Notice that Naama Shafir is wearing a T-Shirt under her uniform. She does so for modesty reasons. This same T-Shirt has resulted in her being banned from playing for Israel in the European Championship.
Shafir sidelined over modesty spat
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The Israeli women’s national basketball team says one of its stars might be kept out of the European championship because of a disagreement over her religious observance and the team uniform.
University of Toledo and Israeli national team point guard Naama Shafir is an Orthodox Jew who wears a T-shirt under her jersey because Jewish modesty rules require her to cover her shoulders.
Yamit, Bill is right.
You should contact the coach and or who is in charge of the team and suggest they issue new team jerseys with short sleeves.
Yamit if you are right, I can’t imagine all the women on Israel’s team not wearing the same thing. So I believe that it applies to all teams in the league. They must all wear the same style uniforms,
When I was on my high school track team, a lot of people — men and girls both — wore t-shirts under their singlets. It’s more comfortable and yes modesty is a factor too. Even as a man, I prefer not having people looking and my bare chest.
Anyway, I’m sure it’s a touchy subject since secular girls don’t want anyone telling them they have to cover up their bodies. Also, promoters of girls’ sports know very well that to get audiences, the players must wear somewhat revealing clothing. That’s why sand volleyball is one of the most popular olympic sports.
Probably the rules of European basketball should be reformed to permit de minimus variation in uniforms so long as the underlying purpose of the rule is not compromised. Presumably the rule is there so that game officials and players can instantly identify who is on which team.
Confused? Does the rule say as in the above quote that ea. team must wear the same uniform or that all teams must wear a uniform, uniform?
Blandoatmeal, there is nothing un-Jewish about participating in sports or being a spectator.
Ted, you no doubt right about that.
Lets go as far to say this talented young lady is facing two obstacles, anti-Semitism and unfairness in competition.
Were talking about competing in Europe. They might have been more flexible if she wasn’t so good. :))
How did we miss the point?
There are a number of collegiate basketball players who wear a t-shirt under their sleeveless jersey.
Needless to say there certainly are common sense exceptions to the rule.
By the way what ever became of good old common sense????
That’s not the point. Nobody can wear them.
I’ll second that.
Why doesn’t her Jewish team support her by all of them wearing T shirts? Some could have cut off sleeves at the shoulder if it’s more comfortable.
Where is Israeli solidarity?
Whats with the duplication? Print the comment please.
Isn’t that the truth.
The team should tell them to go pound sand.
There was a time when:
The Hellenists brought sports to Israel: they performed in the nude in those days, and some Jews became avid sports fans and spectators. Today, lots of Jews, including some here, no doubt, want to be “mainstream” in their appetites for sports spectacles, but to do so with a kosher OK. There’s not a great deal of difference between nudity and some of the skimpy outfits athletes have to wear, after all; so I can see the problem. This is a matter where Jews are much in the same boat as the Moslems: along with some other issues such as coverings on women (and on men, in the case of kippot), and of circumcision and certain food issues. It would be heartening, to see Jews and Moslems publicly cooperate on such issues; but real cooperation doesn’t make headlines — conflict does. I wish them all the best.
Thank you, Na’ama, for truly representing our team!
If she was a Muslim, they’d have found a way to accommodate her.
As though modesty was not important to religious Jews and Christians.
F*ck the Poles and the anti-Semitism they imbibe from their mother’s milk.
Naama Shafir shouldn’t compromise on her principles for them.