Elizabeth—For the first time ever, Bruriah alumnae faced off against current students for a basketball showdown. Over 75 alumnae and students gathered at the Jewish Educational Center’s Bruriah campus on a Sunday morning, April 26, to cheer on both teams. The alumnae roster included eighteen women who represented Bruriah classes from 1981 through 2013.

Bruriah Lightning Coach Susan Rifkin (Bruriah class of 1981), who is being inducted this year into the Yeshiva League Hall of Fame, played for the alumnae team. Rifkin was a key championship player in her days on the Bruriah team in high school. When she came back as coach, she helped the girls win the championship again. This year both the A and B teams reached the championship level under her guidance.

Although decades had passed for many, the tremendous sense of unity, pride and school spirit was palpable as spectators in the stands cheered, waved signs, and rooted for both students and alumnae!

During halftime, many more people got the chance to show off their basketball skills as they participated in foul shot and three-point contests to raise money for Bruriah athletics. Future Bruriah students had an opportunity to feel out the Bruriah home court and shoot hoops too!

The final score was a decisive victory for the students 79-39, but as one alumna said, “I had such a good time that I feel almost like I won!”

The game was followed by a BBQ style lunch reception and dessert held in the Bruriah library.

By Leah Gottheim, JEC Alumni Coordinator