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Eric Fishman
Eric Fishman started 21 of
the 24 games he played this
season for the Kalamazoo
College men's basketball
team. The 6-foot sophomore
guard from Bloomfield Hills
Cranbrook-Kingswood High
School averaged 10.5 points
and 2.5 rebounds per game
for the Hornets (9-17). He made 43-of-113 shots
from 3-point range.
Abby Cohen
Abby Cohen, the 2009
Jewish News Female High
School Athlete of the
Year, played one season
of women's basketball at
Washington University in
St. Louis and remains a stu-
dent there. Cohen earned
12 varsity letters while play-
ing basketball, soccer and volleyball at Bloomfield
Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood High School.
Senior Dice President
NMIS # 131197
As a Senior Vice President at Capital Mortgage Funding Billy is entering his 24th year in
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to Tracy and is the proud father of Stephen and Jake. Community service minded, he has
• been a volunteer high school and youth coach for over twenty years. His influence over area
youth is legendary. He has former players in the NFL, NCAA and also spread throughout
the country in numerous business capacities. Many of these young men mention Billy's
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You can reach Billy at 1-800-LOW-RATE or by email at wbslobin@lowrateonline.com .
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48
April 21 • 2011
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Engineered to Amon"
21m Century_Oncolggy
Israeli Rocket
An Orthodox import helps Toledo
to the NIT championship.
Steve Stein
Special to the Jewish News
Shafir received permission from
Chaim Burgansky, rabbi of Hoshaya, to
play games for Toledo on the Sabbath,
aama Shafir says she came to
but not practice because that's consid-
the United States from Israel
ered exercise and exercise is forbidden.
to play Division I college bas-
When Toledo goes on the road for a
ketball, not to show the world that an
game played on the Sabbath, Shafir stays
Orthodox Jewish woman could play at
in a hotel within walking distance of the
that level.
host arena with a coaching staff assis-
"But if people are learning what it's
tant. Frozen kosher meals from Detroit
like to be an Orthodox Jew from my
come with Shafir to all road games.
story, that's good:' she said.
The Rockets don't practice or travel on
What people are learning is the
Shabbat.
University of Toledo star hasn't had to
"There are a few things we do to
sacrifice her religious beliefs to pursue
adjust for Naama, but she gives back
her dream, and she's become an inspi-
10-fold:' Toledo coach Tricia Cullop told
ration to Orthodox Jewish girls and
ESPN.
women.
Toledo seems an unlikely place for
Working with Toledo coaches and an
Shafir to go to school and live. The city
Orthodox rabbi from her hometown
has a small Jewish community with
of Hoshaya in northern Israel, Shafir has few Orthodox Jews. Shafir admits she
remained observant since leaving Israel
had never heard of the Ohio college or
when she was 18.
city before she was
The 5-foot-7
recruited.
junior guard is
Boston University
believed to be the
and Seton Hall
first Orthodox
University, both near
Jewish woman to
cities with large
earn a Division I
Jewish populations,
athletic scholarship,
also courted her.
and she's made the
"I came to the
most of it.
University of Toledo
Shafir, 21, was
because they said
Toledo's leading
41 they would help
scorer this season,
me and be there for
averaging 15.3
me, and I had heard
points per game.
good things about the
Her five assists per
coaches, especially
game also topped
(Cullop)," Shafir said.
the team.
"I was a little nervous,
She saved her
but I was confident
best for last, scor-
everything would be
ing a career-high
fine.
The culture in
Naama Shafir
40 points to lead
the U.S. is different,
Toledo past Southern California, 76-68
of course, but after almost three years of
on April 2, for the Women's National
living here, I'm used to it."
Invitation Tournament championship.
Toledo's Jewish community has
It was the first national title for a Toledo
embraced Shafir.
team in any sport, and Shafir was named
"They're great people she said. "They
the tournament's most valuable player.
come to a lot of our games."
The title game was played in front of a
Shafir is majoring in business. After
sellout and school-record crowd of 7,301 she graduates, she will participate in
on a Saturday afternoon at Toledo.
Sherut Leumi, the Israeli voluntary
After making six free throws in the
national service. Following that, her
game's final 25 seconds, Shafir walked
plans are up in the air. But she does have
home and didn't do media interviews
one goal in life.
until Sabbath ended. Her family didn't
"Whatever I do, I want to be happy,"
call to congratulate her until early
she said. I 1
Sunday morning in Israel, after Sabbath
in Toledo.
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