There aren’t too many Jewish hockey players in the NHL, and the high holidays each year more than likely will not conflict with a regular season game (statistically speaking). So it’s not very often when a Jewish NHL player needs to decide whether to play a regular season game or spend time with family at a synagogue.
While Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur fall early on the calendar this year, it’s good to remind ourselves that NHL players have had to make this choice, including former Capitals’ captain and Montgomery County, Md. native Jeff Halpern.
Five years ago, the Capitals were set to play the Hurricanes on Yom Kippur. Halpern, whose mother died in a car accident the previous winter, opted to miss a game against Carolina. While Halpern’s decision not to play wasn’t exactly as headline-grabbing as Sandy Koufax not pitching the first game of the 65′ World Series, it’s still refreshing to know that Halpern put family and faith before his job.
Best of luck in Montreal, Jeff, and L’shanah tovah.
