It was 2018 when Daniel Tamir, the assistant coach for the Yeshiva University (YU) basketball team, found himself facing a dismal start to the season. His YU team was plagued with injuries and low morale. Tamir, former Israeli professional basketball player turned assistant coach, wasn’t accustomed to losing, but that was where his YU team was headed.
During winter break, one of Tamir’s rabbis, who was helping guide his journey toward religious observance, suggested he include Torah study in the team’s routine to help overcome mental obstacles that players might be facing.
“I took his advice and while preparing for the next game, a group of players started studying Torah with several rabbis,” Tamir explained. “As it turned out, we started winning again. From then on, we made Torah study a regular part of our routine and we won the next eight games in a row. Before the ninth game, we were delayed and had to skip the learning. We lost. From then on we never skipped Torah study and ended the season with a historical championship.”
Tamir, 30, who stands 6 feet 10 inches tall, was born into a basketball family. Over a seven-year professional basketball career, he played power forward and center for teams in Israel and Hungry, including the renowned Hapoel Jerusalem. His older brother, Amit Tamir, also played professionally on Hapoel Jerusalem as well as other teams in Israel and Europe. Like father like son, it is no surprise that their father played professional basketball in Israel’s early leagues.
“Growing up, basketball was all around me,” Tamir said. “If I wasn’t playing, I was watching other players and learning. It was a large part of my upbringing.”
Upon his retirement from professional sports in Israel, Tamir moved to the States where he landed a job as the assistant basketball coach at The Frisch School, a yeshiva high school, in New Jersey. At the same time, he enrolled in YU for a degree in business administration where he was also tapped to be the assistant coach for the YU basketball team. After completing his studies, he moved to Los Angeles to start his own basketball coaching program that he is launching in August.
“When I was deciding what kind of basketball program to create, I knew it had to include Torah study,” Tamir said. “What the players gain from learning Torah finds its way on the court and supports their success.”
As examples, Tamir cited times while at Frisch and YU when players would lose their tempers or become complacent. “To counter these negative attitudes, rabbis would teach students Jewish perspectives on how to control their anger and act more humble,” he said. “Learning Jewish values helped put the players on track and made them better athletes.”
Tamir will be launching the Daniel Tamir Basketball Program starting August 9 through August 20 at Emek Hebrew Academy in Sherman Oaks. The all-day program is open to boys ages six to 14. The morning hours will be devoted to basketball skills and other training protocols such as Pilates, meditation, strength and conditioning. The afternoon sessions will consist of Torah study with local rabbis as well as motivational guest speakers. Cost is $350 per week or $100 a day.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting Daniel Tamir at byeger@emek.org or calling (818) 961-7599. Tamir can also be found on Instagram @hatamir.
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