Sarachek Generations: Johnny, Rafi and Ari Halpert

In the tournament founded by his father, legendary YU coach Johnny Halpert, Rafi Halpert played for the MTA Lions in 1999 and 2000, winning a championship as a junior. He has now coached SAR in 8 tournament appearances, winning another title in 2011, becoming the first person to win the tournament as a player and coach. His son, Ari, is a junior for SAR at this year’s tournament.

Watching and coaching my son in the Saracheck Tournament will be a truly special moment for me and my family.

Over 30 years ago, my father founded this tournament to honor his mentor, the great Red Saracheck, and to provide Yeshiva high school student-athletes the opportunity to have their own 'March Madness' moment. For my father to now watch his grandson participate and experience the same moment that he enabled so many others to have is priceless.

I would also note that I think this year’s tournament will be extra special for both my father and me.  In past tournaments my father has had the pleasure of watching multiple grandchildren defend, pass and shoot in the Max Stern Athletic Center and for over 15 years my father has been able to watch me coach on this same court on which he coached for so many years. 

But this year, to be able to watch his son coach his grandson on the court which bears his name, during the tournament which he poured so much blood, sweat and tears into to tease into existence that will be very special for him and very special for me to be a part of that legacy. 

I can only hope that many other Yeshiva high school athletes will be able to continue this tradition for many years to come.  Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to YU, Rabbi Lamm, Bernard Mann, Moish Kranzler, Jon Bandler, and my father for establishing this incredible tournament, which has allowed thousands of teens to have their special moment. I also want to thank the current YU staff and Rabbi Berman for their tireless efforts in organizing this great tournament and for keeping the tradition alive.

Sarachek Generations: Jon and Yishai Neiss

Jon Neiss played at Sarachek as a junior for MTA in the second year of the tournament. His son Yishai, a junior, is a starting guard for MTA this year.

It was incredible to be part of one of the first Sarachek tournaments, a rare chance for local NY teams to compete against yeshivas nationwide. The YU gym was packed, especially for the Hillel-MTA championship, which ended on a buzzer-beater. Now, seeing my son and his MTA team compete after a strong season makes it even more special. Go Lions!

Sarachek Generations: Mordy and Yonatan Faber

Mordy Faber played for the MTA Lions in 1999 and 2000. His son, Yonatan, is a junior playing for TABC. Yonatan hit four 3-pointers in the Storm’s semifinal win as they reached their first Sarachek final.

In 1999, I was part of the MTA varsity basketball team that made an unforgettable run in the prestigious Red Saracheck Tournament. This was a significant year for MTA, as we won the tournament for the last time. It was especially exciting since that same year, Tamir Goodman, known as the "Jewish Jordan," graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Our journey to the title was filled with challenges. On Friday, we faced off against Hyman Brand from Kansas and managed to overcome a 13-point deficit to secure a hard-fought victory. On Sunday, we played against YULA, where I unfortunately tore cartilage in my knee toward the end of the game. Despite the injury, I pushed through and returned to the court on Monday, ready to compete in the championship game against Hillel.

The championship win was a momentous achievement, and it meant so much to be part of such an incredible team. To this day, Saracheck remains the greatest Jewish basketball tournament, and it’s surreal to now watch my own son compete in the same tournament I played in 25 years ago. It’s a full-circle moment that I’ll always cherish.  

Sarachek Generations: Akiva and Michael Greenfield

Akiva Greenfield played for Valley Torah in 1999 and 2000. His son is a senior playing this year for the YULA Panthers.

Playing in the Sarachek Tournament was an incredible experience and knowing that Michael and his friends are going to have life-long memories created from this weekend is special. I remember all the details and although it was 26 years ago it feels like 26 minutes ago. Thank you to Yeshiva University for hosting this incredible weekend and creating an atmosphere that is both competitive and unifying. 

Sarachek Generations: Jon and Abie Kaweblum

Jon Kaweblum played in the Sarachek Tournament for Scheck Hillel Miami in 1998 and 1999. His son Abie Kaweblum is a junior at Katz Yeshiva High School playing this year in his first Sarachek Tournament.

I was the starting point guard for the Hillel Hurricanes from Miami, FL and played in two Sarachek tournaments.

In 1998 we played our second Tier 1 game against a skinny unknown 10th grade kid from Baltimore who scored what felt like a quiet 40 points on us. That was Tamir Goodman and it was the year before the Sports Illustrated article came out proclaiming him the ‘Jewish Jordan’, so no one really knew about him yet. It made it really cool that the next year once he became known that we had played him the year earlier.

In 1999 we entered the tournament as either the 8th or 9th seed (I don't remember). After beating Berman from Silver Spring we faced the #1 ranked HAFTR team on Friday. I believe we were down 17 in the first half and came back to win. There is nothing like going into Shabbos at Sarachek still alive in the tournament.

Then on Sunday in the Tier 1 semifinal game against Valley Torah we were down 1 in the closing seconds and we hit a 3-point shot, sending us to the championship for the first time. We faced off against MTA and although we kept it close in the first quarter they beat us pretty handily in the end. I’ll never forget that moment. The gym was packed to capacity and it was an amazing experience because none of us had ever played in front of that many people.

Five years later I became the coach for Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton and ended up coaching there for 8 years. That Sarachek championship run that I was a part of in high school forged a strong foundation in my coaching as it clearly showed me what it takes to win at the highest levels of Jewish ball. I returned to Sarachek many times as a coach, winning the Tier 2 championship once and just coming a buzzer shot away from reaching Tier 1 in a game against Rambam of Baltimore.

Then in 2023 I had the privilege of returning to Sarachek as a Dad, getting to watch my 11th grade son Jake go 3-1 but losing to that year's champion Valley Torah. This year I'm back at Sarachek as a dad and coach once again. The head coach of Katz graciously asked me to sit on his bench as a 3rd coach and I am happy to do what I can to help the team. It is also a great front row seat to watch my 11th grade son Abie play on the biggest stage of Jewish High School basketball.