Special Rosh Hashana prayers – for the Western Bulldogs
As his beloved Western Bulldogs prepare to take the field at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Friday night’s AFL preliminary final, president David Smorgon will be davenning in Caulfield Shule…and saying a few prayers that do not appear in any machzor.
Smorgon has come in for massive praise from fellow presidents Frank Costa of Geelong and Greg Westaway, whose St Kilda side will face the Bulldogs on Friday night for deciding to put Rosh Hashana before the Final.
Smorgon told J-Wire: “They both told they are Catholics and said that if the game had been on Good Friday, they would also have stayed at home.”
He added: “I have had so many calls and messages expressing understanding and respect for my decision not to be at the MCG on Friday. I will be at Caulfield Shule followed by a quiet night at home. I am a committed traditional Jew but not totally religious so I will be keeping an eye on the ‘Dogs. One rabbi even called me to say it was a ‘Kiddush Hashem’ that I was not going.”
Smorgon said that it would no harm if J-Wire readers would also say a prayer for his team although he may not have too much luck with St Kilda supporters.