Richard Brodsky, right, and his wife of 39 years, Jodi Brodsky of Atlantic Beach, N.Y., finished the recent Mohawk Hudson Marathon in a time of 4:32:45 and 3:49:41. Richard finished 4th in his age group and Jodi finished 1st in hers.  It was his 66th marathon. Richard Brodsky was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1997 and in 2002, he had a seizure […]

By GABE FRIEDMAN (JTA) – Most of the news surrounding Houston Astros slugger Alex Bregman on Tuesday night, Oct. 29, focused on his “bat carry” — how he ostentatiously carried his bat down to first base while watching his first inning home run sail over the left field fence before dropping it. He apologized for the move after the game. […]

By HOWARD BLAS (JNS) – For most parents, having a son play on a Major League Baseball team would be a dream come true. For Danny Valencia’s parents, it isn’t quite enough. Though proud of his baseball career, which has included playing on eight Major League teams and Team Israel, they also want him to finish his college degree—and to […]

The Albany and Schenectady Jewish Community Centers in August sent 12 athletes and two artists as a joint delegation to the 2019 JCC Maccabi Games and Arts Fest in Detroit, Mich. The teens accomplished 12 medals (2 gold, 3 silver, and 7 bronze). The Games and Arts Fest began with opening ceremonies at the Little Caesar’s Arena with a Parade […]

NEW YORK CITY (JTA) – Despite his serious thoughts about an NBA comeback, Amar’e Stoudemire is taking a little break from basketball to go to school. The former six-time NBA All-Star, who had never attended college, started this fall as a freshman at Florida International University in Miami. Though the semester just started, Stoudemire — who has converted to Judaism, […]

By FAYGIE HOLT (JNS) – For two days in mid-August, 575 men left their jobs, families and hometowns to cycle some 180 miles across three states as part of the Bike4Chai annual fund-raiser to benefit Chai Lifeline, an organization dedicated to helping children with cancer and other life-altering illnesses, and their families. This year’s cyclists came from Mexico and Maryland, […]

By SHIRYN GHERMEZIAN (JNS) – The 15th European Maccabi Games, which some have likened to the Jewish Olympics, concluded on Aug. 7 in Budapest, Hungary, with team USA taking home a total of 155 medals, more than any other country. American athletes claimed 75 gold, 43 silver and 37 bronze medals in categories including basketball, fencing and soccer. The Games took […]

ALBANY–The Albany Jewish Community Center (AJCC), 340 Whitehall Rd., Albany, will hold its annual Dunkin’ Run on Sunday, Sept. 15. The 2019 Dunkin’ Run is a certified 5K and 10K USATF road race. A 5K, 10K, 10K Masters Division and 15K race for men and women and a ½ mile Munchkin run for 12 and under will be offered. The […]

By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ BUDAPEST (JTA)  – More than 2,000 Jewish athletes from 42 countries and thousands of spectators gathered at a stadium in the Hungarian capital for the opening of the 15th European Maccabi Games. Delegations With 180 athletes, Israel sent its largest ever delegation to opening ceremony, Tuesday July 30, which is the 15th edition of a tournament that […]

Recently, (Saturday night, July 13,) Michael Neuman, 26, a psychotherapist living on Miami Beach, Fla., became the first and only Orthodox Jew to defeat a pro athlete on CBS’ Million Dollar Mile (https://youtu.be/gRPlZL9Apc0), a program  produced by Lebron James. He wore his yarmulke proudly as he always does when competing and winning at obstacle course racing competitions. The show gives […]