Its good they understand they are not getting blessings from G-d but rather "luck" from incantations of men. Namely that Ovadia character. So called "men of G-d" don't even know who to attribute thanks to. Maybe this team should read the Torah in its original words instead of so called "interpretations" because I think they are missing the point: "Love" for G-d as the originator of Torah words. If you miss that point, choose death is calling you. "bcol llevecha"

In the Shulchan Aruch it is written: "Be strong like a lion to do the Will of your Father in Heaven" Nu? Jews are also supposed to live long lives in order to perform more mitzvot, and the proof is there that regular strenuous physical activity does indeed make you healthier and live longer. It's time for the haredim to wake up and throw off the yoke of the powerful and corrupt rabbis who have committed them to a life of poverty and isolation from all other Jews. Study Torah, but make parnasa on your own for your family (not off my tax money, thank you), be involved, serve in the army like us other Jews, and show the world how you can live a good life by doing mitzvot so that everybody can see.

Thanks for turning a positive article into an excuse for Haredi bashing. The words you wrote are indicative of the work you have to do on yourself. The world Haredi or otherwise is not perfect, but this negativity is not helping anythings except for hate.

Sports are a great way to release stress, keep the body (which must be kept healthy so it can better serve Hashem) and build social skills. I hope it spreads in the haredi world!

Just as I congratulate the ultra-Orthodox players in the Israel (American) Football League. The IFL has shown that cdo-existence is possible through sports and I hope this is another example. All the IFL teams count secular andrew religious Jews, Arabs and even Palestinians among their players, with no politics, just the game. If Maccabi Mea Shearim can play secular and mixed teams with no religio-political overtones, accepting all opponents as just that, opponents on the court but as equal human beings off the court, this can help co-existance between the ultra-Orthodox and secular populations more than a hundred rabbinical decrees. I wish them well, and hope more ultra-Orthodox players join them or start teams in other sports.

...they get to have fun.