Star of David

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is marked by elaborate and ancient ritual, including a 25-hour fast and intense prayer. In 1965, when the first game of the World Series fell on Yom Kippur, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax chose not to play. Koufax was a devout Jew, and decided his faith took precedence over his career. Don Drysdale pitched in Koufax’s place, and he gave up seven runs. As his manager pulled him from the field, Drysdale said, “I’ll bet right now you wish I was Jewish, too.” Last year at an event to honor Jewish American Heritage Month, President Obama told Sandy Koufax that he and the hall-of-fame pitcher had something in common: “You can’t pitch on Yom Kippur, and I can’t pitch.” The Dodgers lost game one to the Minnesota Twins 2-8. But don’t worry. They won the series.