Koufax is fondly remembered as one of the outstanding Jewish athletes in American sports. He famously decided not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.

Sandy Koufax born Sanford Braun on December 30, 1935 is a former American Major League Baseball (MLB) left-handed pitcher. He pitched 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1955 to 1966. Koufax, at age 36 in 1972, became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. […]

“My mother was a traditional Jew,” said Natasha. “She’d fast on Yom Kippur, wouldn’t allow bread into our home on Passover, and would pray often.”

But as a young girl, tradition didn’t interest me. I loved music and dreamt of being a famous singer. I wanted to be part of the Soviet cultural scene. My mother tried discouraging me from leaving my roots behind, but I was determined.” “My dream became a reality, singing and […]