Orthodox Obstacle Course Champion Sports Kippah On Lebron James’ New TV Show
Michael Neuman Image by Instagram
An Orthodox Jew wore a yarmulke as he ran through an obstacle course on CBS’s new competition series on a quest to win $1 million.
Michael Neuman recently competed on Million Dollar Mile, produced by Lebron James and hosted by Tim Tebow, and his episode will air July 13 at 8 p.m. The 25-year-old told CBS that he was proud to wear his kippah during the nationally televised competition, which calls for contestants to run through an obstacle course for, as the name suggests, $1 million — while trying to outrun elite athletes.
“Imagine that, a yeshiva bochor competing against a pro-athlete at his own game,” Neuman said.
The Miami, Florida, native dreamed of being an athlete growing up, but it was difficult to pursue — his family observed Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, when many of the leagues held games and tournaments. Now he’s psychotherapist and founder of Movement and Active Psychology, which blends exercise with the cognitive practice. He regularly competes in obstacle challenges, including the Spartan Race, and never goes without a kippah, a traditional Jewish headpiece.
“At first I was uncomfortable, people would be staring at me on the start line,” he said. “But then I would remember it’s probably strange for them to see an Orthodox Jew on the start line of a sport. You just never see it in pro-sports. … I was like, let me bring my love for Hashem to this, as well. In the end, people have been really responsive and respectful and it’s brought me friends of all walks of life.”
Religious clothing and accessories are becoming more socially and professionally accepted. In November, Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who wears a headscarf as an observant Muslim, proposed legislation that would allow lawmakers to wear religious headwear in Congress, yarmulkes included. A few months later, Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan wore a traditional Palestinian robe as she took her seat in the House.
Alyssa Fisher is a writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
