This Week in WITT – Week 15 – Finals Edition
In some ways, what I wrote last week could have wrapped this year’s tournament up. Sentimental, reflective, with a message looking forward. That’s really what I’d be looking to accomplish with the final email. And, for the most part, I think I did that.
Instead, I’d like to share my general thoughts on how this year’s tournament went, delineating and highlighting some of my major takeaways.
1) This Tournament is Ready for More
Now that we have a website, and much less of what we’re doing is manual, we are considering other tournaments as well—Pickleball Singles, Men’s Doubles, maybe even a Women’s Tournament. We’re kicking around ideas; nothing is definitive, but expansion is on our minds.
That expansion is predicated on building this community that we are so proud of. We hope to utilize it for other communal purposes as well. That part still needs to be figured out, and we’re always happy to hear your ideas.
2) People Love Pickleball
I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong. When Dovid Schulman told me we should run a Pickleball tournament, I was hesitant. Do people even like Pickleball? Is it popular? Doubles will be hard to schedule… I had a lot of pushback.
Anyway, I was wrong. It’s way more accessible than tennis, and people of all ages can play. I imagine the Pickleball tournament will expand next year, both in size and in the number of tiers. We had a great crowd for the finals the other night and the Tier 1
Final was super entertaining—more on that later.
3) There’s More Happening Than I Realize
I’ve heard stories from a few different people about how this tournament has affected them, and I assume there are many more I don’t know about. Because I can be a controlling person and like to know what’s going on, I always ask for feedback.
But the truth is, all we can do is our best and hope things work out the way they’re supposed to. Really, that’s probably a lesson for me—just stay in my lane, do what I think I’m supposed to do, and try to do the right thing. I don’t always get it right, but I certainly try.
So the right thing here is to keep going. To continue building this up and hope that more is being gained from it than I realize. To continue expanding what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. And let Hashem take care of the rest.
I believe we all have a responsibility to use the mediums Hashem gave us to bring light into this world. This Tournament seems to do just that. Sure, there’s the occasional darkness, but the light shines very bright and will only get brighter.
Let’s all do our parts to brighten those paths for others, using the gifts and opportunities Hashem has given us. That’s why we continue to run this tournament. It would be hard to defend not doing it.
4) Thank You
I want to thank all the people who were so helpful this year.
Finally, I want to thank Dovid Schulman. When I asked him to help a couple of years back, I didn’t realize how invaluable he would be. His organization and attention to detail make him a pleasure to work with. He has so much vision for what this can become, and I look forward to working with him for years to come. I deeply appreciate that he has allowed this tournament to grow without compromising my vision for it. When people thank me for a great tournament, he shares in that thanks.
So that’s the end of WITT 2025. We really hope everyone had a great experience, win or lose.
I remarked to Adam Bari last night after the Tier 1B Pickleball match, that while I still have my runner-up trophy from last year, what really stays with me are the memories of that night and the people who came to support me. I imagine playing a tournament with your son, father, or brother is worth far more than any trophy we could ever give. He replied simply: “It was the best.”
Finals Recaps
I almost wrapped up and then realized—I have 10 tournaments to recap. Whoops! I’ll go in reverse order from Tier 4 to Tier 1.
Tier 4
Eytan Mishkoff took on Avraham Young in this year’s Tier 4 Final. Young was looking to become the first in his family to claim a winner’s trophy, after his brother Aryeh Young fell short in last year’s final.
“Aryeh was a great older brother,” said Young. “He’s been helping coach me and my nerves.”
Meanwhile, Mishkoff was supported by his mother, who came in from upstate to watch both her sons, Eytan and Noam Mishkoff, compete in this year’s finals. “I mean, what kind of mother would I be if I didn’t come in for this?” she said. “And how often does a mother get to watch her sons play in such a prestigious final?”
Young came out fast and held on to win the first set 6–4. “He made it really tough on me, but I’m glad I was able to stick it out.” The second set went more smoothly as Young clinched the match 6–1. “Obviously, my big bro Aryeh wasn’t able to get it done last year. I’m glad I was able to put the icing on the cake here. Honestly, I probably didn’t really belong in Tier 4 anyway.”
Tier 3B
This match almost didn’t happen, as Mikey Kook reached out to officials about back issues. “It was rough, man. I didn’t think I would make it.” The official response was simple: “Your opponent, Adam Goller, is 10 years older and just played this entire tournament days after getting his cast off a broken leg. You’re gonna play.”
And play they did.
With WITT legend (and Kook’s father-in-law) Baruch Weinstein looking on, Kook came out flat. “When your wife and father-in-law are watching, that’s a lot of pressure.” Goller easily won the first set.
The second set was tighter as Kook leaned on his athleticism. Goller fought back and took a 5–3 lead, but then disaster struck—leg cramping. Not since Yeruchum Brazil playing on one leg has the tournament seen cramps of this magnitude.
“I was just so close to the finish line,” said Goller. “I took an injury timeout and stretched it out. I just needed a few points. Besides, he pushed through the back issues; I felt like I could handle it.”
Barely able to stand, Goller somehow closed it out 6–3. He couldn’t even drive himself home afterward. “It was all worth it,” he said. “I’m a Tier 3B WITT champion. And no one can ever take that away from me.”
WITT superfan Lonnie Burger summed it up best: “There were a lot of great players tonight, but only one Warrior. And that was Adam Goller.”
Tier 3
Due to scheduling conflicts, Arie Blum and Yossi Spencer will play the Tier 3 Championship on Sunday morning at 11 AM at Point Set Indoor Stadium. Go watch the match! And check out playwitt.com for the results.
Tier 2B
Daniel Goldberg returned to the finals to take on Sendy Berger. “My sons couldn’t make it this time, but I brought my wife and father instead,” Goldberg said.
Berger came with his posse, and the first set didn’t disappoint. Goldberg dodged a set point and fought back for a 7–5 win. “He was hitting very well, and I just knew I had to keep applying the pressure.”
The second set leaned more his way, and Goldberg closed it out 6–3 for the Tier 2B championship. “Last time was disappointing. I’m glad this time I was able to pull it out. And to have my father here watching was really special for me.”
Tier 2
Unfortunately, Joe Rosen was forced to withdraw due to injury. Congratulations to Shmuli Mendel, this year’s Tier 2 Champion!
Tier 1B
Two courts away from his brother, Noam Mishkoff once again aimed for the Tier 1B title, taking on Shauli Friedman. “I was confident that Eytan and I could make my mom very proud. But just in case he couldn’t pull it out, I definitely came to play.”
Friedman never found his rhythm, despite what seemed like his entire extended family watching. “It wasn’t my finest moment,” Friedman admitted. “But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That’s what my parents always told me.”
Mishkoff hoisted the Tier 1B trophy once again, making his mother very proud.
Tier 1
That brings us to this week’s Match of the Week. David Rackman and Joseph Skydell squared off in a highly anticipated matchup, with most expecting Rackman to win.
“Rackman is a heavy favorite,” said Howie Hershkovich. “I mean, I would have been in this match if I didn’t fall off my bike. But Rackman should really take care of business.”
With his wife and children looking on, Rackman seemed to cruise early, serving well and moving the ball around. He took the first set 6–4.
In between sets, Skydell regrouped. “The whole place was rooting for Rackman. I get it. I live in the city, and my wife asked if I wanted her to come. But it was the kids’ first day of school tomorrow, so I told her to stay home.”
Assured his family was settled, Skydell’s serve began to click in the second set, his forehand more powerful as Rackman slowed down. “He definitely started playing more consistently and putting on the pressure,” Rackman said. Skydell took the set 6–3 to force a super tiebreaker.
“I thought for sure Rackman would close it out when it mattered,” said Michael Pfeifer, who came to watch. “He’s a big-game player.”
But Skydell jumped out to a 7–3 lead, just a few points away from the title. Rackman clawed back to 7–6, putting the pressure on, but back and forth they went until Skydell finally held championship point at 9–8.
Taking a deep breath, he launched a serve that Rackman blocked back. Skydell stepped into a huge forehand just past the outstretched arm of the two-time defending champion.
For the first time in five years, someone other than Yaron Markfeld or David Rackman lifted the trophy.
“Just a surreal moment,” said Skydell. “He’s so tough to play, with all his misdirection and change of speeds. But I thought I really settled down after the first set.”
“Congratulations to him,” Rackman added. “He played great when it mattered. No doubt about that.”
Huge congratulations to both players on an incredible tournament and an outstanding match that left the entire crowd on the edge of their seats.
Pickleball
Tier 2
Yosef Moskowitz and David Pfeffer took on Alan Singer and Ari Kalton in the Tier 2 Final. Moskowitz, who has been playing plenty of tennis and pickleball since returning from Israel, felt ready:
“After my disappointing tennis loss, I really wanted to make up for it. I also didn’t want to let my partner down.”
Kalton and Singer, meanwhile, were determined to push back:
“We did not come this far for no reason,” said Kalton. “No chance we are going down without a fight.”
Perhaps it was the pizza Singer was eating between games, but Kalton and Singer seemed a step slower than earlier in the tournament. In the end, Moskowitz and Pfeffer claimed a straight-game victory, proudly representing North Woodmere:
“We are proud of our North Woodmere heritage!”
Tier 1B
The father-son duo of Adam Bari and Jonah Bari faced off against the dynamic pairing of Stevie Fruchter and Yeruchum Brazil. On the sidelines, Stevie’s father Phil Fruchter expressed his excitement:
“I love pickleball. I was going to fly my other son in to watch, but we couldn’t make the schedule work. I also heard there was going to be Bravo pizza. I love myself some Bravo pizza.”
Fruchter and Brazil, in matching outfits and using their patented stacking approach, came out strong and took the first game. The Baris attempted a late comeback, but it wasn’t enough. After that, Brazil and Fruchter never looked back, sealing the win in straight games.
“I am pretty sure this makes me the most decorated WITT champion ever,” said Fruchter. “I think I’m the only one with both a Tier 1 tennis and Tier 1B pickleball trophy. That’s a pretty elite group of…. just me.”
Brazil fan Mikey Richman was thrilled:
“When you are invested in a team for an entire season, like I was in these guys, the victory is just that much more satisfying.”
Tier 1
A large crowd gathered to watch the highly anticipated Tier 1 Final. The father-son combo of Jared Solomon and Isaac Solomon took on the brother duo of Eli Glaz and Moshe Glaz in a showcase of high-level pickleball.
The first game proved pivotal. The Glazes jumped to an early lead, but the Solomons fought back to level the score at 7. At 9–10, a deep shot by Eli went long, giving the Solomons the 11–9 win.
“We were not expecting someone of Eli’s caliber,” said Jared. “He was by far the best player we faced—just a whole different level.”
The Glazes rebounded to take the third game, handing the Solomons their first dropped game of the tournament. But Isaac closed the door with a commanding 11–3 win in the final game.
“Great experience playing with my dad,” said Isaac. “Just an awesome time.”
The Glazes showed great sportsmanship in defeat:
“These guys were really good and they deserved it. We’re also just so impressed by how smoothly the tournament ran for a first time. A great experience all around.”
Congratulations to Jared and Isaac Solomon, winners of the first-ever WITT Pickleball Tournament!
Thanks to everyone for making this year such a success. My sincerest apologies if any of my jokes didn’t land or we did anything that may have upset someone. It was certainly not intentional. Looking forward to next year’s tournament!
And of course, have a great year ahead!
Uri
This Week in WITT – Week 14
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Tennis Finals will take place on Tuesday night, September 2nd at Point Set at 8 PM.
The Pickleball Finals will take place on Wednesday night, September 3rd at Pickleball XPO at 8 PM.
Finals Schedule and Matches forthcoming.
KNOCKOUT ROUND PODCAST FEATURING MOISH FRANCESA
As we approach the end of summer and another Labor Day weekend, I’ve been reflecting on what a meaningful season this has been. The tournaments brought out spirited competition, great energy, and plenty of camaraderie. Of course, the highlight for me—thanks to Yossi Farraday (kidding, kidding!)—was the BBQ. Seeing that room full of people, connecting and enjoying each other’s company, was truly special. For most, it might have been “just another BBQ,” but for me it carried a unique sense of meaning and fulfillment. Different moments mean different things to different people, and this one really stayed with me.
Looking back, I feel a sense of gratification and completeness. It was a successful summer, filled with both competition and community. And I hope that this ending also opens the door for new beginnings—friendships that didn’t exist before the summer, passions sparked on the court or at the BBQ, business opportunities discovered through casual conversations, or simply a renewed sense of health and fitness. My hope is that these gifts carry forward with us, not only in the coming year but far beyond. As Semisonic famously put it, “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” And that’s exactly how this transition feels—one chapter closing, another beginning to unfold.
Now we step into Chodesh Elul. Elul always carries a strange blend of emotions. Not because of the month’s holiness—that part is clear—but because of its timing. Elul often arrives right at the seam between summer’s end and the school year’s beginning, between the familiar and the new. And perhaps that’s exactly its message: that the closing of one season and the start of another mirrors the inner work Elul calls us to do. Elul is a time of reflection and teshuvah, when we look honestly at the year gone by and prepare our hearts for the new one. Just as the summer’s friendships, growth, and renewal can accompany us into the year ahead, Elul gives us the chance to transform gratitude into commitment, to turn awareness into change.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah, the ultimate new beginning, Elul reminds us that every ending is an invitation to begin again with deeper intention. May we carry forward not only the joy of the summer, but also the strength and clarity that comes from this month of preparation, so that the year ahead is filled with blessing, renewal, and growth for us all.
Tennis
Tier 1
I thought about skipping the recap here. It’s kind of getting boring. But alas, I have a job to do. (Editor’s note: Dovid and I learn together. He is a very close friend of mine, who I love dearly. I also lost to him last year in the finals, which adds to the complexity here. This recap comes with a range of emotions, from being so happy that my close chaver is in the finals… again… to complete and utter contempt that I have to deal with this… again.)
Dovid Rackman and Max Sternberg squared off in their highly anticipated semifinal match on Wednesday morning. “I am not feeling it this year,” Rackman annoyingly told me again and again over the last few weeks. “I just don’t think I have it in me.”
It certainly looked like that would be the case when the match started, as Sternberg controlled the first set and won easily 6-2. But the guy who has won the last two Championships—and three of the last four—was not going to go down so easily. “I knew I needed to lock it down,” said Rackman. “Max is a very strong player, and it took me a bit to figure out what I needed to do.”
Strong serving and timely hitting cracked a 4-4 tie and gave Rackman the second set 6-4. The Super Tiebreak was about as close as it could be, until it got to 7-7. “I was definitely feeling the pressure,” said Sternberg. “I would say this was amongst the most pressure-filled points of tennis I have ever played.”
Meanwhile, Rackman had a different sentiment. “Was it 7-7? I didn’t even realize. I was just playing one point at a time.” That nonchalant attitude worked out for Rackman, who won the next three points and secured his spot yet again in the finals this Tuesday night.
“The tournament gets more challenging every year,” said Rackman. “You cannot give Dovid and Uri enough credit for what they have done here. They have somehow found a way to personalize a 168-person tennis tournament. It feels to me exactly the same as if it would be 16 people. Just a unique sense of community.”
Rackman will take on Joseph Skydell, who advanced past Anthony Jonathan Lalouz by way of walkover. “I know, I know,” said Skydell. “People are saying it’s a cheap way to make the finals. But what can I do? Besides, I definitely did not want to get into the finals this way.”
That match is set for Court 1 on Tuesday night at 8 PM.
Tier 1B
Shauli Friedman advanced past Moshe Aharon Fink in one semifinal. The other semifinal, a Match of the Week candidate, saw former Tier 1B Champion Noam Mishkoff play Davening Dov Kramer. After winning the first set, Mishkoff dropped the second 7-5. An incredible super tiebreak went back and forth until it was tied at 9. That’s when Mishkoff’s championship blood kicked in and he was able to win the next two points.
“I am ecstatic I survived that one. And excited to be the first ever brother tandem, along with my brother Eytan Mishkoff, to be playing on Championship Tuesday.”
Eytan is in the Tier 4 finals.
Tier 2
What a week for Yosef Moskowitz. Fresh back from his trip overseas, he took on Moshe Feigenbaum in an epic thriller. Here is the recap from Moskowitz!
Moshe Feigenbaum is 43 going on 23. When you don’t pick up a racket for almost a full month, he’s not the guy you want to face off against when you landed about 24 hours earlier. The first set went back and forth and was a true testament of patience and stubbornness. Moshe went up 4-3 but Moskowitz came storming back to go up 5-4. The last point to close it out to 6-4 was a long, drawn-out point and with Moshe charging hard to the net he slipped, and Moskowitz put it over his head to close it out 6-4. The next set, Moskowitz took an Israeli afternoon nap and gave up leads to go down 3-0. Moshe wouldn’t let up and went up 5-0 and finally closed it out 6-2. The tiebreaker was really tight. Moskowitz up 2-0 faced two returns by Feigenbaum that hit the net and dropped over twice in a row! At this point Moskowitz was thinking about his prayers by the Kotel and dug deep. At 7-6, Feigenbaum made a mental error and double-faulted after just missing an ace. At that point Moskowitz was able to close out the match 10-6 with the last point taking a few minutes until Moshe hit a dart into the net.
