Friday, October 9th 2026   |

Sports

A chance discovery connected US soccer star Matt Turner to his Jewish roots

By JOSEPH D’HIPPOLITO

(JTA) — Unexpected events converged not only to forge Matt Turner’s career as a professional soccer player. They enabled him to find Jewish roots he never knew he had.

Turner, 29, the starting goalkeeper for the U.S....

The MLB has more Jewish players than ever — but none of them will face a Yom Kippur dilemma this year

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — For Jews and baseball fans, this is one of the most important weekends of the year.

Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day, begins Sunday evening. That day will also kick off the final week of the...

The Jewish Sport Report: Meet Jessica Berman, trailblazing Jewish commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League

By JACOB GURVIS

This article was sent as a newsletter. Sign up for our weekly Jewish sports newsletter here. 

Good afternoon, and happy football season! The NFL kicked off last night with a thrilling 21-20 victory by the Detroit Lions over...

An Israeli flag football team forfeited a game on Shabbat. It won the European championship anyway.

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — Israel’s under-17 men’s flag football team won its first-ever gold medal at the 2023 International Federation of American Football’s European Junior Flag Football Championships hosted in Grosseto, Italy, this past weekend.

The Israeli team beat...

Fan ejected from US Open match after chanting Nazi phrase at German player Alexander Zverev

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — A spectator was ejected from a U.S. Open tennis match early Tuesday morning after allegedly chanting a Nazi anthem at German player Alexander Zverev.

During the fourth set of Zverev’s match against No. 6 Jannik...

All the Jewish NFL players to watch in the 2023-2024 season

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — As the calendar turns to September, many Jews eagerly await an annual fall tradition that signals a new beginning: Week 1 of the NFL season.

This year, the season begins on Sept. 7, just about...

Iran banned a weightlifter for life after he took a photo with an Israeli opponent

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — Iran’s weightlifting federation banned one of its athletes for life after he shook hands and posed for a photo with an Israeli athlete at an international competition in Poland.

Mostafa Rajaei finished second in his...

Israel wins first-ever gold medals at rhythmic gymnastics world championships

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — Israel won its first-ever gold medals at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Valencia, Spain, over the weekend, improving on last year’s silver medal and solidifying its place as a global powerhouse in the sport.

...

Israeli UFC fighter Natan Levy beats up online troll who supports Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — As only the third Israeli to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, Natan Levy is not afraid to showcase his Jewish identity in and out of the ring.

He gave himself the chance...

Super Bowl champion Leonard Fournette visits Jewish summer camp for children with cancer

By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — Super Bowl champion Leonard Fournette paid a surprise visit to a Jewish overnight camp for children with cancer, blood disorders and other chronic illnesses.

Fournette, who won a Super Bowl in 2021 with the Tampa...