EPISODE · Feb 19, 2026 · 53 MIN
Faith on the Field: Jewish Athletes in America
from Common Faith · host Elie Kligman, Zevi Eckhaus, Jon Frankel, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove
What happens when faith and Friday night lights collide?In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore what it means to live proudly Jewish lives at the highest levels of college athletics.In the first segment, they speak with Zevi Eckhaus, Division I quarterback and NFL hopeful, who shares what it’s like to navigate locker rooms where he may be the only observant Jew — and how he honored Yom Kippur while preparing for a college football game. From wearing both Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam tefillin to training for his pro day, Zevi reflects on loyalty, identity, and what it means to be an ambassador for Judaism in a sport that rarely sees Jewish representation.In the second segment, they’re joined by Elie Kligman, widely believed to be the first Orthodox Jewish player in Division I baseball. Ellie discusses navigating recruiting conversations about Shabbat observance, missing games for Jewish holidays, and explaining mezuzahs and kashrut to curious teammates. He reflects on what it means to represent not just himself, but the broader Jewish community — and why faith doesn’t have to be sacrificed for excellence.Together, these conversations raise larger questions:Can commitment to Jewish tradition coexist with elite athletic ambition? What does it mean to be visibly Jewish in spaces where few have encountered Judaism firsthand? And how do young leaders balance personal conviction with team culture?In a world that often pressures people to choose between identity and success, Zevi and Elie offer a different model — one of integration, pride, and quiet courage. Zevi Eckhaus:https://wsucougars.com/sports/football/roster/zevi-eckhaus/14230https://x.com/zevi_eckhaus?lang=enElie Kligman:https://mgoblue.com/sports/baseball/roster/elie-kligman/27514https://www.instagram.com/eklig.6/?hl=enRabbi Elliot Cosgrove:https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrovehttps://x.com/RabbiCosgrovePark Avenue Synagoguehttps://www.pasyn.orghttps://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What this episode covers
Can you be fully committed to Jewish tradition while competing at the highest levels of college athletics? Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel speak with Division I quarterback Zevi Eckhaus and Michigan baseball player Elie Kligman about navigating Shabbat, Yom Kippur, locker room culture, and life as openly Jewish athletes. From honoring faith commitments on game day to educating curious teammates about Judaism, both athletes share how they balance ambition with identity — and what it means to represent their community on and off the field.
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Faith on the Field: Jewish Athletes in America
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