Shmuli Mendel then welcomed Moskowitz back from his hiatus with a straight-set victory. Both sets had really long and strategic volleys and Moskowitz really thought he could pull out another victory after spending 2 weeks in Israel. He realized early on his timing was off and his trick shots were not going to get the job done tonight. Overall it was a great match with great competitors.
“Maybe I shouldn’t leave the country for a month and come back and expect to be in game shape,” said Moskowitz. “This is a lot of tennis and pickleball to play in very little time!”
Tier 2B
What can you say about Daniel Goldberg, this week’s Player of the Week. Tough as nails, he fought back from one set down to take down Yossi Reich. Here is Goldberg with the recap:
Epic Battle in the Tier 2B Semi-Finals: Goldberg Edges Reich in Thrilling Rematch. In a high-stakes rematch of their 2021 Tier 3 Semi-Final clash, Yossi Reich and Daniel Goldberg faced off once again—this time with a spot in the Tier 2B Finals on the line. And just like their previous encounter, the match delivered fireworks from start to finish. The opening set was a tense showdown, with both players locked in a serving duel through the first six games. Reich struck first, breaking Goldberg in the 7th game, but Goldberg fired right back with a break of his own. Refusing to let the momentum shift, Reich broke again and held his nerve—and his serve—to close out a tight 6-4 set. Goldberg roared back in the second, racing to a commanding 5-2 lead. He maintained the pressure and leveled the match with a 6-3 second set, setting the stage for a dramatic Super Tiebreak. Reich came out swinging, surging ahead 4-1 and looking poised to take control. But Goldberg wasn’t done. He clawed his way back to 5-5, and from there, the two battled back and forth in a nail-biting finish. Goldberg edged ahead and sealed a heart-pounding 10-8 victory—punching his ticket to the finals.
Tier 3
An incredible match from Arie Blum and Raphi Basalely earns Match of the Week honors!
Here is Blum’s recap:
Wow, that was an incredibly tough match! I had to dig deep and stay in the game through 25+ shot rallies. It was the inspiration of watching Dovid Rackman on the court next to me that made me think, “What would DR do?” (I don’t know him, but he’s a champ.) Raphi probably has the best serve in Tier 3, and I’m sure he’d easily beat me on any other day. But if he stays in Tier 3 next year instead of moving up to Tier 2, where he belongs, everyone better watch out! (Editor’s Note: I was actually playing Rackman that morning, and I beat him 7-5. Just saying.)
Blum will take on Yossi Spencer, who defeated Ben Goldstein in straight sets.
Tier 3B
After almost bailing out of the tournament completely, Adam Goller advanced to the finals of Tier 3B. Here’s his recap from the win against Isaac Hersh:
Isaac had me guessing with his strong serve and forehand. In the second set, after being on serve to 3-3, his serve stopped falling and he appeared to tire a bit. The tiebreak was fast with Goller’s serve holding and Hersh missing along with some mis-hits. Great game and good energy overall.
Tier 4
Avraham Young advanced to the Tier 4 Finals where will take on the aforementioned Eytan Mishkoff.
Pickleball
Tier 1
The highly anticipated match between Solomon/Solomon and Abittan/Farkas did not disappoint. Sometimes a score is not indicative of the match, and that was the case here. Abittan/Farkas were up in all three games—7-2 in the first, 9-7 in the second, and 7-5 in the third—and each time the Solomons would not die, coming back in all three of them to win in straight games.
“We really let one go,” said Abittan. “They’re a great team, but we just could not close these games out. Exceptionally disappointing finish for us.”
The Solomons will be in the finals Wednesday night against the winner of the Dubin brothers vs. the Glaz brothers.
Tier 1B
The team of Soffer/Wilon defeated the Jacobs brothers and will face the Baris in the semifinals. The winner will take on the winner of Brazil/Fruchter vs. Abittan/Burger, happening today at 3 PM at Pickleball XPO. Come check it out!
Tier 2
Back from his month away, Moskowitz teamed with his partner Pfeffer and defeated the Wolffs (two f’s) in 4 games to advance to the semifinals of Tier 2 where they will take on Adam Feit and Aryeh Young.
The other semifinal will feature Kalton/Singer vs. Shekhtikhin/Warner.
FINALS
As always—keep playing those matches, and have a great week ahead!
Uri
This Week in WITT – Week 13
As summer winds down and the tournament edges closer to its conclusion, there’s always a sense of slowing. Fewer matches get played, players slip away on vacation, and the buzz of activity gives way to something calmer. It reminds me of the way I’ve written in past weeks about life’s flow—whether through waterfalls cascading over rocks, streams finding their path, or journeys that seem delayed but never truly off course. The pace may shift, but the direction remains steady.
This week’s parsha, Parshas Re’eh, opens with Moshe’s words: “See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.” That charge—Re’eh, see—is a reminder to open our eyes, to notice that both the smooth waters and the bumps on the way down are part of the same divine plan. Sometimes it looks like things are slowing down, other times like they’re being derailed. But just as with the waterfall, the tournament, and life itself, the truth is that each of us is still being carried exactly where we’re meant to go.
How often do we look at a moment in life and think, “This is a setback”? And yet, time and again, Hashem shows us that what we thought was a detour was in fact the very path leading us to something greater. The rocks don’t break the stream—they shape it. The same is true for us. In tennis, in life, in everything, losing can feel like the worst kind of setback in the short term. But it’s often those very losses that light the fire to practice harder, come back stronger, and discover strengths we didn’t know we had. What seems bitter in the moment may later be revealed as the sweetest setup for growth.
A close friend of mine puts out something called Emuna Daily. It happens to be that yesterday morning’s brief message was:
“You thought it was a setback. Hashem saw it as the setup for something far greater.”
(As an aside—you can click here to receive Emuna Daily. I highly recommend it!)
So as we watch the tournament wind down—with some advancing, some falling short, and some matches still waiting to be played—remember that every result is part of the bigger picture. Whether your bracket is still alive or your run has ended, each match, each point, and yes, even each loss, is shaping you for what comes next. And just like the flow of the waterfall, we’ll all end up exactly where we’re supposed to be.
Tennis
Tier 1
Joseph Skydell vs. Yaakov Abittan
Tremendous match between two high-level competitors. Yaakov Abittan once again showed why he’s such a tough out—an all-around player with virtually no flaws in his game.
Skydell came out firing, blitzing Abittan in the first set with aggressive play and sharp execution. In the second, momentum shifted back and forth. Skydell held a 5–4 lead, but Abittan fought back with trademark consistency to move ahead 6–5. Serving for the set, Abittan uncorked a tremendous first serve up the T that looked like the dagger. But in a stunning turn, Skydell somehow got a racket on it, flipped the point, and snatched back the momentum.
“That one shocked both of us,” Skydell admitted. “I just stuck the racket out, and somehow it worked.”
From there, Skydell steadied himself, tied it up, and went on to take the tiebreak and the match.
“Yaakov’s an awesome guy and an excellent player,” Skydell added. “This was one of those matches that reminds you why we play.”
Skydell now looks ahead to a semifinal clash with Yonatan Lallouz (hopefully), while on the other side of the bracket Max Sternberg advanced past Dovid Blum and will meet three-time champion Dovid Rackman for a spot in the finals.
Rackman, just back from overseas, admitted he was a little rusty in a warm-up against Michael Pfeifer: “Timing was definitely off today. Pfeifer is obviously a preeminent WITT player, but a friendly I should win. That’s what my coach, Dr. Ernie Goldman, told me anyway.”
Tier 1B
The semifinals are set: Shauli Friedman advanced with a decisive win over Yisroel Kanar and will face Moshe Aharon Fink, who edged past Eitan Shoshan in a super tiebreak.
“That was a real tough match,” said Fink. “That forehand is deadly when it’s on. I know I’ll have my hands full with Shauli though.”
On the other side, a very patient Noam Mishkoff will finally get his long-awaited opponent in the form of “Davening” Dov Kramer, who won the week’s Match of the Week over Yehuda Schattner, 4–6, 6–4, 10–7. “You definitely want to play matches like this en route to a championship,” Kramer said. “It shows how tough you are.”
Tier 2
Still waiting on the long-awaited return of Yosef Moskowitz (Yes, I know Yosef, we spoke about this before the tournament and I said you can play. I never said I wouldn’t make fun though.) He’ll face Moshe Feigenbaum for the right to meet Shmuli Mendel in the semis.
The other side of the bracket is very intriguing. It is a matchup between Tier 2 favorite, Joe Rosen, and his uncle Yoni Leifer. We spoke to Joe’s Mother, who is Yoni’s sister and she had this to say. “Obviously, it’s really mixed emotions. But let’s be honest. Who do you think I want to win? My son? Or my brother? It’s not really close in my mind.” That response wasn’t 100% clear to me, but I think I can figure it out.
Tier 2B
Two quarterfinals remain, with Sendy Berger looking to bounce back from his pickleball loss when he meets the winner of Ari Ellenberg vs. Avi Kramer. On the other side, Daniel Goldberg awaits the winner of Yossi Reich and Dani Sonnenblick.
When asked if his sons would make the trip to watch a semifinal, Goldberg said: “Nah, they’ll only come for the final from New Jersey. Guess that’s an incentive for me to get there.”
Tier 3
This one feels destined for an Arie Blum vs. Yossi Spencer final—but don’t sleep on their challengers. Raphi Basalely (Blum’s next opponent) has been superb in his own right. “Everyone’s talking about these other guys,” said Basalely. “Just wait.”
On the other side, Ben Goldstein looks to derail Spencer. “I don’t know Ben Goldstein, although I hear he’s a great guy,” Spencer said. “Either way, my serve is getting better, and my forehand has only begun to show what it can do.”
Tier 3B
Half the final is set, with this week’s Player of the Week, Mikey Kook, putting in the work.
Ari Kalton vs. Mikey Kook
It was an all-MTA showdown, and the match didn’t disappoint. Kook jumped to an early 3–0 lead before Kalton clawed back to 3–all. But Kook reasserted himself, taking the next three games and the first set.
The second set was much tighter, with Kalton saving two match points before Kook finally closed it out 6–4.
Kook then topped Nachi Sonnenblick in a super tiebreak, 10–6. “When Baruch Weinstein is your father-in-law, you need to impress him. Hopefully making the finals of Tier 3B will finally get me the respect I’ve coveted for so many years.”
He now awaits the winner of Isaac Hersh vs. Adam Goller.
Tier 4
All the heavy hitters remain. Avraham Young (mazel tov on the new baby boy!) faces Noah Weichselbaum for a semifinal spot against Mordokhay Ferster. The winner will then take on Eytan Mishkoff in the finals.
Mishkoff, who was forced to retire last year, is determined to finish the job: “Obviously, getting hurt last year was devastating. But I’m back. And better than ever.”
Pickleball
Tier 1
The Dubin brothers await the winner of the Glaz brothers vs. the “Twin Towers.” On the other side, the father-son duo of Solomon & Solomon—perhaps the favorites this year—meet Abittan/Farkas in a heavyweight semifinal.
“We haven’t played anyone as good as them,” the Solomons admitted. “That one is going to be a real banger.”
Tier 1B
Bari/Bari await the winner of Soffer/Wilon vs. Jacobs/Jacobs.
Meanwhile, Team of the Week goes to Yeruchum Brazil and Stevie Fruchter, who survived a five-game battle against Corney/Feldman.
After dropping two straight games to set up the decider, Fruchter turned it up a notch: “I mean, I know I had to carry Brazil. He’s too nonchalant. But he’s also so supportive of me during the match, so I owed it to him.”
They now face Abittan/Burger in the semifinals after they defeated Berger/Unger.
Tier 2 – Match of the Week
Shekhtikhin/Warner vs. Kirschner/Young
This was not just the match of the week—it may have been the match of the tournament.
After splitting the first two games (11–9, 13–15), the pairs traded blows in games three and four (15–13, 10–12). Everything came down to a deciding fifth game, where Shekhtikhin/Warner finally steadied their nerves and pulled out a 12–10 win.
Final Score: Shekhtikhin/Warner def. Kirschner/Young (11–9, 13–15, 15–13, 10–12, 12–10)
They advance to face Kalton/Singer in the semifinals, while Feit/Young await the winner of Moskowitz/Pfeffer vs. Wolff/Wolff.
That wraps up a busy week in WITT. Finals are set for right after Labor Day:
As always—keep playing those matches, and have a great week ahead!
Uri
This Week in WITT – WEEK 12
I was away this past week, so this week’s update will be a bit shorter.
While traveling, I had the opportunity to see some truly incredible works of Hashem. We saw a lot of waterfalls, and one in particular caught my attention. I couldn’t help but notice how each drop of water took its own unique path to the pool below. Along the way, it hit countless rocks—some slowing it down, others speeding it up. Yet, despite the bumps and detours, the water’s flow was somehow perfect. A majestic sight that only God could create.
I often think metaphorically (in case that wasn’t already obvious). In life, our own “streams” are never without obstacles. We hit the rocks—sometimes slowing down, sometimes struggling more than we’d like. Yet somehow, we always end up exactly where we’re supposed to be—both along the journey and at the end. And when we look around, we see others who have taken their own paths down life’s falls, arriving right beside us. We may not know their exact route, but there they are. Amazing how it all works out.
Which brings me to the flow of the tournament. As we near the end, momentum naturally slows—fewer matches, summer vacations, and less engagement as players drop out. We could shorten the time frame, but that would cause other scheduling issues. Some rounds move quickly, others drag on. Some brackets are far ahead, others behind. I wish we could all move together, but that’s not realistic. Ultimately, it’s about the collective flow. Please stay engaged—check the scores, follow the brackets, and maybe send a note to someone you played, win or lose. Help keep the flow going. Either way, we’ll end up exactly where we’re meant to be.
Tier 1
Let’s start with an oversight from last week, as former champion Howie Hershkovich was forced to pull out of this year’s tournament because of injury.
“I’m very disappointed I had to pull out,” said Hershkovich. “I had been playing exceptionally well and thought this was my year. Had I not fallen off my bicycle, it would be a different tournament. So I definitely take credit for someone else having the chance to win this year. You are all very welcome.”
With or without Hershkovich, every year seems to come back to the same matchup.
Two-time champion Yaron Markfeld and three-time champion Dovid Rackman met once again—this time with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
For Markfeld, it felt like déjà vu. “I was up 5-3 and had chances to close out that first set. As my good buddy Yehuda Hammer always says, ‘You’ve always gotta be closing.’ Didn’t happen.” Rackman clawed back point by point, tied it at 5, then took the tiebreak. He closed out the second set 6-3 to advance. “I can’t really explain it,” said Rackman. “I guess I just have his number.”
Rackman will face the winner of Dovid Blum and Max Sternberg, who ended Mark Spivak’s magical run with a straight-set victory. “Mark played well, but I was on. I’m coming for yeshiva league legend Dovid Blum, and then I’ve got my sights set on three-time champion Rackman. I’d like my first WITT appearance to be a memorable one.”
On the other side of the bracket, Anthony Jonathan Lallouz is showing no signs of lalosing at all. After going down a set and trailing 4-1 to David Feder, Lallouz stormed back to win the second set and the super tiebreak. He followed that up with a win over Marcky Gibber, booking his spot in the semifinals. Lallouz was not available for comment.
He now awaits the winner of Yaakov Abittan, who defeated Eitan Aghbashoff and Joseph Skydell.
Tier 1B
Davening Dov Kramer vs. Naftali Balter
Kramer jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set, but Naftali came roaring back to win it 7-6. In the second set, with Kramer leading 3-2, Balter began cramping but pushed on. At 5-3, cramps hit the other leg, and that was the match. As one might expect—playing at 11 a.m. against someone 10 years younger comes with risks.
Tier 2
Ariel Abittan vs. Yehuda Konig – Match of the Week
After dropping the first set, 6-2, Abittan came back to take the second 6-4. “It was truly an incredible match,” said Abittan. “Uphill battle, but I pulled through. Yehuda led the entire super tiebreak until 8-7, when I took my first lead and closed it out 10-8. I give my brother and coach Yaakov a lot of credit for helping me through this one. I plan on being at his next pickleball match to help coach him as well.”
Tier 2B
Ari Ellenberg vs. Arye Lifshitz
Here is Ellenberg with the recap.
After struggling to find a time, we settled on a late-night Motzei Shabbos match under the lights. I decided ahead of time to blame any loss on fellow WITT player Yehuda Konig, who spent Shabbos feeding me an unhealthy amount of jerky, babka, and alcohol at his son’s aufruf.
Arye broke me in the first game, and we each held serve until 5-4 when I finally tied it—only to lose the first set 7-5. I quickly realized Arye’s hustle was not to be underestimated. In the must-win second set, I fought back to win, forcing a third-set tiebreak. At 6-6, I managed to string together a few quality shots and pull away for the win.
Daniel Goldberg vs. Eric Taub
Thanks to Goldberg for his recap.
Goldberg started hot, racing to a 5-1 lead in the first set. Taub fought back to 5-3, but Goldberg broke serve to take it 6-3. The second set was much tighter, with multiple games going to several deuces. At 5-4, Taub served to stay in the match, saved a match point with a net-cord winner, but Goldberg ultimately closed it out 6-4.
Sendy Berger vs. Yosef Siegel
Big win for Sendy Berger over The Bulldog. Berger was happy with the result. “It was a game of runs, with plenty of winners. Yosef’s big first serve was tough, but I caught fire in the tiebreak and pulled through.”
