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Who were the chosen team on Sunday?
When the Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10 in Sunday’s Super Bowl 50, almost R90 000 found its way into two shuls’ coffers thanks to a fundraiser devised by their enterprising rabbis
ANT KATZ
‘Super Mitzvah 50’
Two US rabbis got together to ensure that their congregations were able to donate substantially to local Jewish charities with a unique fundraiser using their nation’s most-watched sporting event. It was a win-win outcome – with double the winnings for one of their communities.
RIGHT: Cam Newton and his Panthers ensured that one third of the money raised will go to the Shalom Park Freedom School in Charlotte, Carolina, which offers summer programmes to low-income children
(Christian Peterson/Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
As ReformJudaism.org reported, two-thirds of the money raised in a joint online fundraiser went to a charity chosen by the shul in the winning city, Denver, while the other third will go to the losing city, Santa Clara.
After the 24-10 win by the Denver team, the larger share will go to Denver’s Jewish Family Service, which provides meals to families in need. The two shuls raised around $5 500 (R88 000).
Denver scored the lion’s share
LEFT: Peyton Manning played the final game of his astonishing 18-year career and he couldn’t have scripted the ending better – ensuring the Lion’s share of the shuls’ fundraiser will go to Denver’s Jewish Family Service
(Christian Peterson/Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Rabbi Schindler also pointed out that the southern state’s star quarterback, Cam Newton, recently named his son Chosen – bringing to mind the phrase “the chosen people”. She also said that if the Panthers won, their overall record (including regular and post-season games) would have resulted in an 18-1 record. Of course, 18 means “life” and “good luck” in the Jewish tradition, she postured, this couldn’t be coincidence.
In the end, though, it was Denver that represented the chosen people.