Twenty select teams vie for top spot in North America’s most prestigious Jewish high school basketball competition.
(Courtesy of Yeshiva University) From March 15-19, Yeshiva University’s 27th Annual Red Sarachek Invitational Basketball Tournament will bring together hundreds of student athletes and their fans from yeshiva high schools across the U.S. for five days of thrilling, top-level competition and a community-wide celebration. The 20 teams will battle it out at the Max Stern Athletic Center on YU’s Wilf Campus in Washington Heights for the top spot in the country’s most prestigious Jewish high school basketball competition.
The tournament will also include a lively shabbaton and tours of the university’s campus to help the young all-stars gain an early appreciation for YU’s unique educational environment and provide opportunities for cross-school bonding off the court. This year’s shabbaton program will include presentations by renowned motivational speaker Gian Paul Gonzalez and Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff, a rabbi, educator and writer, who is on the Judaic studies faculty of both Yeshiva College and Stern College for Women.
“Our annual tournament was named for former YU Maccabees coach Bernard ‘Red’ Sarachek, and we honor his legacy by creating a meaningful experience that promotes camaraderie, sportsmanship, Jewish unity and pride in Yeshiva University,” said Matthew Schwartz, senior associate director of operations of YU’s Office of Admissions. “It’s really special to see students who were locked in fierce competition just hours earlier come together as one cohesive YU community for Shabbat. Their experiences throughout the tournament drive home the fact that a YU education means having a top-notch academic and extra-curricular experience without having to sacrifice or compromise on their religious values.”
Participating schools for this year’s tournament will include: Berman Hebrew Academy (Rockville, MD); Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School (Woodmere); Farber Hebrew Day School (Southfield, MI); Fuchs Mizrachi School (Beachwood, OH); Harkham GAON (Los Angeles); Hebrew Academy (Miami Beach); Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (Uniondale); Ida Crown Jewish Academy (Skokie); Katz Yeshiva High School (Boca Raton); Kohelet Yeshiva High School (Merion Station, PA); Magen David Yeshiva High School (Brooklyn); Robert M. Beren Academy (Houston); SAR High School (Riverdale); Shalhevet High School (Los Angeles); The Frisch School (Paramus); The Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia (Bala Cynwyd); Torah Academy of Bergen County (Teaneck); Valley Torah High School (Valley Village, CA); Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles (Los Angeles); and Yeshiva University High School for Boys/Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy (New York).