Tier 3
Yossi Spencer vs. David Goldenberg
Spencer dodged a bullet and advanced to the next round. “David took the first set and went up 4-2 in the second, but I thought, What would Max(well) and Mark do? Dug deep, took it 6-4, and in the tiebreak, reminded myself—Uri can’t have me on the podcast next year if I’m not the champ!” “
Tier 3B
Adam Goller vs. Jay Nathanson
Goller advanced with a hard fought victory. Said Goller, “Long match, long rallies, two guys just slugging it out. I came back from 5-2 in the second set to win it. Great points and high stamina from both sides.”
Tier 4
Yitzi Kohn vs. Dan Shektikkhin
Kohn advanced to the next round with a big victory. “Dan is such a nice guy! In the first set, I led 4-3 before his powerful serves carried him to a 6-4 win. Thankfully, I settled in, used consistent volleys to take the second 6-2, and edged out the super tiebreak 10-6 to book a spot in the semifinals.”
Mordokhay Ferster vs. Yosef Niremberg
Ferster with the recap after the big victory!
Two rare events occurred:
Pickleball
Only two matches this week. The Solomons dominated to reach the semifinals, where they’ll face Abittan/Farkas—a matchup many have been waiting for.
Tier 1B
Soffer/Wilon dropped the first game 12-10, then cruised to three straight wins over Deutsch/Deutsch.
Keep playing those matches!
We are almost there!
And of course, have a great week ahead.
Uri
This Week in WITT – WEEK 11
In the opening of this week’s parsha, Moshe recounts how he pleaded (va’eschanan) to enter Eretz Yisrael. Hashem tells him no. That conversation is elaborated on in the Gemara in Sotah on Daf 14, which records the dialogue delineating Moshe’s reasons for wanting to enter the land and Hashem’s response to him.
Ultimately, however, Moshe’s greatness was not diminished by this limitation; rather, it highlights that true greatness comes from understanding your mission and accepting your place, even when your personal desire is to do more or go further.
I have waited 10 weeks to discuss this topic. It’s a very hot topic, and one we have discussed internally more times than I can count. The Tiers. Currently, as I hope everyone knows, we have 4 tiers, which become 7 Knockout tiers. That accounts for 168 tennis players. Pickleball has 48 teams, with 2 initial tiers that became 3. Right now, this conversation is more relevant for the tennis tournament, but it may be very relevant to pickleball as soon as next year.
First, let’s be clear. There can’t be 20 tiers. So what’s the right number? I like 7 because there are 7 courts at Point Set, and so all the finals can take place on the same night. Inevitably, people ask me all the time…. “why is he in tier 2? I beat him all the time and I am in Tier 3! I should be in Tier 2!” Right. Sure. There are players in tier 3 who would beat players from tier 2. There are players in tier 2 who would beat players from tier 1. There may even be a couple players in tier 3 who may beat someone from tier 1. It’s not a perfect system. Far from it. But let me break it down a little bit for everyone.
The goal of the tiers is to create competitive balance, so we have as few lopsided matches as possible, while balancing the constraint above of not having too many tiers. That said, there are MANY players who could be in 2 different tiers. To date, we have, for the most part, let people decide this on their own. Would you prefer to be much more competitive in a worse tier or lose pretty handily in a better tier? That’s a question we didn’t want to have to answer for each person individually. It’s a psychological question of whether you want to be a big fish in a small pond or get eaten up by the sharks in Tier 1. And while I know guys want to “play better players to get better,” I am really not sure how losing 6-0, 6-0 makes you better. But hey, different strokes for different folks, I guess. As far as the tournament goes, this is going to be big topic in the offseason. Tier 1 had too many people. There were too many blowouts. Too many matches that were not competitive. At the same time, maybe that’s ok? That’s a question for later.
Here’s a question for now. Why do you want to play in a better tier? What’s driving you to do that? Is that your ego saying, “what will people think if I played in Tier 2?” Or do you genuinely believe that’s where you belong? Let me tell you something, Tier 2 is super competitive. I am all for challenging yourself but you need to honest about where you belong.
And wow, once you ask yourself that question here, it starts to get really slippery. Where do you really belong? That question manifests in so many different ways that I can’t even begin to delve into it, or we’d never get to the scores. Are you in the right line of work? Do you daven in the right place? Are you hanging out with the right crowd? All questions people may be asking themselves. For now, maybe just try to figure out what the right tier is for you. Follow your instinct, and the rest will fall into place.
Tennis
Tier 1
This past Wednesday was one of the most memorable days in WITT in recent memory. (Well, for those of us who look at the scores on an hourly basis.)
I really try to diversify where the Match and Player of the Week come from. But I can’t look past Joseph Skydell vs Yossi Farraday for this week’s two hour and forty five minute Match of the Week.
I will turn it over to Skydell for the recap.
Yossi is a tremendous player, and this was an awesome match. He won the first set 6–4 and was up 4–2 in the second. I clawed my way back to 4-4, at which point we were joined by some spectators—the Dubin brothers and Momo Schlam—which added life to the match. The pressure of all the fans weighed on me early and I fell behind serving at 0-40. Somehow, I managed to dig deep and fend off those 3 break points to hold serve. That propelled me to take the second set 6–4. I went up early in the super tiebreak and held on to win 10–6. Just a great match.
After the match, Farraday had this to say. “It really stings now. I had him down and thought I would close it out. But honestly, this was the most fun I have ever had playing tennis in my life. (Editor’s Note: Actual quote!)
Just a few short hours after that, Dovid Blum and Michael Pfeifer faced off in their tier 1 matchup. Let’s go to Blum for the recap.
Despite playing at night under the lights of Court 1, Blum came out of the gate half asleep. That led to a ton of unforced errors, and Pfeifer capitalized, as he always does, playing super clean tennis point after point. After falling behind 5–0, Blum finally got on the board, but Pfeifer took the next game and the set.
Maybe that unintentional rope-a-dope worked, because Blum started the second set playing smarter—charging the net, putting forehands away, and racing out to a 3–0 lead. Pfeifer cut it to 3–1, but Blum closed it out 6–2.
Seems like a pattern—Blum’s two sets are often so lopsided that it confuses his opponent going into the tiebreak. Blum raced to a 3–0 lead, but Pfeifer battled back. It was back and forth the whole tiebreak with long rallies. Blum maintained a one-point lead but never led by more than two. At 8–7, Blum buried an inside-out forehand that clipped the net and dropped in to go up 9–7. One last rally and a Pfeifer slice sailed wide—Blum pulled it out.
Many considered this to be a huge upset, with Pfeifer being one of the favorites to win WITT this year. That win gives Blum this week’s Player of the Week.
Finally, Mark Spivak defeated Pinny Solomon in straight sets. Said Spivak. “I don’t think I have ever beaten Max Sternberg, my next opponent. But listen, this is a different Mark Spivak than he has played in the past. He’s never beaten this version of me either.” The winner will take on Blum in the Quarterfinals.
Tier 1B
Eitan Shoshan vs. Jack Jacobowitz
Shoshan continued his winning ways with a victory moving him to the next round. Said Shoshan after the match, “Jack is a very good player—he’s 25 years old. I thought for sure I was going to lose. But then, all of a sudden, my serve was on, and he couldn’t handle it. I haven’t served like that in 5 years. WITT has turned into the fountain of youth for me this year.”
Tier 2
Shmuli Mendel vs Josh Hill
Mendel continued his winning ways as he advanced in the tournament. Here is Mendel with the brief recap:
Josh really came out firing with his first serve. After taking a 2–0 lead, I figured it out and took the next six games. In the second set, he had me on the ropes with a 3–1 lead, ready to go up 4–1—but just fell apart. Lost to the more consistent player, 6–3. Closer match than the score shows!
Yossi Tabak defeated Haim Kramer in a Match of the Week nominee! Here is Tabak with the update.
Wow. After a long first set that was a true see-saw battle, I jumped out to a 3–0 lead—only to suddenly find myself down 5–6. I had my best service game of the match to force a tiebreak, but quickly fell behind 2–5. I fought back, got two consecutive net shots to fall my way, and managed to close out the tiebreak.
I didn’t want to fold. I won the next game but couldn’t take the fourth—it had about five deuces before the second set slipped away. Then came the 10-point super tiebreak. More of the same drama. Haim opened with a blistering ace and went up 5–2. Having been knocked out in WIPT, I refused to give in. I clawed back to 7–7, and that’s when experience kicked in. I managed to finish it off 11–9.
Tier 2B
Daniel Goldberg vs. Gerry Kovan
To Goldberg with the recap!
Kovan won the toss and elected to receive. The first game felt like its own mini-match, with Kovan winning after half a dozen deuces. The set went back and forth and into a tiebreak, which Goldberg edged out 7–5. In the second set, Goldberg raced to a 3–0 lead, but Kovan tied it at 4–4. Goldberg broke to go up 5–4 and then held serve to close it 6–4 and move forward.
Eric Taub vs Willy Beer
If there was someone else who was eligible for this week’s Player of the Week, it would be Eric Taub. From zero WITT victories ever to two in a row! A winning streak?!
Taub was very gracious in victory. “Willy is a solid player, but I played a more consistent match. Moved him around the court and came up with the big points when I needed them. On to the next match.”
Tier 3
Arie Blum continues his winning ways as well as he defeated Yaakov Schattner.
Two-hour match. Another crazy battle for me after my nearly three-hour match just three days ago! Yaakov had to battle me—and also his two kids, who kept asking patiently when they were going home. Yaakov is a true mensch. Really enjoyed playing him. Super tough player. Stayed in the match the whole time.
Shloime Cohen squeaks by Baruch White
“It was basically a table tennis match, just on a bigger court,” Said Cohen after the match. “I conserved my legs during the second set, then somehow found the strength to push through in the super tiebreak. He’s a great table tennis player too.”
Tier 3B
Nachi Sonnenblick vs. Yechezkel Hartman
Sonnenblick was overjoyed with the victory;.
It’s nice to finally see my hard work pay off on the tennis court. I did change my approach—my 2-year-old has me studying the great philosophers Piggie and Gerald. Gerald says success comes from “skill and practice,” while Piggie counters that the secret is to “have fun.” I’ve tried to focus more on the fun—and it seems to be working.
As for the match, Yechezkel is a great competitor—had me running all over the court. I was also impressed to hear he runs a morning kollel before work. Definitely worth checking out!
Tier 4
Tier 4 seems to be running through Eytan Mishkoff who defeated Gilad Rosenberg. After Mishkoff took the first set 6–0, Rosenberg tried to mount a second set comeback in the light rain but fell short, 6–3.
Pickleball
Tier 1
Solomon/Solomon delivered a commanding performance against Bernson/Shurin, cruising to a straight-game victory. They came out sharp in the opening game, mixing steady dinking with well-timed banging to control the pace and take it 11–6. In the second, their net play and aggressive drives kept their opponents on the defensive, leading to an 11–3 win. By the third game, Solomon/Solomon were in full rhythm, using patient dinks to set up big finishing shots and closing out the match 11–2 to complete the sweep.
Abittan/Farkas battled past Markfeld/Schlessel in a hard-fought four-game match. The opening game was tight, with both teams trading points before Abittan/Farkas found an extra gear late to edge it 11–9. They carried that momentum into the second, taking control early and pulling away for an 11–5 win. Markfeld/Schlessel responded in the third, stepping up their play and capitalizing on key opportunities to claim it 11–5. But in the fourth, Abittan/Farkas regrouped, tightened up their game, and closed out the match convincingly, 11–4.
Dubin/Dubin opened the match with crisp play and strong communication, jumping ahead early and securing the first game 11–5. Krebs/Lovy refused to back down, tightening up their defense and edging out the second game 11–7 to even things up. That wake-up call sparked Dubin/Dubin, who came out firing in the third, dictating points and cruising to an 11–2 win. They kept their foot on the gas in the fourth, maintaining control and closing out the match 11–7 to seal the 3–1 victory.
Tier 1B
Match of the Week – Abittan/Burger vs. Sicklick/Sicklick
In what may have been the most dramatic battle of the season, Abittan/Burger edged out Sicklick/Sicklick in a thrilling five-game showdown. The Sicklicks came out blazing, taking the opener 11–5 and then absolutely dominating the second 11–0, leaving Abittan/Burger reeling. But the momentum swung sharply in game three, as Abittan/Burger tightened their defense, found their rhythm, and answered back with an 11–6 win. They kept the pressure on in the fourth, pulling away late for an 11–7 victory to force a deciding game.
The fifth was an instant classic — long rallies, clutch points, and both teams refusing to give an inch. With the score knotted at 10–10, Abittan/Burger dug deep, winning the next two points to complete the incredible comeback and take the match 12–10.
Tier 2
Team of the Week – Feit/Young
Feit/Young earned Team of the Week honors with a composed and convincing win over Fischbein/Lefkowitz. After dropping the opening game 11–6, they quickly regrouped, adjusting their strategy and finding their groove. From there, they took control of the match — winning the next three games 11–6, 11–5, and 11–4 — with smart shot selection, steady play, and strong teamwork. It was a poised response to early adversity and a statement victory that secured their place as this week’s top team.
Please get out there and schedule those matches.
And of course—have a great week ahead!
Uri
Tisha B’Av is upon us. Personally, the year feels often very cyclical and routine to me. Every year, we do the same thing: sit on the floor, go through the Kinnos. It’s a pretty sad day. Then there are a few weeks before we get back to Elul, the Yomim Noraim, Sukkos, a lull before Chanukah, then back to Purim, Pesach, Shavuos… and then back to the Three Weeks. Rinse and repeat. Right? I just feel like, “Oh, back to Tisha B’Av. I feel like I just did that one.”
I don’t know if anyone else feels that way about the year, but it often leaves me feeling uninspired. Are we just doing the same thing again, in the same way we did it last year? Well, the answer is no – we’re not. Sometimes we don’t even realize that we aren’t, but we aren’t. A year older, a year wiser, with more experience. If you look at the way you approached Tisha B’Av 10 years ago versus now, I can guarantee it’s not the same. Even from last year to this year, it’s not the same. It’s just not that easy to see or feel.
I think sometimes we need to tell ourselves that things are different in order to actually believe it. And hopefully that gives us chizuk. That’s not to say we should rely on this “reality,” but the sheer assumption that we are, in fact, developing in how we approach the important days in our calendar should be somewhat comforting to all of us.
Very similarly, everyone in this tournament is getting better at tennis and pickleball. You are progressing just by playing. Your strokes are more consistent, and your ability to strategize has improved. Whether or not you realize it, it is undoubtedly true. Not only that, if you are more cordial and friendly on the court, you are improving your middos without even realizing.
In this day and age, we want to count everything. We live in a quantitative society where everything needs to be measured. The Gemara in Avodah Zarah (daf 19) quotes Rava, who explains that a person who learns just a little bit at a time and reviews what he does will increase his learning. To me, that means even the little bit that we do—if we do it well—brings us growth, progress, and hopefully sets us up for future success in whatever we do.
As we approach this year’s Tisha B’Av, let us all take solace in that fact: that we are growing, that we are progressing, and that we are improving in so many aspects of our lives—even if we don’t always see it. May Hashem bless us all with that chizuk as we embark upon the holy month of Elul and the Yomim Noraim.
Tennis
Tier 1
Lots of action everywhere, as Tier 1 started off with a bang. All of the favorites took a step forward in the tournament.
Let’s begin with Yaron Markfeld, who defeated Avi “The Sneaky Syrian” Esses in straight sets, 6–3, 6–3. “Yeah, I mean Esses is not much competition for me. I totally obliterated him. My forehand is far superior, and his serve is okay, but let’s be honest, what’s his first serve percentage? It can’t be more than 25% on a good day. I’m looking for a real challenge.”
Defending champion Dovid Rackman defeated Sandy Klein in straight sets, as he sets his sights on a third straight WITT title. “Just tell me who to play, please. I can’t keep track of this very complicated bracket.”
Chaim Pfeifer and Max Sternberg have their sights set on each other in a potential quarterfinal round matchup. “That should be a tough one,” said Pfeifer. “But I’m not looking past Dovid Blum. When you look up the word ‘athlete’ in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Yeshiva League legend, Dovid Blum. That should be a good one.”
Blum advanced past WITT fan favorite Jonathan Brody in a super tiebreak.
Blum jumped out to a 4–0 lead, eventually going up 5–2. Perhaps distracted by a flurry of Mets trades—and Brody finally getting his legs under him and landing drop shots—Brody won the next three games to tie things up 5–5. Blum recomposed himself (possibly encouraged by the Mets bullpen acquisitions) and closed out the set 7–5. (Editor’s Note: Blum loves inserting those Mets references. I’m a big Met fan myself, so I left them in. I am sure it had zero impact on the match, but sure, why not.)
Brody came out sharp in the second set as Blum’s errors started to mount. Brody raced out to a 4–1 lead, but Blum won the next two to make it 4–3. Brody steadied his game, forced Blum to hit extra shots, and showcased great touch on drop shots, taking the set 6–3 to force a super tiebreak. Due to time constraints, the players moved to a different court, and maybe a change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered for Blum. Trading early points, Blum used his forehand to grab an 8–4 lead and closed it out, 10–4.
Said Brody after the match, “We really need to lobby for a third set. I had all the momentum and then had to play a super tiebreak. I mean, come on.” (Editor’s Note: Is it me, or should momentum carry into a super tiebreak the same way it carries into a third set?)
