As the 2025-26 basketball season began, the GOA boys and girls varsity teams traveled to Baltimore, Maryland to compete in the Joseph Weiner Tournament where they went head-to-head against Jewish schools from around the world.
The tournament, hosted by the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School brought together Jewish schools across North America, Canada and Israel for multiple days of matchups, continuing a tradition that highlights unity, sportsmanship and competition.
The GOA teams did not bring a winning banner back to New Jersey, but throughout the tournament they improved tremendously and were brought together as a team.
Sophomore Michael Kreyman said, “Even though we did not win, I thought the entire tournament was a great experience. It not only allowed me to sharpen my skills and prepare for the remainder of the season, but it also gave me an opportunity to connect with my teammates and other Jewish players from around the globe.”
Seniors Henry Sacks, Brandon Schall, Marely Fischer, and Chloe Weinstein won awards that commended their sportsmanship and performance in the tournament.
Aside from the competitive atmosphere, this year has been especially emotional for students, as players from the Israeli team shared their personal experiences from the October 7 Hamas attacks.
Throughout the tournament, students from Israel allowed teams to listen to their stories, as they spoke about their feelings and the atrocities they faced.
Junior Avi Kutten said, “Talking to the Israeli players really changed how I viewed the tournament. It reminded me that basketball can bring people together even when they’re going through unimaginable things.”
The entire tournament was open to the entire Beth Tfiloh congregation and community, as well as being live-streamed for viewers at home.
This accessibility allowed students from every school to take part in the tournament, further expanding the sense of community for the players and staff.
Junior Caleb Lebeau said, “This tournament feels different from any other games we play. It’s not just basketball but rather it feels like being part of something bigger. I definitely hope we can return next year and maybe even win.”
More than just a standard tournament of basketball games, the Weiner tournament emphasizes sportsmanship, unity, and an incredibly strong sense of community for every school that participates.
Established in 1988 in honor of the Weiner family, the Joseph Weiner Tournament was created to celebrate both competitive basketball and the strength of the Jewish community and it continues to do that today.
The GOA varsity teams have won the Joseph Weiner Tournament a collective 7 times since its creation, cementing our schools legacy within the tournament, showing our tremendous effort.
