Former NFL offensive linebacker and Super Bowl champion Alan Veingrad joined six other professional athletes Sunday for his official induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Jewish Super Bowl Champion Inducted Into Hall of Fame
Former NFL offensive linebacker and Super Bowl champion Alan Veingrad joined six other professional athletes Sunday for his official induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Taking place at the hall of fame’s location at the Suffolk County Jewish Community Center in Commack, N.Y., the ceremony focused not only on the athletic prowess of such greats as Veingrad, seven-time Olympic medalist Jason Lezak and former NFL defensive end and professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, but on their contributions to the Jewish community as well.
In Veingrad’s case, he spoke of his journey from football to Jewish observance, telling how he began using his Hebrew name Shlomo and was drawn to the teachings of Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidism.
“I read every inspirational book written by coaches,” Veingrad said of his years following a succession of seasons with the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, where he was on the 1992 Super Bowl team. “But when I got to the Torah, I realized it was not just a history book; it’s an extremely inspirational guide to life.”
Standing six-foot-five and sporting a flowing gray beard, Veingrad today proudly wears a yarmulke and the ritual fringes known as tzitzit. A financial consultant and motivational speaker – his talk recently at the Chabad House near the University of Southern California was covered in The New York Times – he still wears his Super Bowl championship ring at events.
His message of staying true to his roots resonated with the audience at the hall of fame.
A sodier in the Rebbe-s army
Another fine Kiddush Hashem & Kiddush Lubavitch Shlomo Should btake advantage & so should shluchim especially on college campuses to speak show off & motivate He could be a great tool in Kiruv etc.(hey how about coverage from the main media (including the NY Times?)] I doubt it the Jewish Press won’t cover it since he is chabad the rest of the media won’t touch it since it doesn’t fit their agenda too bad well he should have nothing but success despite them!