Yossi Farraday defeated last year’s Tier 1 finalist Uri Burger in straight sets. After winning the first set 6–2, Farraday fell into a 4–0 deficit before storming back. “I thought I played very well,” said the 27-year-old lefty from Australia. “I struck the ball very cleanly and was able to outlast the Commissioner. But he’s a terrific guy. I just can’t say enough about what he does for the tournament and the community. I’ve heard about this tournament for a number of years and I’m so happy I finally decided to join.” (Editor’s Note: Thanks bud! I think you’re a great guy too!)
Eitan Agbashoff took on Dani Sirkis in a wild affair. After dropping the first set 6–4, Sirkis fought all the way back to force a tiebreak in the second set. Back and forth they went until Sirkis finally pulled it out 9–7. He would need to win another tiebreak to take the match. Up 9–5, it looked like he was cruising until Agbashoff made his move. Fighting off four straight match points, he tied it at 9–9. After multiple chances on both sides, Agbashoff pulled out the 13–11 win to set up a second-round showdown with Yaakov Abittan.
“Very emotional match for me,” said Agbashoff. “I really think my victory over Momo Schlam in group play helped mentally prepare me for this one.” That gritty comeback gives Agbashoff this week’s Player of the Week.
This week’s Match of the Week was a rematch of last year’s Tier 1B finals between Mordy (Joshua?) Jacobs vs David Feder. Let’s send it to Feder for the recap.
This one had it all. The first set was a war with games traded back and forth, with most going to multiple deuces. Neither gladiator could close. Jacobs went up 6–5 with Feder serving, and after what felt like the 6th or 7th deuce and multiple set points, Feder managed to hold, forcing a tiebreak. He took an early lead and never looked back, winning it 7–4. First set to Feder. A quick glance at the pointset bell let us know we were already 1.5 hours in.
The second set picked up right where the first left off: back and forth again. Jacobs led 5–4 with Feder serving, and this time he wouldn’t be denied—he broke Feder’s serve to force a super tiebreak.
Both players started the breaker tentatively, trading mini-breaks. At 6–5 Feder, he made his final push—pulling ahead and closing it out 10–6.
A quick check of the official Rolex-sponsored clock (how about it, Commish?) showed a marathon finish time: 2 hours, 55 minutes.
Tier 1B
Three matches were played this week.
Saul (Shauli?) Friedman defeated Moshe Pilevsky in straight sets. Said Pilevsky, “I just didn’t have the serve working the way I wanted today. Maybe I need to start taking more time between serves.”
Noam Mishkoff defeated Jonathan Stern in a Match of the Week nominee. To Mishkoff for the recap!
Stern hyperextended his knee serving to stay in the first set at 5–4. He continued to serve well despite the injury and took the first set in a tiebreak. Mishkoff had the only break in the second set and held serve to take it 6–3. After nearly two hours of play, the super tiebreak began at 10:52 p.m.—with the lights scheduled to shut off at 11.
Stern went up 5–2, but Mishkoff rattled off four straight to take a 6–5 lead. After trading points, Mishkoff closed it out 10–8.
“After I dropped the first set, I thought I was toast. But I’ve won this tournament before. I knew I was down but not out.”
Tier 2
Tier 2 will be very competitive. A lot of good players—all with a chance.
Ephraim Lowy showed he’ll be a force with a straight-set win over Ami Glassberg. “I think I got a tough group, but make no mistake—I’m in it to win it.”
They played Tuesday in the heat. Glassberg took Game 1 before Lowy won six straight to take the set. Lowy jumped out to a 3–1 lead in Set 2, but Glassberg stormed back for a 4–3 lead. It looked like he might force a third set, but Lowy ground out a 6–4 win in the blistering heat.
Lowy will face off against Jacob Dubin, who defeated the incomparable BJ Frankel in straight sets.
Shmuel Zoldan took on Shragi Bernson. Here’s Zoldan with the recap:
A combination of feeling bad about Yosef Moskowitz potentially having to forfeit and tremendous hakaras hatov to Dovid and Uri landed us at Point Set Friday morning. Bernson had to reschedule an appointment, and I had to willingly miss two hours of the trading day. As for the match, we utilized the full 1.5 hours, so the score doesn’t reflect the great rallies we had. With a few key points—and Bernson not utilizing his great net game enough—I was able to pull away in both sets.
That set up Zoldan to take on Moskowitz.
Here’s Moskowitz:
Shmuel is a warrior. He went out of his way to play on short notice. He’s absolutely relentless hunting down balls deep and short. Putting him away is no easy feat. The match was a marathon. I squeezed by 6–3 in a tight first set. In the second, I went up 3–0, but he came back and won four straight. At 5–4, he started to cramp. At 5–5, he was gutting it out, but the cramping was too much, and I squeaked by 7–5. Great match with a tremendous competitor.
“Between tennis and pickleball, I have a lot of matches to play in very little time,” said Moskowitz, who is very devoted to the tournament but somehow always away at the most inopportune times. “I hope to be there September 2nd—assuming I’m around.”
Finally, Eli Mishaan took on Yehud Konig in a rematch from group play.
Konig has the recap.
Much like our previous match, this was a hard-fought battle, with most games going to multiple deuces and advantages. The players battled for nearly two hours once again. In the first set, Mishaan took an early 1–0 lead, and the players traded service games and breaks to even things at 2–2. Konig then took control, breaking Mishaan, holding serve, and closing out the first set 6–2.
The second set opened with a marathon twenty-minute game, ultimately won by Konig. But Mishaan wouldn’t back down—he took the next three games to go up 3–1. Konig stormed back to take a 4–3 lead. Mishaan, never one to go quietly, tied it up at 4–4, but alas, Konig took the next two games to escape with the win.
Tier 2B
Great match between Sendy Berger and Mordechai Beren. Here is Berger on the recap.
The first set took about 1:20. Intense battle. Most games went to deuce—some felt like ten deuces per game. Mordechai killed the second set, completely elevating his level. The tiebreak was another back-and-forth battle.
Tier 3
Adam Goodstein defeated David Atkin and provided the recap.
Conditions were tough—humidity, a drying court, and gardeners running tools mid-match. Goodstein took the first set with each game going to deuce. Atkin blew him out in the second. But the tiebreak swung the other way, and Goodstein took it with little drama.
Raphi Basalely over Dov Singer. Thank you to Basalely for the recap!
“I went up 4–0. Dov came back to tie it 4–4, but I finished the set 6–4. He went up 3–1 in the second, I rallied to 6–4 and served it out. Dov’s a great, sweet guy.”
Tani Renov over Steven Feldman
Close match. Renov went up 4–2 in the first set, but Feldman came back to take it 7–5. Renov again went up 4–2 in the second, and this time held on before taking the super tiebreak.
Tier 3B
Yechezkel Hartman vs David Kaye
Hartman led 4–2 in the first before Kaye tied it 5–5. Hartman composed himself and took it 7–5. The second was all Hartman. Kaye’s 10-year hiatus showed. “It was a tough game under the scorching sun,” said Hartman. “To my surprise and amazement, David kept playing with every drop of energy until the end. He’s a true warrior!”
Pickleball
Tier 1
This week’s Match of the Week was a real doozy and is a sign for what’s to come in this Tournament.
Itzkowitz/Seewald survived a rollercoaster five-game match against Davidowitz/Slansky in what was one of the most dramatic battles of the week. They came out firing, taking the first two games convincingly (11–3, 11–6), looking poised for a sweep. But Davidowitz/Slansky weren’t done. After facing a match point at 10-9, they stormed back with a gritty 12–10 win in Game 3 and a dominant 11–0 shutout in Game 4 to even the match. With all the momentum seemingly shifted, Itzkowitz/Seewald dug deep and responded in the decider, closing it out 11–8 to take the match and punch their ticket to the next round.
“That was a gritty win. Credit to our opponents. They pushed us to find another gear today,” said Itzkowitz after the match.
“We had to dig deep in that last one, after we got pickled. It’s wins like these that build momentum for the rest of the tournament. Now we are going to recover and get ready for next round.”
Tier 1B
It looks like Tier 1B may be going through the team of Yeruchum Brazil and Stevie Fruchter who win their first round match convincingly. We spent some time with Fruchter after the match, and he had a lot to say.
“Well, let me just say first, that now that my partner and I were both eliminated from the tennis tournament, we can really begin to focus on pickleball. The truth is that I think this might be where my true calling is. I really identify with the people I have met playing pickleball and feel a real kinship towards the players I see when I am playing at XPO. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I am ALL IN on pickleball!”
Tier 2
Meanwhile, the team of BJ Frenkel and Zalmy Schiowitz proved they may be the team to beat in Tier 2!
After a scare in Game 2, Team Frenkel/Schiowitz regrouped and took Game 3 to sweep. They fell behind early but traded service games to keep things close. Down 6–7, Zalmy checked his watch and said, “Enough is enough—I need to get home.” They rattled off five straight points and closed it out. This team is officially the one to beat.
With their continuing momentum through the Knockouts, Frenkel and Schiowitz are this week’s Pickleball Team of the Week.
Please get out there and schedule those matches.
Wishing everyone an easy and meaningful fast.
And of course, have a great week ahead!
Uri
What a great event this week! Just a great time all around. As Aryeh pointed out in his remarks, it was a really diverse crowd in so many ways. I grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, which used to be a thriving Ashkenaz Jewish community. But between housing prices there and the growth of more suburban communities like the Five Towns, it’s really a shell of what used to be there. That change really started as I got older, and so a lot of my friends in the community were actually my school friends’ grandparents. I loved the heterogeneity in the shul, and I think it really impacted my own personal growth and development.
One of the goals of the tournament is to break down the barriers that exist in our neighborhood. There is quite a bifurcation, understandably so, based on a whole host of factors. Nonetheless, it brought me a lot of personal gratification to have an event like that, and I think Aryeh really hit the nail on the head.
This week’s double parsha of Matos-Masei discusses the various travels that Bnei Yisroel took through the midbar. Rashi points out it’s like a king who goes to the doctor and recounts all the stops on their journey. If you haven’t yet looked, check out WITT’s travels through the years. As I sat there during the dinner, I couldn’t help but remember the early years of matches to 10 games with only one tier. The shirts, the towels, and everything that brought us to the moment we got to on Tuesday night. So many matches, emails,dinners, and finals at Point Set that culminated in such a beautiful event for the tournament.
And the best part is, the story is not close to over. We will continue to travel through all of our own journeys, both personally and collectively, as we continue to write the book of WITT. A few of us have joked that one day they’ll put out the 30 for 30 documentary on WITT. (By the way, if you want to do that project, please let me know.) It’s been a great ride. This year we’re at the halfway mark. Knockout rounds are already underway. There’s a lot of pickleball and tennis left to play.
Traditionally, I do not write much for this week. Instead, I am excited to present this year’s annual KNOCKOUT ROUND PODCAST FEATURING MOISH FRANCESA. If you don’t know Moish, check out his Twitter (X) handle. He has some great stuff.
Notwithstanding that podcast preview, I will include one match in this week’s write-up. I am not officially going to don it the Match of the Week, but you can.
Yaakov Abittan and Stevie Fruchter took to the courts in a first-round Tier 1 matchup for the ages. Fruchter woke up early to grab a quick Heaven in a Cup from La Chocolat followed by two donuts from Gotta Getta Bagel. He was ready to play.
The first set was back and forth. Fruchter’s grinding play forced Abittan into many errors, as he just did not have the patience to deal with Fruchter. Back and forth they went, and Abittan was able to settle down and force the first set tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Fruchter went up 6–4, only to yield both set-point opportunities to Abittan. At 7–6 Fruchter, he decided he wanted to take a short break—maybe to play mind games with the younger Abittan. That strategy worked perfectly, as Abittan put a volley right into the net. First set to Fruchter.
The second set looked to be in Fruchter’s hands once again, as he jumped to a 5–3 lead. But Abittan would not give up. 5–4, 5–5, 6–5 Abittan. Set to Abittan. Four straight games.
Unfortunately for Fruchter, the super tiebreak would be no better for him, as Abittan won handily.
“I had it 5–3. I needed to close that out. I just didn’t do it. Kudos to him. He was great. Physically, I had nothing left. Should have gone for hot dogs this morning, but I thought it was too early.”
That comeback gives Abittan this week’s Player of the Week.
You can see all the scores and brackets on our website PLAYWITT.com. I will not be sending all the scores as part of the email.
Please get out there and schedule those matches.
And of course, have a great week ahead!
Uri
When you think of Pinchas, you usually picture someone who stood up and did what he knew was right. He took action when no one else did. That same theme of taking action continues in this week’s parsha with the בנות צלפחד, who felt they were being wronged by not receiving an inheritance simply because they had no brothers. Both Pinchas and the daughters of צלפחד acted on their convictions—and were rewarded for it.
I’ve always admired people of action. The real doers. The ones who don’t sit back waiting for someone else to take charge. The ones who step up in our shuls and schools, who set up and clean up Shalosh Seudos week after week—quietly, consistently, and often without thanks. The ones who look for opportunities to help others when no one else does. And yes, of course, the ones who play their matches without needing to be chased down.
The first half of the parsha revolves around this theme: don’t wait around hoping things will work out. Do something about it! I remember learning פרקי אבות when I was younger, especially the lines אם לא עכשיו, אימתי? (If not now, when?) and אם אין אני לי, מי לי? (If I am not for myself, who will be for me?). These are the foundations of action—statements that challenge us to step up for ourselves and for each other. They are really things I think about each and every day. What am I waiting for? Do I expect someone else to do it? Why can’t I just do it myself?
As we continue through the 3 weeks, think about what you can do. Maybe it’s helping someone in need. Maybe it’s being a little kinder to your spouse or to your children. Or maybe it’s just doing a little more than you’ve been doing, both on or off the court. Whether it’s complimenting your opponent’s shot or simply being a more encouraging teammate, there’s always more we can do.
It’s time we all ask ourselves, what else can I do before Tisha B’Av?
Tennis
Tier 1
We are getting closer and closer to the knockout round, and I can almost taste it! There is a lot of seeding to be determined, and there are still wildcards to be had. As a reminder, there are 32 players who will advance to Tier 1 and there are 13 groups. That means 6 of the 13 players who finished 3rd in their group will advance to the knockout round. The other 20 will drop to Tier 1B.
Everyone wants a slot in Tier 1, including Baruch Weinstein, who took care of Jonathan Stern in straight sets. “I was told if I won in straight sets, I’d be advancing to the big dance. I hope that’s true.” Well, it does look like Big Bad Bo will get his wish, as of right now.
Meanwhile, Marc(ky) Gibber and Maxwell Sternberg both finished up group play with wins this week. Gibber finished dropping 9 games and is slightly ahead of Sternberg who dropped 10 games for the last 1 seed in the tournament. The other 3 firmly belong to Michael Pfeifer, Joseph Skydell, and Yaron Markfeld. “I am hoping to lock up that fourth 1 seed,” said Gibber. “But I do have my eye on Stevie Fruchter. I know he is looming. Honestly, Fruchter always seems to be looming.” (Editor’s Note: Fruchter defeated Adam Feit in a super tiebreak after this email was compiled. That solidifies Gibber as the last 1 seed.)
Mark Spivak finished up his group play with wins over Eitan Shoshan and the Sneaky Syrian, Avi Esses. “It’s a real international field we have here, with the Frenchman and the Syrian.” Spivak hopes to continue his domination in the knockout round where he will have a 3 seed.
Another hopeful is Anthony Jonathan Lallouz (Editor’s Note: Do people call you AJ? Can I call you AJ?), who defeated Pinny Salamon in straight sets. “Very good tournament so far, but I know the toughest matches are yet to come.”
Max Schlesinger won his Tier 1 group for the first time, going 3-0 in group play. “What can I say, other than hard work really pays off. I am overjoyed for me and my team with my performance in WITT this year.”
There were two important matches with wildcard implications—both came down to the wire. Eitan Gettenberg dropped the first set to Yehuda Schattner 6-4, but stormed back to take the second set 7-5. A back-and-forth super tiebreak ultimately led to a Gettenberg victory, 10-8. “A really grueling match,” said Gettenberg. “I feel fortunate to have pulled it out.”
After a dominant first set from Moshe Pilevsky, Momo Schlam regrouped to take the second and edged out a hard-fought super tiebreak, 11–9, in one of the closest matches of the week. “It took me a while to adjust to the length of time he takes between serves,” said Schlam. “The pace of play in the first set was kind of slow for my liking. But I figured it out.”
Tier 2
Elie Mishaan notched his victory of the tournament over Yoni Frieling. Mishaan was satisfied with the victory. “No more jokes about the injuries. It’s time to get serious.”
Joe Rosen with a convincing victory over Tier 2 mainstay Yeruchum Brazil. “Great guy to play with. His brother’s a great guy too! Really enjoyed it all!” Said Brazil after the match, “It was winnable, but the heat was an issue for me. It could be that when you hit a certain age, it’s probably better to play indoors for these long matches.”
Boruch Pfeifer with a convincing victory over Meir Kramer. Said Pfeifer, “People ask me about the other Pfeifer in this tournament. Don’t worry about him. I taught him everything he knows anyway.”
