ESPN
Boxing champion Dmitriy Salita won big on Motzei Shabbos, and not just the fight.
Salita had more than Brandon Hoskins to contend with on Saturday night at the Barclays Center, reported ESPN News.
Salita, nicknamed “The Star of David,” observes Shabbos, a cessation of work from just before sunset on Friday until sunset Saturday night. He therefore doesn’t fight during the weekly period of freedom from labors and contemplation of the spiritual aspects of life.
The 30 year-old fighter, who came to the U.S. from the Ukraine as a kid, holds a 34-1-1 record. He told NYFightBlog that this will be “the tightest fit ever for a fight.”
The Flatbush, Brooklyn reisdent couldn’t leave the hotel where he was staying until 6:50 p.m. ET, and he was slated to fight at 7:25 p.m.
“It will be really hard,” he said. “But I’m excited for the challenge,” he said before the fight.
Arriving at the arena after the ending of Shabbos, Salita scored a unanimous decision, by scores of 59-55, 60-54, 59-55, in a six-rounder, winning the title.
If the frum boxers started their matches with kipahot they would be creating a hazard. As soon as the kipah came off (a near certainty) one of the fighters or the ref. could slip on it. Also, when it comes off it would be a distraction, giving the opponent an advantage. And with a mouthguard in place, they aren’t likely to be speaking words of Torah…
make a kal ve chomer. If the Rebbe made such a big deal out of Sandy Koufax (not frum, played on Shabbos etc) for not playing on Yom kippur, how much ,more so a FRUM yid, who NEVER compromises an inch of halocha regardless of temptations of money, fame, pride etc. And for those who want to compare him to Matisyahu etc, Being Chabad didn’t make him big, he became Chabad despite being big. andfor all you groiser rabbonim who want to possul his parnossa and hashkofa…like any frum jew I am sure he has his rov whom he asks… Read more »
its amazing how most people are so uneducated about yiddishkeit and chassidishekeit.
they can read all the maamers and say that they are ffb,but they have no clue about yiddishkeit.
keep up the great work d’mitry
“Siyag Lachochmah Shtika” Had you kept your mouth shut we all would have thought you were wise – but now its too late – you just gave yourself away
#3 simply states his/her opinion- and makes a good point in MY opinion. This does not in anyway impose on your rights to have YOUR own opinion. Why should the commenter ‘refrain from saying anything at all’?
role models are NOT someething u wan ur children to become they are examples of people who in their scenario of life perform to their UTMOST potential hence ROLE MODEL!!!! and Dmitriy Salita is prob the best definition of a yid who serves H’ the best way he can wich makes him an excellent role model!!!
Isn’t it the message that is important- not the vehicle?? Teach your children to look for the lesson in serving Hashem, not to emulate the packaging.
So much hate in these comments it’s terrible. The same people that are implying that THEY not him are the REAL chassidim are the ones ripping on him and everything about him. Seriously, re-check your ahavas yisroel. It’s sickening and it is literally making me upset to see jews bashing other yidden like this. C’mon, it’s not nice people.
I’m not kidding, it breaks my heart to see such bitter jews talking like this.
As wonderful as Dimitri’s personal story is and as outstanding as his skills are, fighting in any form is not what we want for our children…..we have to be careful who we post as our role models.
the Rebbe would not encourage a FFB to get into boxing to bring the message of light to that world,
however
if (as in Dimiri’s case) you are already there and now become reConnected to your roots! this is a very unique situation which offers an opertunity for showing other lost neshamos to appreciate the importance of Shabbos observance etc
a true Kiddush Hashem!!
not the boxing the Shabbos is a kiddush Hashem despite the boxing distractions
Dimitri is a living example that if you believe in H’ you can keep shabat! even in very changing circumstances
this is the Nachas! & this is the Message!! (we must all learn from him & be humbled by)
#9 brings the Rebbe into the ring. There are certain establishments where the Rebbe would definitely not want you to bring light to. (Anyway it is a lighted district.)
#19 has become a chosid of Al Gore and unilaterally proclaims a unanimous decision.
