Tamir Defended

To the Editor;

I believe that a person becomes famous because his/her fans make him/her famous, as is the case with Tamir Goodman. I don't believe he asked to be written up in every newspaper across America and I also don't believe he asked to be ranked out by Yishai Fleisher. Tamir Goodman, just like every other Jewish kid who plays high school ball, is in it for the fun of the game. He, unlike every other kid though, is a superior ball player who has people traveling hours just to see him play.

Is it his fault that society has made him into a hero, is it his fault he's a great ball player and that people want to watch him play ball? He's just an average 17 year-old (although his basketball talent are obviously above average) who is having the same problems we all had as 17 year-olds and I'm sure he doesn't need someone like a holier-than-thou Yishai Fleisher to tell him that he is doing some thing wrong. I don't believe Yishai has ever met my friend Tamir, because if he had, he probably wouldn't be trying to berate him or even be mivayaish him berabim.

I would also like to expect that The Commentator would read the columns they put into their newspaper because a journalist is supposed to be informed and I don't believe that the article "Meet Tamir Goodman II" was written by an informed columnist.

Simcha Fuld

YC '00

To the Editor:

Yishai Fleisher's column "Meet Tamir Goodman II," was one of the most thoughtless and reckless pieces of writing that I have ever read. Aside from the fact that it attacks a seventeen-year-old boy, it also misrepresents the situation as it exists. Quite often, Tamir Goodman has used his position of fame to be a positive example to Jews. He told me that many lawyers have approached him to say that they now wear a yarmulke to work because of his positive influence. What a positive role model he was when he bent down to pick up his yarmulke in the middle of the game, with 1300 people watching him!

In addition, I had the chance to talk to Tamir's coach after one of his games, and I asked him about the possibility of Tamir's attending Yeshiva instead of Maryland. His response was a snicker, asking me if I had read Fleisher's column in The Commentator. I wonder if Mr. Fleisher realizes that he may have contributed to a Jewish soul attending Mary-Land, and not Yeshiva. Not exactly what he intended, but because he was so reckless, that was the result. His holier-than-thou attitude ended up pushing a Jewish child away from Torah. Good job, slick.

Adam Cohen

YC '01

To the Editor:

Concerning Yishai Fleisher's column on Tamir Goodman, although the story dealt with many sad truths presently facing the Jewish community, and although I agree with the column's basic content, that does not excuse the fact that these points were brought about through blatant lashon hora, and rechilus. With enough time and effort a halakhic loophole would be found to justify the article, but just as the acceptance of the American culture, although halakhically justified, is clearly counterproductive to Jewish unity and spiritual growth, articles which further spread disunity through rechilus are equally destructive to Yiddishkeit. And similarly to the 9 year-old kid dreaming of playing in the NBA, the spirit of the article is damaging to the thin fiber which connects us as yiddin, achdus. Remember the Beis HaMikdash wasn't destroyed because of Avodah Zarah (idolatry) but Sinat Chinam (pointless hatred).

Todd Davidovits

YC '00

To the Editor:

It's totally inappropriate to attack a High School student because the media has made him a celebrity. While Yishai Fleisher's arguments may resonate with a significant segment of Orthodox Jews, the cynical way in which they are presented leads me to believe that he is motivated by jealousy, malice or has nothing better to write about. Many Jews are celebrated as Jews because of achievements or talents that are not Torah-based but are rather in other fields such as Steven Spielberg, Michael Eisner and others in the entertainment field, or the Reichman family and countless other millionaires in the business field. Don't criticize a high school kid for being a great ballplayer. Focus on the way he has stood up for the observance of mitzvos. Also, be happy when another Jew succeeds. That is the teaching of Rabbi Akiva.

Avrum Aaron

YC '91

Related Stories:

• Meet Tamir Goodman II