Tier 3
Lots of straight sets wins this week in Tier 3. Zalmy Schiowitz locked up his group with a victory over Ike Hersch. “Unfortunately, I had to retire from softball because it was very strenuous. Instead, I have decided to devote all my time to only non-contact sports like tennis and pickleball. So far so good.” (Editor’s note: I have played softball with Zalmy for years. He can hit the ball SOOO far. I cannot understand why he stopped playing softball but continues to play tennis. All of them are non-contact sports. And yes, the non-contact sport line is an actual quote. I have been wondering about this for weeks. Zalmy. Great guy.)
Jonathan Moskowitz defeated Adam Goller, who was fresh off a broken foot. “If you want to know what a warrior looks like, go no further than Adam Goller. Coming off a broken foot injury, he wasn’t even able to wear tennis sneakers. He battled for 2 hours and ran down every ball. He made a late run in the second set, but some bounces did not go his way.” Incredible commitment to the tournament for Goller, who will, hopefully, be finishing all three of his matches before the deadline despite being in a cast for most of June and July. Sometimes you don’t need to win your matches to be the Player of the Week. For his commitment to the tournament, Adam Goller is this week’s Player of the Week.
Hard to not mention one particular player in Tier 3 who has really started to stand out in Tier 3. After a statement victory over Dov Singer, Yossi “You can call me Joe” Spencer, continued his winning ways with a victory over David Atkin as well. “The stats speak for themselves. I don’t need to be Player of the Week. I am going to be Player of the Tournament.” Strong statements from Tier 3 Spencer, but he has the confidence we like to see out of new players. “I look at some of my idols in the tournament like Cross River Champion Mark Spivak, and I know I can get to that level. It’s just going to take me some time. I hope to be playing 2 courts away from him on Tuesday night, September 2nd.”
Tier 4
Let’s turn to Chaim Langer for this week’s Tennis Write-Up of the Week, as he took on Yehuda Wrubel.
The Church Open. Epic battle between two friends, neighbors, and practice partners. Wrubel started the first set strong, up 4-1 with a devastating forehand pushing Langer all over the court. Langer fought back, chipping away to tie it 6-6 before ultimately prevailing in the tiebreak. Set 1 took 1:10 and Point Set extended the WITT tournament match on center court an extra 30 minutes. Second set, Langer quickly went up 3-1, but Wrubel adjusted and fought hard to bring it back to 4-5 before Langer was able to inch out a victory. Total match time was 1:55. ESPN quickly labeled it an instant classic to be re-run on ESPN: The Ocho.
Meanwhile, a tough week for Seth Farbman, who lost two nail-biters in super tiebreakers to Jonathan Lauer and Avi Hirsch. Said Farbman, “My thing is the sideline jumper from 12 feet away. I’ve really perfected that shot. Still working on this whole tennis thing. But meeting Avi and Jonathan was fantastic.” Still, his 10-6 Super Tiebreak defeat was a Tier 4 match for the ages. “It was a real grind for me,” said Lauer. “But this was for sure Match of the Week potential.” Tier 4? Sure. Why not.
Pickleball
Tier 1
I am not wasting any time here. This week’s Pickleball Write-Up of the Week and Match of the Week comes from the one and only Dov Slansky and Mo Davidowitz.
GROUP H FIRST ROUND FINALE: AN EPIC FIVE-GAME THRILLER FOR THE AGES
In the hallowed cauldron of Court 2 at Pickleball Plus, the final match of Group H’s first round transcended mere competition and became a battle of will, sweat, and destiny.
On one side stood Konig and Baratz—no strangers to the art of the racquet. Konig, a tennis stalwart with a surgically precise forehand, and Baratz, a longtime racquetball star whose reflexes are honed on the private court in his own backyard, entered the arena with gravitas and reputation.
Facing them were the hungry, undefeated Mo Davidowitz and Dov Slansky, carrying the weight of a perfect Group H run—and the fire to complete it.
The match began with Davidowitz and Slansky striking first, seizing the opening two games with sharp angles, relentless hustle, and ice in their veins. But champions are not crowned easily.
Konig and Baratz roared back with two thunderous wins, forcing a decisive fifth game, as tension crackled in the air and every point became a battle for survival.
And in that crucible of pressure, Davidowitz and Slansky summoned every ounce of resolve, reclaiming momentum with surgical dinks and fearless attacks at the kitchen line, finally sealing the deciding game in a climactic, hard-fought victory.
The Group H first round closes with Davidowitz and Slansky standing undefeated, having stared down experience, home-court advantage, and momentum swings—and emerging as the clear standard-bearers for the tournament.
A saga of sweat, strategy, and spirit has been written—and the road ahead now stretches even brighter.
The legend of Group H has only just begun.
Welcome to Pickleball, Yaron Markfeld! Two-time tennis champion finally found a new partner—after former Tennis Champion and 7-time semifinalist Dovid Schulman bowed out of the tournament—in the form of Jason Schlessel. They made an immediate statement with two wins over Deutsch/Deutsch and Berger/Unger. “I need people to know I am not a one-trick pony,” said Markfeld. “I can do some other things well too. I am actually hoping for a WITT Jiu Jitsu tournament next year!”
Meanwhile, the Solomons locked up the overall 1 seed and proved themselves as the team to beat in Tier 1. “We are hoping to continue the momentum in the knockout round and hoist the first annual WITT Pickleball Trophy. Putting our name on that trophy would be a real honor for us, and would bring great respect to the family name.”
Tier 2
Aryeh Young and Adam Feit notched a victory over Alan Singer and Ari Kalton. Young, who has spent most of his time playing tennis, is starting to get into pickleball as well. “I enjoy the camaraderie of pickleball. But it’s a different experience. You think people would be interested in a charity pickleball tournament?”
Guys, we are almost done with Group Play. Please try to make every effort to come to the dinner. It really means a lot to me.
Guys, finish playing those matches!
And of course, have a great week ahead!
Uri
I always found Bilam to be such an interesting character. If you were reading this week’s parsha for the first time, you would think Bilam was a great guy. He consistently says, “Whatever Hashem says I should do, I will do.” I mean, it doesn’t get much better than that, right? Obviously, we know from all the meforshim and from the continuation of the story that Bilam‘s motivation is not quite what it appears to be. Which brings us to this week’s thought: motivation. Endless times a day, we make decisions without consciously thinking about our actual motivations. At work, at home, religiously, with friends, we are constantly making decisions without really thinking about what is driving those things. Is it peer pressure? Is it ego-driven? Is it to please others around you? Or maybe it’s G-d driven? Don’t get me wrong, it’s exceptionally difficult to be so methodical in your ability to think about the reasons for each of your decisions. But it doesn’t mean you can’t try!
Let’s take a relevant decision as it pertains to this tournament. And let me ask each of you a simple question: Why did you decide to join this tournament? And, maybe more importantly, is that expectation being met?
I will go first. I joined this tournament to meet new guys in the neighborhood. I like walking around and knowing different people. It brings me a sense of comfort and belonging, and energetically, it brings me a lot of chiyus. It impacts me positively and carries through to the rest of my day. I’ve had matches against Justin Hirmes, David Feder, and Eli Lorber, all guys I would not have spent 90 minutes (or in David‘s case A LOT more) with otherwise. I really enjoyed spending the time with each of them.
What was your motivation? Would love for you to respond to this and let me know.
Tier 1
There were a bunch of matches this week, but honestly, nothing was overly exciting. Zero matches went to tiebreakers or super tiebreaks. There were a handful of 7-5 and 6-4 sets, so that’s something. Let’s run through some of them quickly.
Howie Hershkovich defeated Eitan Gettenberg, and then promptly took a flight to Israel for the next month. “I’m going to be doing some training over there for the knockout round. That’s all I have planned for a month. Oh, and a trip to Herzliya. But that’s really it.”
Michael Pfeifer and Joseph Skydell both finished off their group play, each securing a #1 seed in the knockout tournament and tying for #1 overall seed, a distinction that comes with no additional prize. Said Pfeifer, “I know Dovid Schulman usually is at the top of Tier 1, but he had to withdraw due to injury. My heart goes out to him and his team who I know put in a lot of work. He’s a real inspiration to all WITT players.” Skydell chimed in as well, “I do appreciate the opening in the semifinals that will now be available to the rest of us. He seemed to be a mainstay there every year!”
Jonathan Brody finished up his group play without having to be nudged at all to play his matches, which basically already makes the tournament a huge success! “Yea, yea, I got all my matches in. More importantly, I played well and am looking forward to what’s to come. I will say that I have this thing in my house called Normatec, which has been a real gamechanger for me. If my legs and arms hold up, I plan on hoisting that trophy. Bottom line though, at my age, I need to heal very fast.” Brody is 32 years old.
Eitan Agbashoff weathered a storm from Moshe Pilevsky as he won 7-5, 7-5 and secured the #2 spot in his group. “Just a couple of old guys out there pounding the ball. Happy to have pulled through.”
Welcome to 2025 WITT Stevie Fruchter! Fruchter finally got on the court and defeated Davening Dov Kramer in straight sets. “Let’s just say I am battling a lot of injuries. I’ve just been taping everything up though, so I am all good.”
Tier 2
Remember how I said that Tier 1 was kind of boring this past week? Tier 2 was quite the opposite! About half of the matches went to super tiebreaks, and three of those finished 11-9. (Editor’s Note: Guys, tiebreakers are ALWAYS win by 2. ALWAYS.)
I’m not exactly sure where to start and frankly all of these are Match of the Week nominees. But I’m giving the Match of the Week nod to Ami Glassberg vs Elie Mishaan. Why? Because Mishaan actually finished a match! (I mean, basically — see related editor’s note above from end of previous paragraph.)
Glassberg took the first set 6-3 but Mishaan, who recently hurt his finger by high-fiving his 8-year-old son, fought through the pain and came back to win the second set 7-5. He jumped out to the lead in the super tiebreak, pushing it to 9-7 before being unable to close out. “Just a crazy match that took forever,” said Glassberg. Mishaan was just overjoyed at finishing. “I think you need to appreciate the victories you have. I didn’t think I’d be able to finish a match, let alone one so grueling like this. But I feel great. Really was able to push through after pulling out my back when I was picking up my son’s toy off the floor.”
This week’s Player of the Week is none other than Avi Jacobs. A real threat to win Tier 2, he battled back from a 6-2 defeat in the first set against Avi Singer before winning the second set 6-2, setting up the super tiebreak. After a back-and-forth battle tied at 9, Jacobs was able to dig deep and pull out the 11-9 victory. “My brother was once in a super tiebreak against the great Stevie Fruchter and double-faulted late. I knew I needed to step up.”
Jacobs followed that win with an equally impressive victory over Shmuel Zoldan. A pair of 6-3 sets in either direction was followed by a Jacobs 10-5 win in the super tiebreak. “These are the kind of reps I need under my belt to get ready for knockout round play.”
Finally, Yossi Tabak took on Ari Ellenberg at Point Set Indoor Stadium. Let’s turn to Tabak for the recap:
This is the first summer I am not playing tennis full time. When I was warming up, I was playing pickleball from the service line. Finally warming up at baseline it took a few minutes to remember how big the court is. I won the toss and served first. I was about to serve underhand backhand serves but decided nah, better not. I had trouble the first two games going down 2-0.
Ari has a nice game. Good forehand, good backhand. I felt like ‘oy vey, I’m in trouble!’ Luckily, I shook off the pickleball mentality and played slice-and-dice tennis. Drop shots (dinks from the baseline).
I think this got Ari confused. (Editor’s note: You are confusing all of us right now.) I was going to try to sell him a Vulcan paddle but kept quiet. Game got tight but I was able to finish the first set. The second set was more of the same: slice it dice it, and dink it. Dink Dink Dink Dink Dink.
In the end, it was too much for my opponent to adjust to. I am sure next time he will be ready for pickled tennis.
Tier 3
In the battle for Aish Kodesh, Eddie “Pickle” Pantiliat took on Benjy “Backhand” Fish. Steady Eddie played his game against Backhand Benjy and took the match in straight sets.
Ben “there before” Goldstein defeated “Ready” Eli Stahler in straight sets, as he locked up his group with 3 wins in group play.
The story of the week for Tier 3 comes from Yoni “I think I can” Kirschner who went 3-0 in group play after a spirited win against Ari “Big Game” Kalton. Kirschner was overjoyed. “I really didn’t think I can do this. Now I have my sights set on something much bigger.”
“Diamond” Dov Singer defeated Ari Cukier in straight sets, showing he will be a force to be reckoned with in the next round as well.
Tier 4
Big win for Yoni “The Brace Master” Bindiger as he bludgeoned Yehuda Wrubel into submission in the super tiebreaker. “Big win” Bindiger will hope to ride this momentum into the knockout round.
“Jumpin” Jonathan Lauer scored a big victory over Avi Hirsch after dropping his opening match to Dan Shekhtikhin. “Tennis is really 90% mental. The other half is physical.”
Gilad Rosenberg and Noah “Wexy” Weichselbaum met up for a big showdown that culminated with a 10-8 super tiebreak for Rosenberg. “It feels good to get this win. Wexy is well known in Tier 4, so this was a big win for me, my family, my team, and my fans all over the world.
By the way, CHECK OUT THE STANDINGS FOR TIER 4 GROUP E!!!!! WILD!!!!
Pickleball
Tier 1
There were a handful of pickleball matches this week. Trigger continued their winning ways against this week’s tennis player of the week, Avi Jacobs, and his brother Mordy Jacobs. Said Mordy after the match. “I was on my way overseas on the wings of an Eagle. This match was hard to focus on.”
Yeruchum Brazil and Stevie Fruchter finally got a win after two disappointing losses. Said Fruchter, “We are ready for Tier 1B. We have our sites set on that trophy.”
Tier 2
A couple of great writeups from Tier 2.
This week’s Write up of the week comes from the always affable BJ Frenkel.
As everyone could have predicted, scheduling the two-man teams—juggling camp, school, vacation, and work—was always going to be the biggest challenge in the inaugural Woodmere Invitational Pickleball Tournament.
That said, Group D was determined to avoid the wrath of Commissioner Burger and made it clear they were ready, willing, and able to play anytime, any day, anywhere to ensure their matches were completed before the deadline.
With an impending vacation for Team Berger and Gamerman, the window for their final group match against Frenkel and Schiowitz was rapidly closing. After a flurry of back-and-forth WhatsApps on Visiting Day Sunday, the choices were bleak: either play in the middle of the night at the 24/7 West Hempstead Pickleball courts, or squeeze in an early Monday morning match after a long drive back from the country.
Opting for as much sleep as possible, the teams agreed to an early morning showdown.
While stuck in Route 17 traffic, Team Frenkel and Schiowitz used the time wisely, consulting tennis—and possibly Pickleball—star Stevie Fruchter. Drawing on his deep experience of blowing leads in two separate matches, Fruchter offered sage advice on how not to lose.
His wisdom paid off. On a muggy but beautiful Monday morning, Frenkel and Schiowitz powered through to a straight-sets, three-game victory over Berger and Gamerman, securing their place atop Group D in style.
The runner up for Write up of the Week comes from the dynamic duo of Hillel Shuval and Gedalia Wielgus.
After losing their first two matches in embarrassingly quick fashion, Shuval/Wielgus seemed destined for the Tier 2 cellar in their failed brothers-in-law/pickleball teammates experiment. Losing Game 1 11-1 further cemented the inevitable.
But reminiscent of the 2016 Cubs and their famous rain delay team meeting, Shuval/Wielgus called a two week timeout. During their two-week mental health break, Shuval/Wielgus spent their time hitting the self-help books to regain their confidence and capped off the break with a life-changing Visiting Day BBQ with the Commissioner and founder of WITT. Refreshed and rejuvenated, Shuval/Wielgus coasted to three straight wins, giving them their first win of the season and saving the family name.
Guys, keep playing those matches! DEADLINE IS NEXT SUNDAY!!!!
And of course, have a great week ahead!
Uri
Parshas Chukas opens with the laws of the Parah Adumah — a process that purifies one person by making another temporarily impure. It's a reminder that we’re spiritually interconnected; what affects one of us, affects all of us. That’s the core of arvus, mutual responsibility, and it’s something we all feel more deeply these days, especially as Jews around the world are united in
concern and tefillah for what’s been happening in Israel. In the WITT world, that same principle applies, albeit in a lighter form: every match matters, not just for your own advancement, but for the integrity of the tournament. In case you were not aware, every match affects standings, tiebreakers, and seedings. Every match really needs to be played.
At this point in the tournament, there’s no shortage of warm-up time. You’ve had seven weeks total, six of which were apparently for stretching. Now’s the time to play! And if someone reaches out to schedule? Please respond! Even if the timing doesn’t work. Even if you’re not sure when you can play. Just having the basic sensitivity to acknowledge someone else’s message is part of what makes this tournament work — and part of what makes the community work. We don’t need to win every match. But we do need to show up for each other.
Let me just start out by saying, I don’t think I can recap the 65+ tennis matches that took place this week. I apologize in advance if I missed you. I doubly apologize if I told you I would include you and forgot. That said, I will do my best to include the people who provided their own updates! And mention some other stuff along the way!
Let’s get right to it!
Tier 1
Oh my. Where to start???
Let’s start with the Commissioner himself.
