Ep. 44: What Do Religion and Team Sports Have in Common?

What if rooting for laundry is the closest most people will get to a spiritual experience? In this episode of "In Such a Time," Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe and Rabbi Leora Londy reveal powerful (and surprising) parallels between sports fandom and religious identity—from sacred rituals to communal belonging, group pride, and even prayer for teams at B’Nai Mitzvah. Explore how being a Knicks fan or cheering at the World Cup connects to deeper questions of meaning, purpose, isolation, and humility. Plus, the hosts tackle why modern worship can feel like a spectator sport, the complicated intersection of nationalism and sports, and the unexpected grace in sports-driven gratitude, all while sharing personal stories about finding their own teams—and why sometimes your kids turn you into a fan.Timestamped Overview00:00 New York City’s sports euphoria and national pride01:24 How sports teams unite people—and Little League reflections03:15 Sports as a pressure valve from heavy news and everyday stress04:43 Teamwork, the Knicks, and modeling community05:16 Prayer, spirituality, and sports in B'Nai Mitzvah ceremonies06:15 Parallels between sports institutions and religious ritual08:20 The quest for belonging: sports fandom vs. religious community09:34 Rooting for laundry: entity over the individual11:06 Inherited vs. willed fandom; forming team identities in the family14:13 Sports as ideology in Israel—and finding your “tribe”15:26 Parental perspective: cultivating a sports or Jewish home16:22 Descartes’ Wager, willing yourself into fandom, and team ethos18:00 Difference between passive fandom and participatory religion20:11 Worship as engagement vs. entertainment23:07 Examples of participatory spiritual models: High Holidays, B’Nai Mitzvah26:12 Religion in sport—God, gratitude, and humility in athletics28:49 Finding purpose: feeling privileged in your calling31:33 Biblical lessons: putting people in positions to succeed34:00 Tribalism, nationalism, and collective sports moments36:41 When sports and politics collide—wishing for escapism38:07 Choosing your World Cup team with Jewish history in mind40:40 Sports moments that build bridges and community42:16 Local synagogue teams: Matzoh Ballers and Shofar Shooters