A basketball star's spiritual journey” into the Bible, Israel and Judaism

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By By Sam Kestenbaum

Amar'e Stoudemire attempts to blow a shofar at J. Levine Books & Judaica in Midtown Manhattan. Credit Joshua Bright for The New York Times

The halls of the Jewish Museum in Manhattan were hushed and dim as Amar’e Stoudemire stepped inside. At nearly seven feet tall, the former New York Knicks star towered over the smattering of other visitors. “When I’m not training, I study Torah,” Mr. Stoudemire said. “Study, train, study, train, study, train, study. That’s life.” Mr. Stoudemire had just announced, only hours earlier, hopes of returning to the N.B.A. after leaving two years ago, but he’d reserved the afternoon for showing his spiritual side. At 35, he is part sports mogul, part holy man. He is also taking what he frequently calls a “spiritual journey” into the Bible, Israel and Judaism. It’s a turn that has fascinated and confounded some observers.[More]