Uri Burger and David Feder squared off in their first ever WITT matchup. Early on, it looked like Burger was in control with a 3-1 lead. But a missed opportunity to get to 4-1 gave Feder the opening he needed. He took the next 4 games and a 5-3 lead. After an impossible save at 30-0, Burger made his own little run and grabbed a 6-5 lead. Unable to close out the set, the tiebreak saw Feder grab a 6-4 lead before Burger once again came back with 3 straight points. A second set point was not to be and Feder grabbed the next 3 points and the set.
The second set was back and forth on serve to 5-4 before Burger broke to grab the set, 6-4. Despite the momentum, Feder was relentless in the Tiebreak, which he easily won, 10-3. “He asked me if I can just enter the score, since I am, after all, the commissioner. Of course I told him there was no chance. Winner enters the score!”
Here is the post-match recap, courtesy of Feder for this week’s Writeup of the Week.
It was an epic clash: Me vs. Uri Burger — tournament commissioner, mussar schmoozer, and part-time human ball machine. He played a full match earlier in the day, then went toe-to-toe with me for 2.5 hours, and still stayed after to hit with Yaakov Gade like he was just warming up.
Seriously — the man does not tire. I don’t know if it’s a special diet, spiritual fuel from Parshas Korach, or a new segulah involving footwork drills and humility, but it’s working.
I tried everything — drop shots, lobs, running him back and forth — but he chased down every single ball like it was the US Open. In the end, I managed to stay consistent, apply pressure, and squeak out the win in a super tiebreak. But make no mistake: this was a war of attrition, not domination.
And now, a word on perspective…
After the match, I thought back to something Uri wrote this week — about perspective and Parshas Korach. He reminded us that no matter how intense things get, it’s just tennis. It’s not worth machlokes, grudges, or ego trips.
And let’s be real — when the guy who just spent 2.5 hours defending like Novak after playing another match and hitting after still has the clarity to write about perspective and menschlichkeit, you know he means it.
So yes, I may have won the match. But Uri? He won the mussar schmooze. And probably still had energy to daven Maariv with kavanah.
I generally would not include a write-up like this because it’s about me. But I really appreciated the time it took to write and the chizuk it brought me. I also really enjoyed playing that match, although I would have preferred a different result!
Mark Spivak finally got on the court against Yossi Farraday, looking to back up his Cross River Open victory. Farraday has started his tournament extraordinarily strong, but Spivak would just be too much in this one. “This Spivak guy is pretty good,” said Farraday. “He may have a real shot here.” Spivak was pretty stoked with the victory. “I’m coming for the big boys. You know
who you are.”
A few of this year’s favorites continue to shine, like Yaron Markfeld, with a very competitive match against Noam Mishkoff.
Here is Markfeld’s recap:
This one was tough. Noam came out SWINGING. Kept it really close in the first and at one point I felt I was pushed to the brink, almost dropping a break. Fortunately, I was able to crack down and crawl back into it and eventually create some separation. But Noam hit a ton of winners and most of our games went to deuce. At the end I think he lost a little confidence , but he’s really improved and overall, this was a really enjoyable match. Happy to be through this one!!
Markfeld won 6-2, 6-0.
Another former WITT Champion, Howie Hershkovich, played his second match of the tournament, this time against Izak Held. “Good player, taka. Gave me a tough time.” Hershkovich was able to maintain his stamina in the match and finished off the second set 7-5 after being down. “Honestly, my daughter just got married, and I really thought I faded towards the end of the wedding. She told me my keitzad merakdim could have been a little smoother. I made sure not to fade this time.”
This week’s Match of the Week featured Eitan Agbashoff against Momo Schlam. Schlam, 21 years the younger, certainly had more energy to start, grabbing the first set 6-3. But the wily old Agbashoff began to attach Schlam’s net game differently, and he won the second set by the same score. The super tiebreak was one for the ages, as they went back and forth with Agbashoff setting himself up with 2 match points at 9-7. After both of those fell by the wayside, Agbashoff bounced back with a beautiful lob that hit the line and forced an errant shot by Schlam. “I am overjoyed with that win,” said Agbashoff. “I mean I could be his father.”
Max Sternberg took on Jon Brody in a heated match between two real contenders. “I was just forcing the errors,” said Sternberg. “Brody is a great player, and a great guy, but needs to work on that patience on the court!” Brody, one of the more mercurial players in the tournament and a fan favorite, was frustrated with himself. In his post-game presser, Brody was not happy with himself. “Pickleball on a tennis court. This is WITT not WIPT!”
Anthony Jonathan Lallouz, a newcomer to the tournament, has proven he may be a force to be reckoned with, as he had a convincing win over Jack Jacobowitz. “I am excited to part of this prestigious tournament. I am really excited to see how far I can get.”
Steven Farbman, in his chase for an elusive Tier 1 bid was stymied by Dani Rosenthal in a 3-week marathon, finally won by Rosenthal 10-8 in a super tiebreak. Farbman bounced back with a victory over last year’s Tier 2 champion, Zvi Gewirtz in straight sets. “Honestly, I am just disappointed to have already finished all my matches! I wish I could play them all again! They are sooooo fun!”
Tier 2
Great match between Mordechai Beren and Yossi Reich. Here is the recap provided by Beren.
The first set was competitive early on, but I found my rhythm and pulled away to take it 6-3. The second set was a battle. We both held serve to 3-3 before he stepped up and rattled off three straight games. I will admit, the thought crossed my mind that maybe that extra deli roll and challah on Shabbos wasn’t the best idea. But I refocused and came out strong in the tiebreak, building a nice lead around 6-3. Then, just like that, he came roaring back and tied it at 6. Fortunately, I was able to steady myself and close out the match.
A very inspiring match by one of the Tournament’s favorite players, Daniel Goldberg, and Sendy Berger was recapped by Goldberg.
This was a fun match with lots of streaks back and forth. Berger jumped out in the first set to a 4-0 lead, but then Goldberg evened the set at 4-4. Back and forth it went until the first set tiebreaker. Berger jumped out to a 4-0 lead and Goldberg cut it to 6-4. On the 11th point of the tiebreak, Goldberg hit a drop shot to Berger's backhand who raced in and switched his racket to his left hand and nudged the ball over the net to clinch the first set.
In the second set, Goldberg jumped out to a 4-0 lead and was able to hold off Berger for a 6-2 win.
In the super tiebreak, Goldberg won the first 6 points. The lead was too much to overcome as Goldberg won 10-2 to clinch his first ever win in Tier 2!
Pickleball expert Ariel Abittan also plays tennis! As he won over Dani Sonnenblick and had this to say after the match. “We had a great time schmoozing and it was very nice to meet Daniel. Hit him up for all of your concert /sporting ticket needs!”
Avi Jacobs, one of this year’s real contenders in Tier 2 defeated Danny Eberstark in straight sets. Said Jacobs after the match, “My coach could not make it to this match. Luckily, my brother Mordy has been training with me and that’s really strengthened my game.” The Jacobs brothers are also playing Pickleball together. (Editor’s Note: Guys – can you please start playing those matches?”
Yosef Moskowitz continues to prove he belongs in Tier 2 with a straight sets win over Boruch Pfeifer. “Pfeifer can really stroke the ball and hit angles. He has a great spinning second serve and we had some really long volleys. Boruch is a really nice guy and always great to meet new people in the tourney.”
Tier 3
I am going to try to highlight some new players as we cruise through Tier 3. Adam Goodstein and Yaakov Winograd played an “insane back and forth match. After dropping the first set 6-4, Wino was up 5-1 in second set. But 90+ heat in middle of day may have taken a toll, and Goods came all the way back.” WINO! GOODS! TIER 3 WITT TENNIS BABY!!!!
Arie Blum faced off against Nachi Sonnenblick in another Tier 3 battle. “After losing to southpaw Shlomie Cohen, I realized during warm-up that Nachi was also a lefty, and I had some serious flashbacks and mild PTSD. (Editor’s Note: I hope it was REALLY mild) I gave it everything I had… that’s the only reason I pulled out the win!”
Heshy Zweig is new to the tournament and played his first matches this week, notching two group play victories over two very solid players in Asaf Rabinovitz and R’ Yechezkel Hartman. Zweig has locked up the number one seed in his group as he swept through group play. “So far, I am very pleased with my play, but even more pleased with the quality of guys in this tournament. Three terrific guys. (Editor’s note: Strong agree.) Zweig’s locking up his group in his first tournament notches him this week’s Player of the Week!
Speaking of R’ Hartman, he messaged the commissioner’s office to ask if he could have an extension, or he’d have to play the morning after his match with Zweig. Unfortunately, the commissioner’s office denied his request, and so he did take the court against Elliot Berger the next morning. After easily taking the first set, R’ Hartman ran out of gas and dropped the second set and a close tiebreak. You may not have won the match. But you won in shomayim! Arvus!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Yoni “I really don’t want to play Tier 3” Kirschner, who won two matches this week as well over Tani Renov and Yoni Bernstein. “Look, when you run a tournament, as I do in North Woodmere, you have to step your game. I do not want to bring any shame to the ANWITT.”
Mikey Kook notched himself a victory over Jay Nathanson 10-7 in the super tiebreak. Said Kook, “my father-in-law has been trying to teach me how to hit a forehand. Maybe it’s starting to pay off!” Kook’s father-in-law is, of course, Baruch Weinstein, Tier 1 veteran a real wrecker on the court, boasts one of the best forehands in all of the five towns.
Tier 4
Tough early goings for Yoni Bindiger who dropped his early matches against Eytan Mishkoff and Chaim Langer. “Truth is, I have been coming off an injury, and have also been very busy setting up my new Orthodontics office in West Hempstead. It has been hard to focus on WITT. That said, any WITT participants receive 10% off braces for their children!” (Editor’s Note: That may or may not be true. Slightly unclear.)
Noach Weichselbaum bounced back with a victory against David Rabinowitz in a super tiebreak. Said Wexy after the match, “Great game, fun had by all. very close. Real nail biter. Started to rain towards the end of the game but didn’t stop us.” Nothing stops Tier 4 WITT players!
Pickleball
Tier 1
Rough week for the team of Stevie Fruchter and Yeruchum Brazil and they finally took to the Pickleball courts. First, in a matchup with the father son dup of Chaim and Jacob Pfeifer, Fruchter and Brazil raced out to 2-0 lead before letting up. Pfeifer Sr., known more for his tennis prowess was elated after the comeback. “Unreal match! Jacob and I came out very cold the first 2 games while Brazil and Fruchter played great and made no mistakes. After going down 2 games to 0, we regrouped, starting keeping the ball low, Jacob hit great dinks, and we got the momentum and didn’t let up.” Pickleball is all about the dinking.
Fruchter and Brazil compounded that loss with another one, this time vs the brothers Dubin. A double dose of Dooby Dooby Dubin was too much to handle. “I am really happy seeing my sons play so nicely together,” said Mrs. Dubin, who has come to watch all their matches so far. “It’s been years since the boy have been playing so nicely. You know how brothers can be! I am excited for my Ezra to get a little older so he can join the tennis tournament as well!”
Another father son duo – this one, Jared and Isaac Solomon won their first match of the tournament over the Hoschanders in straight games. The Solomons have been touted as one of the favorites of WIPT.
Finally, the team of Yehuda Konig and Sammy Baratz, “Carrots,” defeated Harold Rubin and David Brier. They are looking forward (as are we all) to the big showdown with MO D and Dov Slansky and the writeup that may follow! Give the people what they want!
Tier 2
Meanwhile, Eliot Berger and Henry Gamerman picked up two victories for themselves as well! Berger, a very busy week between his tennis and pickleball matches! “This is certainly keeping me active! That much is for sure!” Well, how about this week’s Team of the Week for those two victories!
Guys, keep playing those matches!
And of course, have a great week ahead!
Uri
Having perspective is hard. Like, really hard.
Korach had a lot going for him. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (110) says he was incredibly wealthy. He was clearly intelligent and likely charismatic. After all, he managed to rally 250 distinguished supporters. He was from Shevet Levi, giving him a prominent role in serving in the Mishkan. And yet, despite all of that, his ego and jealousy got the better of him. We all know the story of Korach. But you know what he lacked? Perspective. Why couldn’t he focus on all the good he had? Instead, he turned to machlokes to try to get even more.
This week, I heard about four different issues that came up in the tournament. They included line calls, attitudes, cancellations, to name a few. Just a lot of machlokes. Maybe this week’s parsha’s energy lent itself to bonus machlokes. I don’t know. I hope this was a one off week.
I’m not here to give mussar. That’s not my role. But I do want to offer a reminder. I’m a pretty competitive guy. I’d be lying if I said I’ve never gotten frustrated by a line call I disagreed with. And if it happens a few times in a match, it can be genuinely infuriating. Like I said, perspective is really hard. But I can also tell you that if I went back and watched myself in those moments, I’d probably be embarrassed. It’s just not a menschlich way to act.
The goal of the tournament remains what it’s always been: community-based, with a healthy dose of competition. I hate getting those “incident” calls, but I understand it comes with the territory.
Bottom line: Please try to remember—it’s only tennis. In the grand scheme of things, it’s really not that important. I genuinely mean that, even though my wife often needs to remind me!
You know what is important? Being dan l’kaf zechus. Maybe your opponent is having a rough day and taking it out on the court. Maybe they honestly didn’t see the ball hit the line. Maybe they’ve got things going on in their life that you have no idea about.
People often run around chasing brachos and segulos, I heard recently that the biggest segula is just to be mevater. Well, you are all welcome . You’re going to be given a lot of opportunities to be mevater. Don’t mess it up.
Tier 1
There are some matches that get circled before group play. One of those matches pitted Yaakov Abittan against Marc(ky) Gibber in what many hoped would be a grueling match between two guys who really grind it out. Some of these matches really live up to their billing. But some of them do not. Well, this one… did not. Gibber came out too strong, and Abittan’s nerves got the better of him. “I’ve had some good reps over the last couple of years, but I just wasn’t ready for him today.” Gibber took the match rather easily.
Dovid Blum had an up-and-down week. In what many would consider a big upset, Max Schlesinger defeated Blum in a super tiebreaker. “I’ll be honest,” said Schlesinger. “Lot of people here talking about Maxwell Sternberg. Let me tell you something. He’s not the only Max in this tournament.” For the first time, Schlesinger will play in the Tier 1 Knockout round, as he looks to solidify first place in the group as well.
Blum, seemingly mimicking the erratic play of his beloved New York Mets, was able to bounce back against Baruch Weinstein. Both players tried staying away from each other’s forehands, but Blum was ultimately too much to handle.
Finally, Mosh Aharon Fink and Davening Dov Kramer took to the court in a spirited match ultimately won by Kramer.
Tier 2
Welcome to the tournament Yoni Leifer! Leifer, not knowing what to expect in his first foray in WITT, started with a bang. With victories over both Mordechai Beren and Yossi Reich, Leifer has already left other Tier 2 players talking. “Who is this Leifer guy?” said Yeruchum Brazil, who has still yet to take the court. “Those are some pretty good wins over some good players. I really thought this might be my year with the mass exodus into Tier 1. But I see there is still a lot of good competition.”
Meanwhile, Willy Beer won his first match against Johnny Newman in straight sets as well, as there is a lot of new competition to take on the old guard.
Speaking of the old guard, The Bulldog was tenacious in his victory over Eric Taub, getting back to his winning ways after an opening loss.
For this week’s Tennis Writeup of the week, let’s send it over to our sideline report, Yehuda Konig for his recap against Ami Glassberg.
This match was an epic battle. Set against the backdrop of an early evening sunset, the stage was perfect. Ami Glassberg, a new father (mazel tov!) (Editor’s Note: “New Implies first kid. Not his first kid. To be clear.) did all he could just to get out of the house—but no extra points were awarded for that.
On to the match.
The players spent the first few games feeling each other out, with Glassberg running everything down and playing like a human wall. They were tied 3–3 when Konig broke Glassberg to take a 4–3 lead. What followed was a marathon game with nearly ten deuces—the turning point of the first set—as Konig finally prevailed. Said Glassberg, “It felt like whoever won that game was
taking the first set.” And so it went—Konig closed it out 6–3.
In the second set, just like the first, Glassberg jumped out to a 1–0 lead. Konig won the next two games and looked like he was in control, but Glassberg wouldn’t back down. The players split the next two, and with Konig up 3–2, Glassberg went on a run. One long rally after another, Glassberg made shot after shot, punctuated by his now-patented “Come on!” fist pump. He closed out the second set 6–3.
What started as “of course we have enough time to play” turned into “it’s getting late early.” Glassberg kept the momentum going in the tiebreak, jumping out to a 4–1 lead. But battling both the heat and relentless green flies, Konig dug deep and ran off five of the next six points to take a 6–5 lead. He would extend it to 9–6, but Glassberg battled back to cut it to 9–8.
After nearly two hours, Konig finally sealed the match with a cross-court winner.
A really fun—and exhausting—match.
Tier 3
This week’s Match of the Week took place between Dov Singer and David Atkin. Singer won the first set before dropping the second set convincingly 6-1. The super tiebreak was nothing short of super, with both players trying to gain the upper hand. At 10-10, Singer saw the opening and prevailed, but it was a real escape. “I didn’t know if I could survive this one, but I worked really hard. Just happy to get the W.”
Tier 4
There were three Tier 4 matches this week. Two of them were played and won by… Jason Goldstoff! Here at WITT, we are always so excited to see Jason’s name pop up on the score sheet. But to finish all his matches so much before the deadline? Astounding!
