Faith on the Field: Jewish Athletes in America

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/14230

https://x.com/zevi_eckhaus?lang=en

Elie Kligman:

https://mgoblue.com/sports/baseball/roster/elie-kligman/27514

https://www.instagram.com/eklig.6/?hl=en

Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove:

https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove

https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove

Park Avenue Synagogue
https://www.pasyn.org

https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/#

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