Fitness Programs Help Campus Rabbis Shape Up
As an Orthodox Jew, Rabbi Moshe Gray may not need a cross. But CrossFit? That’s another story. Gray, the director of a Jewish center at Dartmouth College, hits the high-intensity core strength and conditioning program five days a week. And he’s not the only campus rabbi getting in shape as he shores up spirits.
At Gray’s urging, an international outreach organization for Jewish students launched a pilot program last fall to help campus rabbis and their wives get in shape. The 30 participants started by getting medical checkups and creating fitness goals, and Chabad on Campus offered online support groups and subsidized half the cost of a personal trainer for six months. Altogether, the participants lost 667 pounds, or an average of 22 pounds each.
Gray, 36, actually has gained weight — in the form of muscle — since his rising cholesterol levels prompted him to start working out a few years ago. Becoming a self-described “fitness freak” after years of inactivity wasn’t easy: When his trainer challenged him to do 96 burpees in eight minutes, Gray managed 27 of the squatting and jumping exercises before he vomited. But that was a turning point.
“I said to myself, ‘I am in such bad shape that if I can’t do 27 burpees and not throw up, I need this more than I ever thought I needed this,” he said.
It was actually Gray’s trainer who sparked the idea for the fitness pilot program. Curious about Chabad Lubavitch — a Hasidic movement within Orthodox Judaism — he looked it up online and noticed image after image of overweight rabbis.
“You guys are really doing God’s work,” he told Gray, “But how are you effective doing this work while neglecting your bodies?”
Mixed Gyms for Shliach of Rebbe Malkeinu
Going to mixed gyms… Is it OK?!
Friend of Chabad
This is a great article highlighting Rabbis’s getting fit. After all, it is very important to take care of one’s health. I’d like to see equal billing for their wives. What types of programs are out there for the women of Chabad?
One terrific program is headed by Friendship Circle: http://www.teamfriendship.org/Join There are events all over the country where individuals (men and women) can train, complete a run, walk, or bike ride AND support a great Chabad organization.
I’d challenge Rabbi’s to stand behind their wives and encourage them to seek out personal fitness goals, too. Everyone will benefit in the end.
Consider joining Team Friendship in your local area.
Hi
The program was for rabbis and rebbetizns equally
to #1
Nowhere does it say in the article that the Rabbi goes to the Gym. Crossfit is a type of exercise of varied high intensity interval training and can be done with a personal trainer in a private setting or even in your local park. Don’t rush to judgement…
They do go to mixed gyms
The original article had pics.
Citizen Berel
Every Shliach needs a hobby.
Something non-Jewish what non Jews find really cool.
You can be frum and COOL TOO!
That’s critical for shlichus cause everyone knows keeping crossfit is a mitzva. Maybe he can join up with that the Colorado brownie baking adult education seminar.
The world hungers for brownies and thirsts for cross fitness.
Very good for finding a hobby.
I love it
this is the best comment of the year. It only gets better from here.
CR
As someone with an Exercise Science degree, this makes me very happy! Keep it up!