“I had enough of being hounded,” said Goldstoff. “I also just found out you are actually allowed to play more than three days before the deadline. Man, if I had known that all these years, I would have saved the commissioner a lot of stress!”
(Editor’s Note: That is absolutely correct.)
Pickleball
Another slow week in Pickleball, which really begs the question… are all these matches going to get played? “I’m still confident,” said Dovid Schulman, who has been very actively involved in WITT Pickleball’s first year. “I know four people is harder to coordinate, but I have complete faith in our players to get it done.”
Well, one team that does not disappoint is the team of Mo Davidowitz and Dov Slansky. Once again, they have claimed this week’s “Pickleball Writeup of the Week.”
GROUP H CLASH: YOUTH OVER EXPERIENCE IN A FOUR-GAME GRINDER!
Back on Court 3 at Pickleball Plus, the stage was set for another high-stakes Group H matchup—Mo Davidowitz and Dov Slansky versus the seasoned duo of David Brier and Harold Rubin.
Rubin and Brier, the older, more experienced team, came in with grit and veteran presence. But youth came to play.
In a grueling four-game battle, Davidowitz and Slansky proved that age is just a number—pickling them twice and sealing the match with a clutch 3-1 victory.
Brier and Rubin put up a valiant, hard-fought effort, refusing to go quietly and pushing every rally to the limit. But when the dust settled, it was the younger pair who walked off the court with the win—and possibly a few extra bragging rights.
Two matches. Two wins.
Davidowitz and Slansky are heating up—and they’re not slowing down.
In a match that had the crowd shouting Mamma Mia, Abba Krebs and Billy Lovy danced their way to victory over Shmuel Brier and Daniel Goldfarb with the rhythm and precision of a Dancing Queen. The underdogs going in, they told their opponents to Take a Chance on Me—and then made them regret it, unleashing a flurry of winners that had everyone yelling Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! more. Brier and Goldfarb fought valiantly, but by the end, it was a classic case of The Winner Takes It All, with Krebs and Lovy leaving the court singing Money, Money, Money—and maybe plotting their next championship run during a Waterloo replay.
Tier 2
Ari Fischbein and Keevy Lefkowitz won their opening match against Ranan and Yisrael Wolff.
“We are happy with the victory,” said Fischbein. “It was a much tougher match than I
expected.”
Guys, keep playing those matches!
And of course, have a great week ahead!
Uri
As everyone knows, the dynamics of Jewish simcha dancing can be surprisingly complex. The baal simcha typically holds court in the center, surrounded by multiple dancing circles. And during the dancing, he (or she) has a number of critical responsibilities:
1. Avoid insulting anyone by making sure to pull in everyone he’s supposed to pull in.
2. Maintain some sense of order—so Yanky doesn’t feel slighted that he was four people after Beryl.
3. Keep the energy level sky-high the entire time, even if he feels like he’s about to pass out.
4. Make each person feel like he’s thrilled to be dancing with them.
I was at a wedding this week and couldn’t help but notice the chosson’s eyes constantly darting across the circles, scanning the crowd to decide who was next. And I found myself thinking—it’s a bit of a shame he couldn’t just focus on who he was with at that moment.
It reminded me of a kiddush, where I suspect a large percentage of people are silently wondering, “Who else should I be talking to right now?” And once they get to that next person… the same question plays again.
If you have read this opening segment in the past, you know I like to talk a lot about being present, probably the single biggest challenge in our lives today. It’s a very difficult challenge, one that I myself struggle with quite a bit. How do you focus on what is here and now without worrying what else you have to do? How can you zero in on this point or this shot, without thinking how I am going to dig myself out of this 4-0 deficit. The answer is always…. One point at a time. Presence is everything. There are endless amounts of books and podcasts about this, so it must be somewhat important. As the summer is nearly upon us, I would say simply to try to take advantage of the moment. Sure, the kids being out of school presents challenges, but it also presents endless opportunities for connections. Now is the time to take advantage of the present. Now is the time to approach the net and go for the winner. There will never be this moment again.
Tennis
Tier 1
Tier 1 definitely saw its fair of action this week. Let’s start with last year’s Tier 1B champion, David Feder, who took care of Justin Hirmes (back from a multi-year hiatus) in straight sets. “Justin was definitely a little rusty,” said Feder. “Honestly, I have my eye on the Commissioner. I never played him before and I’d like to see what all the hoopla is about.” (Editor’s note: What hoopla???)
Some of the hard-hitting favorites also made quick work of their matches. Three-time champion David Rackman defeated both Eitan Aghbashoff and first-timer Momo Schlam. Said Schlam after the loss. Said Schlam after the defeat, “Rackman is legit!” Ummmm…. You know he has won this tournament three times, right? Rackman was lobbying for Player of the Week Honors with those 2 victories along with being the first player to finish all three matches. He was, unfortunately for him, denied.
Yaron Markfeld took to the court against Scott Stone, in what many anticipated to be a very hard-fought match. “He really took it to me,” said Markfeld. “He has a great backhand and was really returning well. He definitely pushed me to my limits. I could easily see him making it to the semi finals or beyond.” Oh. Markfeld won 6-2, 6-1. (Editor’s Note: Again, almost a direct quote. That bit continues to write itself. G-d willing for many more years. It really never gets old. I just wonder if Markfeld is just being sarcastic at this point.)
Michael Pfeifer made his WITT debut after having to bow out last year, after almost cutting his finger off. “Good to be back on the court,” said Pfeifer. “I’ve really had to change my game. A lot more slicing than before. Well, on the court.” He took on Steven Farbman the morning after finishing a Pickleball match. “I was hoping I’d get the ol’ ‘Oh man, really tired after playing that Pickleball match last night,’” said Farbman. “But then I heard that match didn’t take very long. I was hoping to be more competitive.” The old guard of Markfeld, Rackman, and Pfeifer all looked strong in their opening round matches but some new talent is emerging too.
Yossi Faraday looked to make his mark against the Syrian Sensation Avi Esses, after both of them were able to handle Eitan Shoshan earlier in the week. The south paws competed hard, but the younger Faraday found victory in straight sets. “He was really good,” said Esses. “I think the committee is out to get me a little.” Avi, I can assure you that is not the case. I am also pleased to award this week’s Player of the Week award to Yossi Faraday, with two convincing victories. The Tournament is looking forward to his showdown with Mark Spivak.
Maxwell Sternberg made his presence known early as well, with a straight sets victory over Shauli Friedman. “The young guys are coming.”
Tier 2
A lot of familiar names were in action in Tier 2. Shmuel Zoldan defeated Danny Eberstark in his opening round match, hopefully past his injury woes that have plagues him the last couple years.
Meanwhile, two tier 2 stalwarts met up when Yosef Siegel, aka The Bulldog, took on Joey Lehmann. The Bulldog was not proud of his performance, of course referring to himself in the third person. “The Bulldog feels embarrassed by such a defeat. Do I really belong in Tier 2? It really should have been more respectful.” HEY BULLDOG – KEEP THAT HEAD UP!!! STOP POUTING!! PUT THOSE BIG BULLDOG SHOES ON AND GET BACK OUT THERE!!!
Pickleball expert, Yossi Tabak played his first-round match against Moshe Feigenbaum, another newcomer. The first set went all the way to the tiebreak, where Feigenbaum pulled it out. He won the next set much more easily. “I could have had it,” Said Tabak. “Honestly, I have been focusing more on Pickleball these days. I think my partner and I could do some damage there.
Josh Hill made his debut as well with 2 victories this week, cementing his name as a real contender. After defeating Moshe Alpert and Chaim Bernson, Hill is much more optimistic than at the start of the tournament. Both were tough victories, particularly against Chaim in the super tiebreak. But my team feels good about where we are right now. Much further along than I thought we’d be.”
Tier 3
Tier 3 saw a lot of Rabbinic action this week.
This week’s Match of the Week featured Rabbi Dovid Cohen and Zalmy Schiowitz in an outdoor battle at North Woodmere Park. Both veterans to this tournament, R’ Cohen looked very strong out of the gate, taking the first set 6-3. But Schiowitz is a gamer and would not be denied that easily. Coming back from that first set defeat, Schiowitz held strong with a 6-4 second set victory. The momentum carried him through to the Super Tiebreak, where his endurance and stamina prevailed, 10-4. “Grueling match,” said Schiowitz. “Luckly, I have really been working on my fitness. That really helped me today. It gave me a real shot at victory.”
R’ Jeremy Fine and Brian Itzkowitz played their ground play match as well. Itzkowitz, after dropping the first set, was in total control of the second. But as a great man once said, “you gotta win six!” R’ Fine came back for the 7-5 victory. “The grouping committee always puts me with the greatest guys!” said Fine after the match. “It’s really uncanny!”
Hard to neglect mentioning another hard-fought match between Asaf Rabinovitz and R’ Yechezkel Hartman. It was surely going to be a battle of wits here, and Rabinovitz found the upper hand in a 7-6, 6-4 victory.
Tier 4
There are already cries of mis-tiering involving Eytan Mishkoff. Mishkoff took care of his business over Chaim Langer and Yehuda Wrubel, dropping only 5 games between the two matches. “To be fair, I didn’t know how I would be after my injury last year, but I guess so far so good!”
Avraham Young, another candidate for mis-tiering defeated Dan Klein and Jason Goldstoff in straight sets as well.
Pickleball
Before we get into some of these matches, a quick administrative note. As this was the first year of the Pickleball Tournament, there are definitely some things we need to figure out. I think it’s becoming increasingly clear who the top teams are. I imagine moving forward, we will be able to figure this out a little better so more of the matches are more competitive.
Tier 1
One of the real competitors in this tournament may very well be Joshuas Chiger and Trauring. I actually spoke to them about coming up with a name for their team. Maybe something like “The Joshua Tree,” or “Just Joshing.” They didn’t like either of those. Instead, they told me they just call themselves “Trigger,” a combination of their last names. I’m a little disappointed we couldn’t use the whole Joshua thing. But I’ll roll with Trigger. Anyway, Trigger had an impressive victory over Chaim Bernson and Yakov Shurin in straight games. They are this week’s Team of the Week!
In this week’s Pickleball Match of the Week, we had our first 5 gamer!!! Hoschander and Hoschander went back and forth with Akiva Garbacz and Max Schlesinger, before Hoschander 2 surgically (I hope you get that joke) dinked their way to a 5 th game victory 11-6. “Super great match,” said Hoschander. “Very back and forth.”
Meanwhile Brian Itzkowitz and Eitan Seewald defeated Sendy Berger and Yoni Unger in straights as well. Itzkowitz, who allegedly spends more time in Pickleball Xpo than in his own home, is also excited at the prospects moving forward. “Lot of good teams, but we have a
fighting chance.”
Yossi Tabak and Steven Kratka has a busy week as well. After a straight games win over Burger/Abittan, Tabak was pretty accurate in his assessment. “This was a question of seasoned pickleball players against younger gherkins. I imagine the young’uns will mature and be ready for playoffs.”
They followed that victory up with a win over Ezra Moskowitz and Binyamin Swerdlick. “This was a North Woodmere Match,” said Tabak. Although Steven Moved to West Hempstead his heart lives in North Woodmere. Another young Team who will only get better. I do think Vulcan Paddles could help their game!”
I’m considering a new segment, called “Writeup of the Week!” Very exciting. There were two excellent entries. And I couldn’t pick a winner… This one is from Mo Davidowitz and Dov Slansky’s victory over Adam and Jonah Bari. Let’s lets MO D and Dov take us through this one!
TOURNAMENT SHOWDOWN: GROUP H IGNITES THE COURT!
Pickleball XPO came alive with its first-ever Group H WITT match—and it did not disappoint. In a sizzling debut, the father-son duo Adam Bari and Jonah Bari stepped onto the court to face off against the formidable first-time pair Mo Davidowitz and Dov Slansky. The atmosphere? Electric. The competition? Ruthless. The heat? Blasting in the arena like someone was trying to cook us courtside.
But Teams 1 and 2 from Group H wouldn’t back down.
In a blistering display of grit and grind, Davidowitz and Slansky pushed through the sweat and pressure to take three straight games over the Baris. Every point was a battle, every volley a war—and the result? A definitive message to the rest of the bracket: Group H came to play.
With this epic opening clash, the bar has officially been set. The road to glory just got steeper.
Stay tuned. The fire’s only getting hotter.
Hey Guys – you’re hired.
Tier 2
Lots of good action this week in Tier 2 as well. Ari Kalton and Alan Singer defeated Adam Austein and Jason Goldstoff in 4 games. Said Goldstoff after the game, “I can get used to Pickleball. A lot less movement involved.” Jason – you can handle it all. Don’t sell yourself
short! Austein was more optimistic. “After a pair of aces and a victory in one of the games, I think I may be ready to retire.”
Finally, Aryeh Young and Adam Feit had a real up and down week. Young, who has been focusing mostly on tennis, is not quite sure how he is going to fit pickleball into his schedule. “I am overwhelmed by it all.” Early returns have been mixed with a victory over Austein and
Goldstoff but a loss to Yosef Moskowitz and David Pfeffer. “There’s plenty of Pickleball left to play!”
This week’s Co-Writeup of the Week, Lets go to none other than that immortal BJ Frenkel.
Juneteenth 2025
A historic day in our country — one that some, like Trump, might wish to erase — but not today. On this glorious Juneteenth, BJ Frenkel was looking to make history of his own: becoming the first man ever to compete in both a WITT and a WIPT match on the same day.
The skies were clear, and the day looked perfect. But would the 5:30 match actually happen? Thunderstorm warnings loomed throughout the day, keeping everyone on edge. Still, the clouds lifted, the sun emerged, and BJ Frenkel stepped onto the serene court in quiet Back Lawrence to face Joe Rosen.
Could this Rosen be related to the Isaac Rosen — BJ Frenkel’s longtime arch-nemesis from the WITT circuit? The same Isaac who bested Frenkel in the 2022 Tier 3 Championship, only to be steamrolled by him on BJ’s triumphant path to the 2023 title? At first glance, the taller, lighter Joe Rosen didn’t bear much resemblance. But after some net-side banter and a little Jewish geography, the truth emerged: Joe was indeed Isaac’s brother. Younger in age — but clearly the bigger brother in size.
Suffice it to say, the tennis talent didn’t seem to flow equally down the Rosen family tree. Joe Rosen handily defeated Frenkel 6–2, 6–1 in straight sets — just as thunderclouds rolled over the mountains and the serenity of Back Lawrence surrendered to the first drops of rain.
But BJ Frenkel wasn’t finished writing his Juneteenth chapter.
Looking to avenge his earlier loss, Frenkel pressed on — only to be briefly thwarted by a freak thunderstorm that knocked out power at XPO. With quick thinking and faster fingers, reservations were rebooked in West Hempstead. Frenkel took to the pickleball court, this time alongside a force in his own right: Schiowitz. The duo was chasing their second consecutive WIPT Tier 2 victory.
Their opponents were strong, seasoned, and widely respected. But Frenkel and Schiowitz were dialed in — too sharp, too cohesive — taking them down in three straight sets.
So while Trump may be trying to erase this day from history…
BJ Frenkel is still out here trying to mold it.
FIRST OF ALL – YES – THE OASIS ROOM IS IN INWOOD NOT FAR ROCKAWAY! MY BAD! More info to come as we get closer.
Guys, keep playing those matches!
And of course, have a great week ahead!
Uri
In light of last night’s events, I was considering changing a lot of this week’s email, which was almost done by yesterday. But then I decided not to. Instead, I ask everyone to actually read the first section this week, and try to light up one person this shabbos in the zechus of klal yisroel. Hashem yishmor.
I recently started learning a new sefer by Rav Pinchas Halbershtat, the Bayam Darkecha, and I wanted to share an idea that really struck me. The sefer is centered around avodas Hashem, kirvas Hashem, and dveikus—a guide to deepening one’s relationship with Hashem. So far, I’m a big fan.
Interestingly, the very first topic he discusses isn’t tefillah or talmud Torah, as you might expect. It’s about recognizing the good in other people. The foundational step to drawing close to Hashem, according to Rav Halbershtat, is to remind yourself that every person you encounter is a chelek Elokah, a piece of Hashem Himself. And as such, they deserve—maybe even demand—your respect and admiration.
This message really resonated with me, and it feels especially relevant this week as we read Parshas Behaaloscha, which describes the lighting of the Menorah. The Menorah was no ordinary vessel—it was so intricate that Moshe needed divine assistance to craft it. And the Kohanim were commanded to light it, in all its splendor, every single day.
Of course, all the keilim in the Mishkan were special. But in light of the Bayam Darkecha’s message, the image of lighting such a beautiful vessel takes on a deeper meaning. Every day, we have opportunities to “light up” the people around us—to bring out the beauty in those we interact with.
Even on the tennis court.
That’s part of the gift of WITT. It’s not just a chance to work on your backhand. It’s a chance to work on yourself. To exercise patience. To respect someone even when you think their line call was way out. To act with dignity and kindness.
Every player is like a vessel – beautiful, complex, and deserving of light. It’s on us to light the flame and treat those around us like the Menorah: with reverence and care.
Maybe it’s a stretch—but maybe it’s not. But maybe, just maybe, by treating each other with respect and admiration, we can fulfill the words of the Bayam Darkecha—and bring ourselves a little closer to Hashem and to one another.
