By Jack C., 6th Grade, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation
Fans were on their feet, waiting for the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl to be named. When Roger Goodell, the Commissioner of the NFL, announced slot receiver Julian Edelman as the MVP, he became the first-ever Jewish MVP in NFL history.
Edelman played almost flawlessly throughout the championship game, recording 10 catches with 141 receiving yards, which earned him the title of Super Bowl MVP. Edelman’s hard work and passion made him worthy of this award.
Edelman was raised Christian (as his mother is Christian) and his father is half-Jewish. Nowadays, however, he identifies as Jewish and practices Judaism. For example, he once wore a pin featuring the Israeli flag; he has tweeted about Jewish holidays, and following the Pittsburgh shooting, he wore special cleats with Hebrew text on them to honor the 11 victims. Finally, according to Combined Jewish Philanthropies,he took a trip to Israel with CJP after winning the Super Bowl.
After Edelman’s suspension from the NFL for allegedly using performance-enhancing drugs earlier in the season, he showed drastic improvement in his play from previous seasons. Jackson M., a sixth-grade student at Krieger Schechter Day School said, “[Edelman] definitely shows the talent of being an MVP-worthy player.”
To some people, Edelman is an inspiration, not only for Jews but for all athletics fans across the country. Sam A., a sixth-grade student at KSDS, stated, “People are really excited because he is a first for many things, and for someone of a minority [group] to accomplish this is very exciting for all.” Sam believes that people will remember Edelman as one of the greats and as an inspiration. He shows minority children that anyone can be a star.
As a minority in this country, Jews do not tend to be popular in the sports arena. Sam continued, “[People now think] that Jewish people are actually pretty good, too.” He explained that maybe people will appreciate others for their athleticism, and this will open up more opportunities for Jews across the globe, especially in sports.
Today, Edelman is back at home in Boston for his next season with the New England Patriots. Edelman is not letting this award change who he is; he is visiting the companies that helped him throughout his NCAA and NFL careers. The latest company he visited was Cutters Sports, the brand of his football gloves.
Winning an award is a great accomplishment on any level. But being the first is something that people will never forget. As the first Jewish MVP, Edelman serves as an important role model.
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