How quaint.
It might surprise you all to know that Dmitri Salita probably reads these blogs, so think about whether you would say your negative comments to his face, because you basically are doing just that. I met him and found him to be an impressively aidel and humble young man and I’m pretty sure none of you big shots putting him down would have the audacity to say these things to him in person. I mean, unless you are just in the habit of talking like this to everyone you come across.
To #3- There are times when you take your kipa off as well, mikveh, swimming etc., and nobody is asking you to take it off for Dimitri! To #15- Many Baal Tshuvas who were trained or educated in a certain field were encouraged by the Rebbe to remain in their fields to be an inspiration to others, to show that being in that particular field is no contradiction to being an observant Jew. Dimitri is doing a great job at this! His Heroism in not in being a boxer, rather it is in being a Frum Yid even though he… Read more »
We jews always took pride in 1) Talmiday chcamim. 2) Balay tzedakah. 3) Masim tovim – tzedakah. 4) spreading Torah & Mitsvos. ETC. ETC. So LETS NOT MAKE A NEW RELIGIONI out of boxing, you want to be a boxer good luck, you enjoy watching boxing good luck, BUT DON’T MAKE A BOXER INTO A HERO!!! My g-d what has become of us! & to say that’s what the Rebbe would have naches from! Wake op Jews dont make a new Tora & glalafi boxing. We love Dmitriy for being what he is, he gets lots of credit for having… Read more »
a special shlichus reaching those who lechatchila a shliach would not have access to
h’ works through special people to achieve special shlichus!
we are all proud of this truly remarkable (self-made) man!!
really exceptional!!!
i agree totally, we need to admire his vast journey from where he started off to where he took himself!! truly humbling for me as an FFB observer!! halevai i worked on my self and grew the same progress as he has moved up in his relationship with torah and hiskashrus!
Perhaps salita can arrange. 6 rounds with that cop who beat levy 55 times. We’ll see how brave that cop is then
Please do not pût down number three, but try to find the point he missed! 1- boxing like all martial arts are a very beutifull sport that you probably have no idea about it! Take to basketball players from oposit team they also look like they are fighting and hating each other. The only difference is that boxing is a less comon sport 2- Dimitry is a Baal Teshuva that star he’s carrer as a boxer befor he become frum. I’m sure that in such a case we can get a Heter from a (serious) Rav, and he probably did!… Read more »
Think about it from the renbe’s look
I’m sure the rebbe has only nachas from Dmitri’s amazing and very public jewish-pride and commitment!
I know very few ppl who’ve grown this much in their avodas hashem
We all need to learn and strive to make the same growth from our comfort zone towards hashem!
Didn’t the Lubavitcher Rebbe once say that we should bring the light out of the darkness?
In such a dark place (Boxing Arena) comes out a Light (Dmitriy Salita) and does such a big kiddush hashem by representing us in such a positive light…
Most of the negative comments are forgetting that.
As long as your today is an improvement on yesterday you are a chossid & oved hashem period!
Those who are not well versed with the teachings of our nosi, try not to advertise it, by judging others who’s avoda is tremendous!
ok ok This is what he does……..u cant change that…..just give credit for the mitzvos he does keep………
with all due respect 1st you need to understand yiddishkeit
then you will understand the kiddush hashem
Dear Just saying,
Next time you don’t have anything positive to say, please refrain from saying anything at all. There are several things wrong with your statement. Many of the first boxing champions in this country were Jewish. And as far as your ‘kippah’ comment, how out of line are you? Many prominent orthodox Jews do not wear a kippah during their work for one reason or another. Are you discounting all the good that they do? We all know of a U.S. Senator that is publicly Orthodox, Is he not to be respected now? My goodness, man.
that was cool
I believe this Dimitry fellow is a good person and this is nothing against him but is it a kiddush hashem when a jew does something significant without a kippah on his head. Plus i am not sure boxing is considered a very jewish sport. Goes against our purpose of peace and kindness. In the end it is a violent sport.
Just saying.
but you where close
Go Salita