Ping Pong Prodigy Withdraws Due to Shabbos Tournament

NY Post

Estee Ackerman, 11, is ranked 4th in her age group.

She doesn’t spin on Shabbos. Ping-pong prodigy Estee Ackerman, an 11-year-old from Long Island, was disqualified from her final event at the 2012 US National Table Tennis Championships in Las Vegas last Dec. 21 when her match fell on the Jewish holy day of rest and she chose not to play.

7 Comments

  • Nathan

    SHE IS SOOOO CUTE WITH HER FACE TRYING HARD TO RETURN A SHOT!!!! Wow, I love ping-pong… I was one of the top players 40 years ago!!! WOW. Volleyball was also my sport…………………. anyhoooooooo, all the best to this child prodigee.

  • why not?

    Seriously can someone explain how playing ping pong is in violation of shabbos? I always see kids playing ball in an enclosed area and in hotels always saw ping being played.So why is this a shabbos violation? Bec it was a public match and would violate the “spirit” of shabbos?
    I never knew you can’t play

  • to #5

    To five

    It’s not the game itself…it’s the whole concept. Attending a tournament on shabbos is the problem. Even if she could walk and does no Malacha (act forbidden on shabbos)….which could be possible…it’s a great credit to her that she chooses to spend shabbos immersed in the holiness of the day- possibly going to shule, having a shabbos meal with her family etc- rather than be involved in a sports tournament