Tennis
Tier 1
Things have started picking up! I mean not really. But maybe a little bit. Max Schlesinger took on the court looking for his first ever Tier 1 victory against wily veteran Baruch “BO” Weinstein. Bo was strong out of the gate, winning the first set 6-4, but it took a lot out of him. “Max is a young guy. I used to be a younger guy. Now, I’m an older guy.” Very profound. Schlesinger took advantage of the fatigue with an easy second set victory. He followed that up with a 10-5 victory in the super tiebreak. “Big day for me,” said Schlesinger. “I don’t take Tier 1 victories lightly. It’s right up there with my wedding and the birth of my children.”
Avi “The Sneaky Syrian” Esses took on Eitan “The Fiery Frenchman” Shoshan in group play as well. Esses was able to fend off the forehand of Shoshan, winning in straight sets. “I was happy to get a W,” said Esses. “I have some tough matches coming up. I have been meditating extensively to prepare for this tournament. After working so hard on strokes for all these years, I realized my emotional fortitude was really lacking. So yes, I have been traveling around within Central America looking for answers. I think I found some. Time will tell.”
Tier 2
Jacob “Dooby Dooby” Dubin had a date with last year’s Tier 3 runner up, Aryeh Young. Young, knowing full well that he would not be mentally checked in to the match due to some personal responsibilities, decided to play anyway. “That was probably a mistake.” Dubin took care of Young 6-1 in the first set, before Young was able to claw back to 5-5 in the second. Dubin would show his toughness but staving off some tough Young serves before holding on for a 7-5 victory. “I felt good today,” said Dubin. “As far as Young goes, if you get on the court, there are no excuses.”
Young continued on in group play with a match vs Sendy Berger. Young played this match with a little less personal stress and was able to prevail. “I guess I didn’t realize that tennis is also a mental game! Playing with a clearer head was a lot better for me!”
Meanwhile, Dubin continued his tournament with a match vs fan favorite, Daniel Goldberg. Goldberg, who looks forward to the tournament more than his own birthday, has shown more than just glimpses of excellence over the years, but has also been battling injuries. Healthy, he was still not able to defeat the younger Dubin, who won in straight sets. Dubin’s 2 victories this week easily notch him this week’s Player of the Week! When told of this recognition, Dubin was very excited. “My brother Ezra is a great tennis player and wins many tournaments. But I bet you he has never won WITT Player of the Week!” (Editor’s note: that is correct. He has not. However, to be fair, he also has never played in the tournament soooo…)
Tier 2 was really hot this week, with Yosef “Are you sure I should be in Tier 2 even though I won Tier 3 last year and none of my matches were close” Moskowitz taking on Tier 2B Champion from last year, Marc Gelbtuch. “I was pretty antsy going in,” said Moskowiotz. “My first tier 2 match!” Long rallies wore down Gelbtuch as Moskowitz was able to push his way to a straight set victory. Quick shout out to my close friend, Yoni Kirschner, whose son’s bar mitzvah this week. I hear the baal shacharis is gonna be great!”
Pickleball
Tier 1
Big week for Tier 1 Pickleball. One of the early favorites in this year’s tournament, Joshua Levine and Harold Lipsky took on Ari & Jacob Hoschander. Levine, who already spends wayyyy too much time playing pickleball, was delighted when he found out about the tournament. “Look, I still have more time I can be playing. Need to fill up the open slots with more pickleball.” Lipsky, on the other hand, was looking to avenge the WITT departure of his son from a few years back. For those of you who don’t know, Ari Lipsky was a regular in the WITT tournament until he was knocked out that year and maybe forever by Commissioner Uri Burger in the knockout round a couple years back. That was the last we ever saw of a Lipsky in WITT. Until now. Levine and Lipsky showed their pickleball prowess with a straight game victory. “It was a tough loss for us,” said Hoschander. “But it sure beats doing plastic surgery! Actually, I’m not sure. That’s pretty fun too! (Editor’s Note: Please reach out to Ari Hoschander for all your plastic surgery/stitching needs. Great guy!)
Next to them at Pickleball Plus in West Hempstead was the pickleball debut of Yaakov Abittan and Uri Burger, who who were forced into playing encouraged by Dovid Schulman. “We prefer tennis,” said Abittan. “But we’ll give this a shot.” So far so good, with a straight game victory over Binyamin Swerdlick and Ezra Moskowitz.
Staying in the same group, Steven Kratka and Yossi Tabak took on the Glaz brothers, Moshe and Eli in both of their first matches. In what has been the most competitive pickleball match thus far, Kratka/Tabak won in 4 games. “We think we can do some damage in this tournament,” said Tabak. “More importantly, as a rep for Vulcan, players in the tournaments will get off 25% off all your pickleball needs! Please reach out to me (917-653-8009) if you are interested!” (Editor’s Note: This is actually real. Obviously all the quotes are. But this one really is.)
This week’s Team of the Week was an obvious choice. Yaakov’s brother, Ariel Abittan and his partner Josh Farkas have been running roughshod over their competition, defeating Aris Daniel and Baratz and Ari Soffer and Robert Willon. “Wait, that’s it?” said Abittan after the match. “We have no one left to play?” That’s correct. You know you’re one of two teams to even play two matches, let alone all three? “I need to see how this affects my Pickleball Rating in DUPR!”
There have actually been 12 matches played, and Abittan/Farkas have been in 25% of them! Everyone else, play your matches!
Please continue to play your matches. More information will be forthcoming about a variety of things, including the BBQ[s] so stay tuned!
Have a great week ahead,
Uri
Having just celebrated Kabbalas HaTorah, I have been thinking a lot about Kabbala. No, not that kabbala, although I have been thinking more about that too now that I crossed the 40-year-old mark. I mean Kabbala, as in acceptance or receiving. Personally, my tennis game consists of hitting everything back and finding the openings when they present themselves. I am not hitting winners or even trying to hit winners on ever shot. I am merely taking the balls as they come and getting them back over. Frankly, it’s not a great strategy against people who play much more aggressively than I do, but it certainly does work to some extent. I’d like to think that the reception of these shots comes with a “welcoming attitude”. Just dealing with the shots as they come and not trying to do too much with them. However, it really doesn’t always work. Lightly returning a backhand slice from Chaim Pfeifer is not going to cut it. But lofting a ball to force a somewhat uncomfortable backhand for Avi Esses just might. Actually, it probably will. I guess it really depends on the situation.
This all made me think about how we deal with situations that come our way There’s always some level of acceptance required. But what we do after that is where growth happens. Do we lean in and adjust, or do we throw up our hands? Do we learn for next time? Do we step forward instead of staying back? Maybe we apply pressure, or test our opponent’s endurance. Are we just accepting life’s challenges, or are we trying to improve from them?
In this week’s parsha, we read all about the nesiiim who initially held back from contributing to the Mishkan. Rashi points out that they regretted their mistake and were more proactive the second time around, making sure they didn’t miss another opportunity. They accepted what happened and changed course.
Kabbalas Hatorah affords us the same opportunity. Hopefully, we all accepted the Torah with true sincerity, along with all of our individual challenges and opportunities. The question is what we will do moving forward. Can we be more proactive than we were in the past? What kind of acceptance can we all commit to?
Tennis
Tier 1
I got some flack last week for this email not being so funny. Geez, tough crowd. In my defense, those were pretty authentic feelings I shared, and I’d hoped for a better response (I did get some very nice responses.) But more importantly, I had zero matches to work with. That changed a bit this week. So hopefully those critics will be happier with this week’s email.
Tier 1 kicked off with last year’s Tier 2 runner up, Yehuda Schattner, taking on newcomer Izak Held. Let’s pause for a second while we talk about Izak Held.
I don’t know Izak Held. I am sure he is a GREAT guy. I do know Yossi Held. Either way, it’s pretty hard to make sure all the groups are balanced. There are a lot of factors to deal with too. For example, matchups play a significant role. Yaron Markfeld has the yips against David Rackman. (I mean not really, but he does lose to him in this tournament quite a bit.) But he basically destroys everyone else. Anyway, matchups matter. Bottom line, we did our best. And Izak Held is really GREAT guy!
He also seems to be pretty good at tennis. After dropping the first set 6-3, he came back to win the second set 6-4 and then the tiebreak 10-6. A very exciting way to kick off this year’s tournament! In fact, let’s give this opening match honors as this week’s Match of the Week!
In other news, Dani [I will not be using] Sirkis[as in the Circus is coming to town, because I learned in our knockout round match, that those close to him don’t love the bit] won his opening round match against Dan Dubin. “I was a little upset my son Ezra wasn’t allowed to play,” said Dubin, “but I get it. He is pretty good. He’d go very deep in this tournament. The older guys probably want the youngsters out a little longer.” You could not be more accurate. A spirited match ended with Sirkis rocking his patented bandana en route to a victory 6-4, 6-4.
The people are all awaiting the opening round matches of some of this year’s new crop of talent. Maxwell (Can I call you Max? Let me know either way please.) Sternberg has been touted as a serious threat to win this year’s tournament. Cross River Open singles champion, Mark Spivak, has been staying away from the soufflés this year to be in tip top shape. “Historically, I have had a strong inclination towards chocolate soufflés. But this year, I have taken my soufflé consultant off payroll. It’s time to get serious here. Spivak’s conditioning paid off in his run to the CRO title, defeating not one, but TWO Pfeifers on the way to victory. Impressive.
Tier 2
No Tier 2 matches yet but a lot of interesting names in a star studded Tier 2. Elie Mishaan makes a triumphant debut after pulling his back out picking one of his kid’s toys off the floor…. And then spraining an ankle getting out of bed. Be careful out there Elie! It’s a dangerous world!
Aryeh Young and Yosef Moskowitz make the leap into Tier 2 after facing off in the Tier 3 Finals last year. Young, who plays 3-4 times a day has been wondering if he’s been playing too much. Yes, you have. BJ Frenkel has been watching Tier 2 youtube videos (I didn’t know those existed, but that’s what he tells me) in preparation for his leap as well.
The names you are accustomed to seeing are back as well. As Brazil, Lehmann, and Reich look to make some noise in this year’s Tournament. We have new players in Tier 2 as well, as Meir Kramer, Haim Kraner, Avi Kramer, Yanky Kramer, Shmuli Kramer, Vince Kramer, Sebastian Kramer, William Kramer, Kosmo Kramer, Francisco Kramer, Brendan Kramer, Beryl Kramer, and Sawyer Kramer all look to make their mark in this year’s tournament. (Editor’s note: there really are A LOT of Kramers in this year’s tournament. Not as many as I just listed. But A LOT.)
Tier 3
We did have some tier 3 matches!
Jeremy Fine kicked off this year’s tournament with a convincing win over Baruch White. Fine is always so cordial in victory. “Always love meeting new people. The commissioner always takes care of me and puts me with the best guys!” That victory and subsequent comments earns Fine this week’s Player of the Week! Great Job!
Arie Blum was in heavy action this week, as he opened up against Ariel Aber. After sweating out an opening set victory in a tiebreak, Blum was convincing in a very windy second set. “I have had a lot of kavannah saying Mashiv haruach this winter. I think it really helped.”
Unfortunately for Blum, a sure fire Player of the week honors would have been his had he taken care of business against last year’s Tier 4 Champion, Shloime Cohen. Cohen’s accent was just too much to handle as he won in straight sets.
Tier 4
There were no matches in Tier 4 this week. However, people are saying this is Jason Goldstoff’s tournament to lose. “How did he not get forced to move up like me?” said Yoni Kirschner. Goldstoff doesn’t belong there. Goldstoff, looking trimmer than ever, is cautiously optimistic. “I am certainly in better shape. But that doesn’t always translate to the court.”
Pickleball
I can honestly say I did not think I’d be sitting here writing about a Pickleball tournament this year. But here I am! Get ready for a lot of “Get out of the Kitchen!” jokes. They are coming fast and furious. That much I can guarantee.
Tier 1
We had one match this week as Ariel Abittan and Josh Farkas defeated Yehudah (with an h) Hammer and Yehuda (without an h) Williams in straight games (?) Is that how you say it? Straight games? I have no idea. I’m going with that. Said Hammer after the match, “Pickleball is pretty different than tennis.” [Ummm… ya think???] Either way, I am pretty athletic. If I can figure out ping pong and tennis, I think I can get Pickleball also. It may just take a little bit of time.”
Tier 2
The Wolff family took on Player of the Week! Jeremy Fine and his partner, Yossi Reich in a spirited match. After dropping the first game the Wolves came back to win the next three games and the match. Wolff (two f’s not one) were very excited about the early victory. “We’re pretty stoked about this tournament. It’s about time WITT branched out to Pickleball!”
We hear you loud and clear.
Please continue to play your matches. More information will be forthcoming about a variety of things, including the BBQ[s] so stay tuned!
Have a great week ahead,
Uri
Here we go again. For those of you who are new to the tournament, I like to send out weekly emails during the tournament. Sometimes they are longer than others, but my hope is that it creates a little more buzz around what we have going on here.
This week I will be sending out only one email to all participants in both Tennis and Pickleball. I am not sure what that will look like moving forward.
Regardless, here are some tennis stats:
We had 144 players last year for the record, which translates into 84% retention (eh) and 17% growth. In case anyone was interested.
As the tournament has grown, there have been several decisions that have had to be made.
1) A couple of years ago, Dovid Schulman started helping out. I can’t describe how time consuming this is. Forgetting just the sheer amount of time it takes if everyone did what they were supposed to do, there is A LOT of chasing people down for different things (pay for the tournament, play your matches, enter the score form, etc.) I would say the mental load is much heavier than the actual commitment of time, which is also not light at all.
2) We decided to build a real website. More to come on this, but it looks real good in the early stages. I am hoping we will have the website up and running for this year’s tournaments, but for those of you who do things like this, it can be a very time consuming process. Especially to try to get it right.
3) People have asked to sponsor. As of now, I am shying away from that, mainly because I am not sure how I feel about it. But as this continues to grow, that’s obviously something to discuss.
4) We started a Pickleball tournament. All credit to Dovid Schulman, who is now in every Pickleball whatsapp group in the five towns. Somehow there are 96 people in year 1 of doubles pickleball. My takeaway so far is that people love pickleball.
All of these questions, among many others, beg the question, where is this all going? For 9 years this was a heimishe tournament with a small, albeit increasingly larger, group of people. Now I have people throwing out the word “commercialization,” and “different feel.” You know who you are. But the truth is that the change in the feeling of the tournament was always inevitable. A tournament with 16 people is not the same as one with 168. And 96 Pickleball players. It can’t be run the same way, ensuring everything runs smoothly. It really doesn’t
scale so smoothly. Trust me. I can assure everyone that neither Dovid or I are retiring on money from this tournament, and the time we invest into this is a HORRIBLE financial decision.
Once again, we’re back to the same question. Why bother? Where is this going? Here is the best answer I can give you. I have no idea. I know that I have spent 10 years building a tennis community in the Five Towns, which I really hope has brought a lot of good to people’s lives. I hope it has cultivated some camaraderie and facilitated the making of new connections. I hope it has allowed people an excuse to hang out with people they otherwise would not have. Will it just keep growing like this? Would sponsors make it better? Will the website make it better? I am not sure about any of those. The website decision seemed like a must and hopefully everyone agrees when it’s done. At the very least, I hope it will increase engagement with the tournament and what we are trying to build here. But I really don’t know where it goes from here.
Let me leave you with one thought. Someone recently asked me if I would sell the tournament for 50K. I thought that was preposterous. I would say the number is somewhere around 10M for me. You’re probably reading this thinking I am insane, which very well may be true. But to me, it’s all about building something. If you have ever built something in your life, you can relate to this. The money is helpful to be able to build something new. But here, we already build something great! And I am really proud of what we have here! Really proud of it.
Who knows? It could be one day this will all change. But this is where I am right now so we’ll see where this goes. A lot of new players all over the place. A lot of people have been questioning if they are in the right tier. Guys, let’s be honest. To get this “right” we would need 15 tiers. We’re not doing that. The weaker players in Tier 1 and the better players in Tier 2 are roughly the same. The difference is really whether you want to get smoked by Yaron Markfeld in one of your matches or beat a weaker Tier 2 player. Do you want to lose in the first round of tier 1, if you even make it, or advance deeper into Tier 2? And the same thing applies to the other tiers as well.
Are you in the right Tier? That’s a better life question than it is a WITT question, but it’s probably something I can expound on a different day.
As we enter into Shavuos, I wanted to share one thought I recently heard from the Bayam Darkecha, Rav Pinchas Halbershtat. Every year, we accept the Torah again on Shavuos. Why do we keep having to accept it? We just did that last year! He explained that every year we are being recreated through the new challenges that come our way. Each new test in life reveals a new aspect of ourselves, and a new level of divine concealment — and, in turn, a new opportunity to bring the light of Hashem into the world.
That is why we need a new Shavuos every single year — the light required to navigate this year’s struggles is different from the light we needed last year. New challenges require new revelations and a new acceptance.
People often bemoan the complexity and darkness of our generation’s challenges, but we must recognize that with these new challenges come new lights —were never revealed before in history. The negativity we sometimes feel is often misplaced. Hashem desires to reveal these new lights specifically in our generation to counterbalance the darkness.
Let this Shavuos kick off a new year of lights for all of us. With our families, our businesses, and on the court. Wishing everyone a Chag Kosher v’sameach.
And of course, a good week ahead!
Uri
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