Kippah-Wearing Orthodox Jew Wins Obstacle Course TV Show
Michael Neuman
Michael Neuman’s yarmulk stayed perfectly in place as he went on to win his episode of the CBS show “Million Dollar Mile.”
Neuman outran pro athlete Veejay Jones for more than a half a mile and through three obstacles, winning $25,000, the Jewish Journal reported. He proudly wore his yarmulke, a traditional Jewish head covering.
“I must’ve put eight bobby pins and two clips to make sure that yarmulke was winning,” the 26-year-old said in a statement.
The episode aired Saturday night, following Shabbat. On “Million Dollar Mile,” produced by LeBron James and hosted by Tim Tebow, contestants go head-to-head with elite athletes, running as quickly as possible through a series of obstacle courses for the chance to win $1 million.
To claim victory, Neuman, a psychotherapist from Miami, had to scale a 15-story building. His faith inspired him to push forth to the finish line.
“I remembered a Holocaust survivor who told me to make a Kiddush Hashem by wearing my yarmulke proudly while doing positive things,” he said. “It gave me an extra burst toward the end.”
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.
