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Published on: 8/13/2004
Last Visited: 8/13/2004
Rabbi Zev Kahn - The Rugby Rabbi
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Welcome to the archives site of the Rugby Rabbi Show with Rabbi Zev Kahn of Torah Learning Center of Northbrook.
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Contact Rabbi Zev Kahn
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ZEV KAHN: THE RUGBY RABBIVital Statistics:
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The Maccabiah experience stirred strong emotions in Zev and he began investigating his Jewish identity upon returning to South Africa.Born there 35 years ago into a traditional Jewish family, Zev started playing rugby at the age of 10 in his hometown of Port Elizabeth.He played mostly with the same teammates until graduating high school.Those formative years instilled in him such important character traits as camaraderie, discipline and teamwork.
Later, he played for the University of Cape Town and the Western Province Under-20 teams.During his Under-20 season, he was selected to represent South Africa at the Maccabiah Games.He visited Israel twice more on educational tours and then revisited the Games in 1989 to win his second rugby gold medal in the final against England.
By 1992, having become an observant Jew, he decided to shelve his actuarial science degree for what he intended to be a six-month stint at the Ohr Somayach Yeshiva (theological school) in Jerusalem.Once at the yeshiva, however, he became immersed in the experience and six months stretched into six years and ultimately his ordination.
Zev Kahn may have put mathematics in his past, but rugby seems to be in his blood and is always on his mind."I find a lot of parallels between rugby and Judaism," he said.
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Zev Kahn is married to Hilary, a native of Los Angeles.They have two toddler sons and a newborn daughter in their West Rogers Park, IL home.Zev can be contacted at zevkahn@cckollel.org.