By Daniel Jaffe

For most athletes there may be no greater sign of achievement than being selected to a Hall of Fame. It should come as no surprise then that Yeshiva University’s third hall of fame class is full of memorable and talented athletes. On June 15, Yeshiva University staff, the inductees, family and friends all gathered at Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood to celebrate the momentous occasion. The class included four men’s basketball icons: Stu Poloner, brothers Lior and Eyal Hod, and legendary head coach Johnny Halpert. The other two inductees, Stephanie (Greenberg) Weinstein and Rachel Mirsky were recognized for their excellence on the women’s basketball team, as well as their accomplishments playing for other athletic teams. Most importantly, all were recognized for their praiseworthy representation of both Yeshiva University and the Jewish community as a whole.

It’s only fitting then that Halpert be inducted alongside three of his premier players. Stu Poloner, the first player Halpert ever coached, was one of the Macs first superstars. Breaking both the all time and single season point totals at YU, Poloner was truly an unstoppable force on the court. As a true testament to his greatness, Halpert declared Poloner the “best player ever,” in regards to overcoming challenges.

Joining Poloner in the Hall of Fame were the towering brothers Lior and Ayal Hod. The Hods were outstanding players, both earning all-conference honors and setting records of their own. When Lior finished playing, he held Yeshiva’s all time scoring record. That record didn’t last very long though, as Ayal bested his brother’s mark just a year later. With both on the team in 1988, the Macs tallied 16 wins, the most for any YU basketball team at the time.

The men’s basketball team wasn’t the only group receiving top honors though, as multi-sport athletes Stephanie (Greenberg) Weinstein and Rachel Mirsky joined Halpert and his players as inductees. Aside from being a key contributor on the women’s basketball team, Mirsky was one of, if not, the greatest, YU softball players ever. Mirsky, who starred as both a hitter and pitcher, still holds an abundance of school records. She is still the team’s career leader in hits, homeruns, wins and strikeouts. Weinstein, a teammate of Mirsky’s on the basketball team, was equally as impressive in her Macs career. For the basketball team, Weinstein received all-conference honors and also cemented her name in the record books. Her 2013-14 season was particularly notable, averaging 17.6 points a game, second all time for the women’s team, and leading the entire country with 4.3 steals per game. Weinstein was equally as effective on the track team, twice receiving all-conference honors as both a junior and senior. To this day, Weinstein holds the fastest recorded times on four tracks.

In his speech to open the ceremony, Yeshiva University President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman emphasized the greater role the Yeshiva University Hall of Fame serves. “We’re not just celebrating student athletes for past success, we’re celebrating people who successfully have inspired next generations.” In each video presented to the inductees, friends and family described the inductees athletic abilities, but focused more on their admirable characters. Rabbi Berman further described the inductees as people who “don’t just excel, but excel with values” as well as individuals who “make a difference in people’s lives and make a difference in the world.”

Daniel Jaffe, a Jewish Link intern, is a rising junior at Yeshiva University who lives in Teaneck.