund

On Sunday, May 6, Yeshiva University’s Alumni Office celebrated the 40-year career of men’s basketball Coach Jonathan Halpert ‘62YUHS, ‘66YC, ‘78F with a court-naming ceremony in his honor at the Max Stern Athletic Center on the Wilf Campus. The event included the unveiling of Halpert’s signature on the men’s basketball court, a tribute video and the launch of the Coach Jonathan Halpert Scholarship Fund, an endowment that will be awarded annually to children of YU alumni living in Israel wishing to study at the University.

Halpert, who took over the Maccabees roster in 1972, is the longest tenured men’s basketball coach in New York City history.  He was named coach of the year in the NCAA’s Skyline Conference twice, and at one point compiled a streak of 15 consecutive winning seasons.  Above all, Halpert has served as a role model for core Jewish values to three generations of Yeshiva University students. Read the rest of this entry…

YU to Honor Longtime Men’s Basketball Coach Jonathan Halpert with Court-Naming Ceremony, Scholarship Fund

Yeshiva University’s University’s Alumni Office will be celebrating the 40-year career of men’s basketball Coach Jonathan Halpert ’62YUHS, ’66YC, ’78F with a court-naming ceremony in his honor on May 6, 2012 at the Max Stern Athletic Center on YU’s Wilf Campus in Manhattan. The event will include the unveiling of Halpert’s signature on the men’s basketball court as well as the launch of the Coach Jonathan Halpert Scholarship Fund, an endowment that will be awarded annually to children of YU alumni living in Israel wishing to study at the University.

Halpert, who took over the YU Maccabees roster in 1972, is the longest tenured men’s basketball coach in New York City history.  He was named coach of the year in the NCAA’s Skyline Conference twice, and at one point compiled a streak of 15 consecutive winning seasons.  Above all, Halpert has served as a role model for core Jewish values to three generations of Yeshiva University students.

“For four decades, Coach Halpert has imbued the Melvin J. Furst Gymnasium with the values of sportsmanship, teamwork and Jewish pride,” said President Richard M. Joel. “With this deserving honor, Coach Halpert’s example and leadership will inform the play and actions of the future scholar athletes of Yeshiva University for generations to come.”

Over the last 30 years, Halpert has visited Israel twice a year to recruit Israeli talent interested in representing Yeshiva University on the court while receiving a top-notch Torah and academic college education. The Coach Jonathan Halpert Scholarship Fund was established under his guidance to benefit YU alumni who have immigrated to Israel.

“When I heard that YU wanted to mark this milestone in my tenure, I insisted that the celebration include the establishment of the scholarship fund,” said Halpert. “This grant is an expression of gratitude to Yeshiva University alumni who have made Aliyah and my way of ensuring that Israel’s future leaders obtain the tools they need to continue to build the Jewish State.”

Individuals interested in honoring Halpert’s significant contributions to YU and the Maccabees can contribute from anywhere in the world via the University website. Donors to the Coach Jonathan Halpert Scholarship Fund will be recognized in the interactive display documenting the history of the Maccabees in the Max Stern Athletic Center and in an honorary book to be presented to Halpert later this year.

First-Year Forward Rebecca Yoshor Averaged Double-Double; Second in the Nation in Rebounding

In her first season of collegiate competition, Yeshiva University sophomore forward Rebecca Yoshor of Houston, Texas was selected to the Hudson Valley Women’s Athletic Conference (HVWAC) All-Conference team. Yoshor was the only player to average a double-double in the HVWAC.

Yoshor's 14.6 rebounds per game ranked second in the NCAA.

“I am honored to have been named to the all-conference team, especially since this was my first year on the team,” said Yoshor. “I feel very lucky to have been welcomed onto such a solid team with such amazing players and an encouraging coaching staff.”

Yoshor averaged 14.6 rebounds per game—a mark that places her second in the entire NCAA, across all divisions. Her per game averages of 2.3 blocks and 16.9 points ranked first and second in the conference. Yoshor was twice named the Rookie of the Week and once named the Player of the Week. Her best game this season came against Keystone College, when she tallied 28 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

“Although this is Rebecca’s first year on the Macs, she has had a profound impact in shaping the team this year and she has certainly been a large part of our successes,” said Dr. Karen Green, coach of the YU Maccabee women’s basketball team. “She epitomizes a true collegiate scholar-athlete and has established herself as a dominant member of our team.”

Get the latest Yeshiva University Athletics news at www.yumacs.com.

Coach Jonathan Halpert Recruits from Israel as His Way of Thanking Those That Served in the IDF

To the average fan, it is no more than another mediocre basketball game in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. However, for Dr. Jonathan Halpert it means a whole lot more. For Halpert, the Yeshiva University team he coaches represents not only a private Jewish school from New York, but the entire Jewish people.

