Rabbi On The Sidelines

Jason and Randy Sklar, known as the Sklar Brothers, hosts of The View From The Cheap Seats podcast, and the show, Cheap Seats on ESPN Classic, speak with Rabbi Sherman about the intersection of comedy, sports, and faith. The Sklar Brothers teach us how to use humor in our lives to not take ourselves so seriously, while also learning deep lessons of life from humorous situations. Is a game just a game, or does sports bring people together to laugh and cry?

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the chaplain of the Loyola Chicago Ramblers basketball team speaks with Rabbi Sherman about her newly released book, "Wake Up With Purpose: What I've Learned In My First One Hundred Years." Sister Jean explains the value that religion can bring to the world of sports, the power of prayer and the ability to talk to God, and the way in which spiritual health can bring humanity together. Sister Jean, the most famous person in the 2018 March Madness NCAA Tournament details how her overnight celebrity status was simply continuing the small acts of kindness she brings to her work each day.

Jason Benetti, FOX Sports, ESPN, and Chicago White Sox broadcaster, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the lessons he has learned about himself through his journey with cerebral palsy, how his band director set him up for his journey to the broadcast booth, and what it is like to make the big call for an invisible audience.

Prof. David Hollander, Clinical Professor with the Tisch Institute for Global Sport at NYU, and author of "How Basketball Can Save The World," speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the real life lessons that are derived from the 13 principles of basketball from which James Naismith created the game. How do these 13 principles relate to solving the problems of loneliness, immigration, racism, and more?  Get your PHD in basketball and learn about how we an improve the world.

Father Robert Hagan, of Villanova University, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the spirituality he brings to the Villanova University campus, in particular to the basketball and football teams. He has cut down the nets in 2016 and 2018, and has guided young athletes both on and off the court, during their time in college and beyond. What lessons do we learn from the locker room sanctuary?

Josh Altman, reality TV star of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing, author of It's Your Move and The Altman Close, and place-kicker of Big East Champion Syracuse University Orange, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about his own faith journey, the powerful lessons that sports has taught him through both his highs and lows in the real estate industry, and the tools for success for the next generation to work hard and do good for the world.

Len Elmore, University of Maryland All-American, NBA veteran, Harvard trained attorney, long time college basketball broadcaster, and Columbia University professor of athletes and activism, speaks with Rabbi Sherman about the transformative power athletes can have in society at large. What responsibility do athletes have to be involved in causes of justice? What is the difference between community service and activism? 

Meyers Leonard, NBA veteran and University of Illinois star, speaks with Rabbi Erez Sherman, about his spiritual transformation after hurting the Jewish community with difficult words in March 2021. Meyers explains his process and how the Jewish community has helped him heal and bring more love into the world. Just a day after Leonard's exclusive interview on ESPN's Outside The Lines with Jeremy Schaap, Meyers visited Sinai Temple, spoke with the children of Sinai Akiba Academy and sat for a one on one interview with Rabbi Sherman.

Gary Belsky, ESPN The Magazine, New York Times Best Selling Author, "On The Origin Of Sports" speaks with Rabbi Sherman on the power of storytelling. What stories do we tell and for what purpose? How do our stories raise others up? Belsky also explains how the sports we know and love came into being and if this history has impact on how we watch sports today.