Pirate Fan Remembers

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I thoroughly enjoyed Gary Rosenblatt’s column on the incredible 1960 World
Series, but wanted to point out that not all the Pittsburgh area Orthodox
Jews were oblivious to the events surrounding the Pirates (“In The Big Inning,” Oct. 4).

Above the entrance
of the Orthodox synagogue in New Castle, Pa., where my father served as
rabbi, worshippers throughout the summer of 1960 were greeted by a large sign
that read “Beat ‘em Bucs,” transliterated into Hebrew of course. And on
that fateful Shemini Atzeret, the word “somehow” got around that the
beloved Pirates were indeed World Champions. What followed was the most
joyous hakafot ever at Congregation Tifereth Israel for all participants —
except the depressed rabbi, who had been born and raised in the virtual
shadow of Yankee Stadium.

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