A Former NFLer's Journey to Orthodox Judaism

“There’s certainly a connection between football and Orthodox Jewry, believe it or not,” says former NFLer Alan Veingrad. “You get to shul in the morning and you have to put on the uniform − the tallis and the tefillin – and you start to clear your mind in order to have success in your prayers. It’s the same thing with getting to the locker room and putting on your uniform and clearing your mind so you can go out and have a successful practice.”

The year was 1972, when his family relocated from New York to Miami. Inspired by the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated 1972 season that ended in a Super Bowl championship, it was there in Southern Florida where Veingrad, who was just nine, discovered his passion for football. Intrigued by the sport, Veingrad and his brother began attending plenty of games and practices, as their father had purchased Dolphins season tickets.

“At that time of my life, I was growing up your typical American kid. I liked to go fishing, and boating and snorkeling,” says Veingrad of his childhood. Raised in a secular Jewish environment, his religion naturally took a backseat to his interest in sports. “I recall my parents were, not forcing me, but taking me to Hebrew school to learn about the history of the Jewish people and how to speak Hebrew to prepare for Bar Mitzvah.”

As Veingrad grew older, his passion for football began reaching new heights. After playing high school football, Veingrad received a scholarship to play at East Texas State University. He credits his five year college career for the physical and mental preparation he needed to advance his game. An offensive lineman, Veingrad went undrafted in the National Football League, but signed as a walk-on free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 1986. He made the team that same year, and started every game as a rookie.

After five years with the Packers, Veingrad spent two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. With Dallas, he was able to win the Super Bowl following the 1992 season. “It was definitely one of my proudest moments,” says Veingrad of one of the greatest professional sports achievements that there is. “It takes a buy in from everybody. You don’t have any naysayers on the squad. You have everybody that’s pulling in the same direction. Everybody expects everybody to give it their all and if there’s somebody that’s not, the players will approach him and let him know that that’s not acceptable to us, for the benefit of this team.”

Following the championship season, Veingrad retired from the NFL. He was satisfied with his career, and his life for that matter. “During my five years in college and my seven years in the NFL, if you had asked me what religion I am, I’d say I’m Jewish. If you had asked me what day it is, I’d say it’s Wednesday. Many times I didn’t know what Jewish holiday it was. I didn’t really care what Jewish holiday it was. I was playing football.”

Soon after retirement, Veingrad was a happily married man with a newborn child. One day, his family was invited over for a Friday night Shabbat dinner at his cousin Jonathan’s. “His family is Orthodox, which I knew. They lived here in South Florida so I went to the Friday night meal, and I didn’t know anything [about Orthodox Judaism] and I didn’t really care. It was after the meal that he asked ‘would you go to a Torah class?’ I said I’d go to one Torah class. I didn’t want to go but I said I would go to one.”

That’s when Veingrad’s life began to change. “From the one Torah class, it was presented to me that there’s a whole lot more out there. I remember the Rabbi talking about the particular Torah portion of the week and he got to a certain point about materialism. [He said that] if you allow materialism to be a focus in your life, then you can’t have a very meaningful life.”

Already out of football for three years at this point, Veingrad realized that his life was in fact missing something. “I felt like at that point in my life in 1995 everything around me seemed to focus on materialism and it didn’t make me feel too good. Because if this is what life is about – the next car, the next watch, the next vacation, the next boat, the next this, the next that – then I have to perhaps look at what the Torah has to offer.”

For the next seven to eight years, Veingrad and his family went on what he calls a “Torah learning journey.” Before long, they found themselves living Orthodox Jewish lives. “Everybody was into it and everybody had passion. We were going to different people’s homes on Friday nights before we started to keep our own Shabbat home. It was a fairly easy transition for my wife and my children to become Shomer Shabbat.”

However, for extended family and friends, it took a little getting used to. “I don’t think they really understood,” he recalls. “It took a while for them to really understand what was going on and why we can’t come over to their homes on Shabbat day because we’re in shul and we don’t drive and even if we do come over on Sunday for a barbeque we have to bring our own food. They also didn’t understand why we can’t be available sometimes for two or three days in a row for certain Jewish holidays.”

The former NFLer, who now goes by his Hebrew name, Shlomo, largely credits G-d with where life has taken him. “Everything happens for a reason. Divine providence is involved in everything that we do so to have the mindset [of thanking G-d] does give you a different outlook and a much more peaceful and happier existence.”

Now working as a businessman and a motivational speaker, Veingrad, 47, enjoys telling his story and spreading inspiration to both children and adults. “As I share with people, [I say that] if you’re firm in your beliefs and commitment towards something and you don’t waver, then at some point people respect you and your decision. The key is you have to be firm in your commitment and not be wishy-washy.”

To Veingrad, the life he once led as a professional athlete was not a mistake, but rather a learning experience. Veingrad even continues to rely on his NFL days as he moves forward. “I do lean back a lot on my football. There are a lot of similarities that I’ve seen and experienced and that I’ve taken away from football and from Orthodox Jewry as well. My main message really is don’t grow at the Rabbi’s pace or at the other guy’s pace or at my pace. Grow at your pace. Every year, do an accounting before Rosh Hashanah. Find out ‘Am I in the same place spiritually [as last year], or have I grown?’”