Binghamton grad’s Kofax moment: He tapes Shabbat talk

In 1965, legendary Major League Baseball pitcher Sandy Koufax opted not to pitch Game 1 of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers because the game coincided with Yom Kippur. Half a century later, Koufax’s decision was invoked for a university commencement speech.

Don Greenberg — presumably no relation to Hank Greenberg, another famed Jewish baseball player who sat out a pivotal game on Yom Kippur — was slated to be a student speaker at the Saturday, May 16, commencement ceremony for Binghamton University Watson School of Engineering. Greenberg would not be able to use the microphone without violating the laws of Shabbat.

After a consideration of options, the university agreed to pre-record Greenberg’s remarks and air them during the ceremony.

Rabbi Aaron Slonim, of The Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life at Binghamton, likened Greenberg’s situation to Koufax’s moment of truth which “gave many Jews the strength to be unabashed of their Judaism.”

“Don’s unwavering commitment to the Shabbat and to Judaism is a source of great pride and strength, to Jewish students here at Binghamton University and to Jews, and particularly Jewish college students around the world,” Rabbi Slonim said.