By COLlive reporter
Boxing superstar and soon to be rabbi, Yuri Foreman visited the United Lubavitcher Yeshiva of Ocean Parkway in Crown Heights this week and addressed its students.
Foreman, a Belarusian-born Israeli-American professional boxer and former World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight champion, shared personal stories of challenges and triumphs.
He said that in his life, in good times and bad, he “knew that Hashem was always looking out for me. Emunah, faith in G-d Almighty, will get you where you need to go,” Foreman stated.
Drawing on his career that began in January of 2002 in the Junior Middleweight Division and being undefeated for 29 fights, he drew comparisons between the commitment needed for boxing and serving Hashem.
“Yuri was an inspiration to all the talmidim,” said Rabbi Michael Harari. “All the students absorbed and fully felt that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to and that everything is coming from Hashem.”
This and other programs at Lubavitcher Yeshiva – Ocean Parkway was made possible by The Shmuel Schrage Middos Tovos Program in memory of Crown Heights activist Sam Schrage OBM.
1) Boxing is his job and no one enters the ring against his own will in professional boxing, there is nothing wrong if this is done with mutual assent
2) Even yeshiva bochurim would rather learn to defend themselves and this type of learning will include some violence probably, what is wrong with that?
Tzvi, someone who knows Yuri personally ( he is greatest guy ever ) and spend years in yeshiva, Kiev, Ukraine
i watched him lose a fight from 40 feet away and he only had 28 wins at the time and 1 no-contest. that was his first loss and he lost again afterwards.
just sayin…
Boxing was his job and life way before he became from,
But you you should not take up boxing as a hobby. Also I doubt he was there telling the kids that boxing is cool…
i loved ocean parkway for the 9 years i was there!!!!
Nah it was good for them : )
I’ve seen celebrities and sports stars brought in to secular Jewish schools to successfully inspire students. These were students whose family life, community and general lifestyle were geared toward sports and tv. If Mr Foreman- although aiming to be a rabbi- is still involved in boxing (and not coming from the point of view of one who Used to box and abandoned it for something more in tune with Torah) then it is sending the wrong message to the yeshiva bochurim who will regard a boxer (someone involved in a sport that involves violence to another person) as their own… Read more »
B’h
Yuri you are a inspiration to all. Thank you you rabbi dovber pinson
Just asking! I once heard a Rov say that it is against Halacha to box! So why would we want to make a big deal out of someone who is openly going against Halacha?
Chabad, chassedish, etc
yehuda, dovid, and yehuda!!!
-bunk shlomo camper
I hope he could come to my school!! I was going to do a report on him so I did a lot of research and his life is cool shebicool!
having someone cool there is good, but the teachers need to be cool too….as in: knowing how to not react to the kid’s behaviors, to treat them with respect and positivity etc etc. thats the way to reach the kids
BS:D how about a Yuri vs Demitri exhibition match ( for charity)
So exciting, good way to inspire the kids!!
Thank you Heshy!
I am proud of the 6 years a spent in ULY ocean parkway I think it made me into the person I am today they just might be the answer to the overcrowded schools in Crown Heights?