Coach Halpert

Halpert is in his 40th season as the basketball coach of the Maccabees, who currently have seven players from across Israel on their roster. Halpert, 67, comes to Israel twice a year to recruit local talent, hoping to find players worthy of representing not only Yeshiva University, but Jews everywhere.

“When Maccabi Tel Aviv plays in the Euroleague they are not only representing Maccabi, they are representing Israel and the Jewish people,” Halpert said during his recent visit to Israel.

“Whether Israelis want it or not, in the eyes of the world Maccabi is representing the Jewish state. When Yeshiva University goes out on court we are ‘the Jewish school.’ We are ‘the Jewish players.’ “There’s an opportunity to represent much more than yourself and the name of the school. For me to be able to represent the Jewish people 25 times a year is an opportunity I couldn’t get any place else. In Israel you can coach different teams and have that opportunity, but in America there is only one place I can do that so that is pretty special.” Read the full article in The Jerusalem Post…

Past Men’s Basketball Captains Honored at Alumni Day Maccabees Game

With his opponents attempting to swat away the basketball, Yeshiva University Maccabees center Shlomo Weissberg dribbled to the basket. “Who’s ready?” Weissberg shouted. Quickly, he passed the ball underhand to a teammate, who made the shot. The two exchanged high-fives.

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Weissberg had to bend down a little. His teammate, Guy Zaibert, was six years old.

Zaibert came to YU’s Wilf Campus with his father, ’97-’98 Macs captain Alon Zaibert, to participate in a unique Alumni Day celebrating past captains of YU’s men’s basketball team. Forty three former captains spanning eight decades gathered at the Max Stern Athletics Center on December 18 to reunite with team members and perennial coach Jonathan Halpert, shoot some hoops, and to be honored at a halftime ceremony during the Macs’ 2 p.m. home game against the St. Joseph’s College Golden Eagles.

“What an incredible opportunity to be able to welcome back to campus more than 50 past players,” said Illana Feiglin, director of alumni affairs. “And then, on top of that, to have the chance to see them interact with their children, grandchildren and in some cases, great-grandchildren, in a space and capacity that was sacred to these men during their time as student-athletes was truly awe-inspiring.”

Before the game, current Macs players took the court to compete in mini 3-on-3 tournaments and shooting contests with team alumni and their families.

“It’s a huge thrill to have my son here,” said the older Zaibert, a software company executive from Atlanta who pushed his flight to Israel back a day so he could attend. During lunch—which featured a screening of “The History of the Macs,” a short documentary about the team—Zaibert shared a table with friend and former teammate Steven Kupferman, captain in ’96-’97, and Kupferman’s 9-year-old son Zev. While their children shared pizza, Zaibert and Kupferman reminisced about their favorite basketball moments.

“Definitely, my favorite game was the one we played in Madison Square Garden for the Eastern College Athletic Conference,” said Zaibert. “Or when we played Baruch College. We won ten seconds from the end.”

“There’s a sense of camaraderie you develop,” explained Kupferman, now a dentist. “I brought it with me to my practice.”

For Shabsi Schreier, ’83-’85 captain, that camaraderie extends to the teams that came before and after his own. On Sunday, he and his wife Julie unveiled an interactive display outside the Melvin J. Furst Gymnasium, featuring the history of the men’s basketball team, lists of past captains and 1,000 point scorers, and information about the current team. “We wanted to show the hemshech ha-dorot, the continuity from past to future,” he said.

Chen Biron, who along with Omer Haim is co-captain of the current team, feels a similar connection. “To hear about this historic event and all the players that were going to be here made me really excited and happy,” he said before Sunday’s game. “We’re going to play hard and make the school and the people in the stands proud.”

Don Geller, captain of the ’48-’49 Macs and the most senior captain in attendance, recalled organizing the Metropolitan Jewish Day School Basketball League with the advisement of then-coach Bernard “Red” Sarachek while still in college. “Red was a great coach,” said Geller. “He’d bring pro-ballers down to train us. We trained once with Red Holzman, coach of the New York Knicks.”

On Sunday, another great coach, Jonathan Halpert, a ’65-’66 Macs captain who has presided over more than 800 games and 40 years of YU basketball, was recognized. In Halpert’s honor, the University will name the basketball court for him at a special tribute to him in the spring. A group of former players  are raising money for the Coach Jonathan Halpert Scholarship Fund to help  future students attend  YU.

“When my guys run on the court, they have ‘Yeshiva’ written across their chests, as we did in our years,” said Halpert. “We are out there representing the Jewish people with class, dignity, skill and sportsmanship, so that when people talk about YU, they can say, ‘Yes, they’re leaders of the Jewish people, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, teachers—and they are basketball players on the collegiate level, too.’ ”

Watching the current Macs take the court against St. Joseph’s College later in the day, David Kufeld, the ’78-’80 captain—and only Maccabee ever drafted to the NBA—put it this way: “Basketball may not be the first thing you think of when you think of Jews, but at YU, it’s a part of our Jewish identity.”

View archived photos shared by former Maccabees here.