Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on June 21, 2022

Stephen Curry sporting a sweatshirt with Hebrew on it during an NBA Finals postgame press conference on June 10. (Screenshot from YouTube via JTA.org)

By Jacob Gurvis

Jews looking for a rooting interest in the concluding games of this years NBA Finals might have one now, thanks to a head-turning wardrobe choice from Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

No, Curry isnt Jewish. But during Fridays Game 4 postgame press conference, following a Warriors victory, he did don a Hebrew sweatshirt for the cameras one that matcheshis own Hebrew tattoos.

Eagle-eyed Twitter sleuthEmma Goss, a reporter at Jewish Telegraphic Agency partnerJ. The Jewish News of Northern California, caught the hoodie. It features the phrase , which translates to love never fails a reference to the New Testament passage 1 Corinthians 13:8 (though with the Hebrew letters written in the reverse order). Its also one of Currys two Hebrew tattoos, which he shares with his wife.

The sweatshirt also features an image of Currys wrist, visibly emblazoned with the same Hebrew tattoo. Currys second Hebrew tattoo is simply his last name rendered in Hebrew: .

Currys fascination with the languagemight stem from his mother, Sonya Curry, who told reporters in 2015 that following a previous visit to Israel, she was just transformed spiritually. Sonya Curry, who also has a Hebrew tattoo, said she wanted to learn Hebrew because it is the language that Jesus spoke (more likely, he spoke Aramaic, although probably understood Hebrew), and added that she wanted to read the Torah in Hebrew.

Of course, a haphazardly translated New Testament phrase is hardly a gateway to meaningful Jewish wisdom. But the NBA Finals series between the Warriors and the Boston Celtics has other Jewish connections, too.

For Boston, that includes Hall of Fame coach and executiveRed Auerbach (who died in 2006), the son of a Russian-Jewish immigrant who is generally considered the greatest coach in the history of basketball.

For the Warriors, theres Jewish-Ukrainian immigrant and fellow Hall of Fame coachEddie Gottlieb (who died in 1979), who played a leading role in bringing the team to the Bay Area from Philadelphia.

Two of the NBAs biggest awards are named after these two Jewish basketball pioneers. The leagues Rookie of the Year award confers the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy, while the Coach of the Year receives the Red Auerbach Trophy.

Currys Warriors lead the Celtics three games to two heading into Thursday nights Game 6. If the Warriors win, it will be the teams fourth championship since 2015.

Originally posted here:

Stephen Curry Wore a Hebrew Sweatshirt at the NBA Finals - Jewish Exponent

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