The Jewish Link of New Jersey and Gotham Burger would like to recognize an amazing Teaneck family as this week’s Sportstars of the week. The Hod family is well known around Bergen County and beyond for basketball and the tremendous chesed they do. I first met the Hod family over ten years ago when Janet was a volunteer driver for Tomchei Shabbos of Bergen County. She was always happy to take whatever route needed to be delivered, always claiming she had plenty of willing and able helpers to carry the boxes. It wasn’t until later, when I had the pleasure of coaching against her boys when they played for Yavneh Academy, that I began to appreciate how willing and able the Hod family is both on the court and off. Watching them further develop their game in Frisch, MGBL and now for Yeshiva University, it is a pleasure to witness the skill and sportsmanship the Hods bring to everything they do.
Two weeks ago the Hods set a NCAA record that will likely never be topped. It was when Jordan, Tyler and Justin all played at the same time for the Yeshiva University men’s basketball team’s Skyline Conference victory over Sarah Lawrence College, 73-43. Jordan Hod scored six points, with a game-high eight assists, brought down two boards, blocked one shot and forced one steal. Justin Hod nailed two free throws, while Tyler Hod grabbed a rebound and dished out two assists. Yeshiva University basketball coach Elliot Steinmetz told The Jewish Link, “ The Hod family is special in a way that transcends sports. You don’t find people as genuinely caring and giving as this family and it runs from the parents down to the children. I’ve been telling people for years that Jordan is the most impressive kid I have ever been around, both on and off the court. Now that I’m lucky enough to have his brothers too, I’m seeing that it’s a trend and not just a one-off. Lior and Janet have been supportive and positive. Lior has been that way since I played for Yeshiva back in 1999 and Janet for as long as I know her. It was special for all of us to get to see the three of them competing at the same time.”
Lior Hod is an alum of Cross Keys High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and Yeshiva University.
Janet Hod is a graduate of Cinnaminson High School in New Jersey and The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Samantha Hod Locke is a twenty five year old graduate of Frisch ‘09 and Rutgers University ‘14. Samantha won three MYHSAL championships for Frisch and is a member of the reigning CMEK women’s league basketball championship team.
Jordan Hod is a twenty three year old Yeshiva University senior.
Justin Hod is a twenty one year old sophomore at Yeshiva University.
Tyler Hod is a nineteen year old freshman at Yeshiva University.
We took the time to ask this sports family some of our favorite sportstar questions.
Who is your role model?
Lior: My wife is my role model because without her I would not have my four children.
Janet: My husband, Lior, because he is kind, generous, wise, determined and positive.
Samantha: My father. I’m lucky that my favorite athlete is also one of my role models. My dad worked so hard in his teenage years to not only succeed in basketball but also to support himself and his family.
Jordan: My parents are my role models. My dad has taught me so much about business, life and basketball. My mom has taught me kindness, patience, hachnasat orchim, love and balance. They are both amazing people.
Justin: My parents are my role models. I wouldn’t be where I am today without both of them. They mean the world to me.
Tyler: My parents, siblings and rebbeim are my role models. My parents did it all for me. They taught me the important character traits of welcoming and taking care of guests with their open home policy, doing kind deeds, having a clean mouth, taking care of others constantly and making other kids feel comfortable. My siblings pushed me to be better in everything. Samantha taught me how to be organized and do well in school, Jordan taught me how to be a leader and socialize, and Justin taught me how to keep my eyes on the prize and have the “I need to win” mentality. The rebbeim are my spiritual advisors who showed me the beautiful and meaningful ways of living a Torah-based life.
What is your favorite sport?
Janet: Basketball. There’s no choice in the Hod house.
Who is your favorite athlete?
Lior: My favorite athletes are all of my children. There is nothing I love more than watching and videotaping.
Samantha: My father is my role model and my favorite athlete. He came from nothing and yet his determination to succeed allowed him to surpass all expectations. In my opinion, he is one of the best YU athletes of all time and he remains the third all-time leading scorer for YU basketball. With the help of my mom, he has raised me and my brothers to not only love basketball but to also see the countless life lessons the sport has to offer such as teamwork, hard work and sportsmanship. With his mentorship and guidance, all three of my brothers play integral parts of the YU basketball team and are now defining their own paths as Jewish athletes.
Jordan: My favorite pro athlete is Russell Westbrook. He plays with more heart and passion than any player in any sport.
Justin: My favorite professional athlete is Klay Thompson. I love how focused he is on the court. He knows his role and is an extremely talented player who always puts the team over himself.
Tyler: My favorite athletes are Kobe Bryant and Kawhi Leonard. Kobe has a killer instinct (aka Mamba mode) that I truly admire. Kawhi brings humility to the game and shows a tremendous amount of focus on the defensive side of the ball.
What is your earliest sports memory?
Lior: My earliest sports memory is the 1977 Maccabi Tel Aviv team winning the European Cup Basketball Championship where Tal Brody made his famous remark upon beating the CSKA Moscow. He famously said, “We are on the map, and we are staying on the map. Not only in sports, but in everything.”
Jordan: My earliest sports memories are of being a YU water boy as a toddler.
What is your favorite sports memory or your greatest sports accomplishment?
Lior: My greatest sports accomplishment is breaking the YU scoring record in 1988 and watching my brother break the mark again a year later. But my favorite sports memory was in 2013, when the Frisch varsity basketball team won the Sarachek championship game in three overtimes and my son Tyler was named the MVP. I still go back to the video of that game when I’m having a bad day.
Janet: My greatest sports accomplishment is raising four incredible children who are also great athletes.
Jordan: I love anything where my family excels in sport, whether it’s winning a JCC league with my dad and brothers or watching my sister hit a critical shot. It’s all about family.
Justin: My favorite sports memory is when I got a buzzer beating game winner on practically a full court shot in the championship game. It felt so great to see that shot go in- like a dream happening in slow motion.
Tyler: My greatest sports accomplishment is winning the Sarachek basketball tournament and making the Sarachek finals the year before that.
What is one of the funniest things that happened to you while playing sports?
Lior: The weirdest thing that ever happened to me while playing was in 1991. I shattered the glass backboard on a two hand tomahawk dunk over another player at the Tenafly JCC during a basketball game. Everyone was cheering, except the referee who screamed at me, “You will have to pay for it!”
What is your favorite thing to do when not playing sports?
Lior: When I’m not playing ball or cheering on my family I am the CEO of ELLKAY Healthcare Data Plumbers, and I enjoy taking care of the seven beehives on the roof of my Teaneck building.
Samantha: When not playing sports, I enjoy taking yoga classes and going to the gym. I enjoy attending Embrace Kids’ [an organization which assists with the non-medical needs of families with children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and where Samantha serves on the board] inspirational events and seeing the smiles on the faces of our patient families.
Jordan: When I’m not playing basketball or soccer I love to read.
What is the best thing about being a sportstar?
Lior: The best thing about being a sportstar is collecting friends along my life journey and using sports to motivate people around me.
Janet: The greatest thing about being a sportstar is being able to represent our people and community with my amazing family. They say ‘it takes a village,’ and our community and friends have all been a vital part of our journey to get to this moment. It’s all about teamwork– it’s the story of the Jewish people.
Jordan: The best thing about being a sportstar is being a role model and example for others. I’m lucky I can be a Jewish athlete.
Justin: I love being a sportstar and being recognized alongside my family.
Tyler: I’m not such a fan of being a sportstar. First of all, I’m not a star, but I have the potential to be. Second of all, not trying to be humble, I just enjoy playing ball and being with friends and brothers. The best thing about this whole experience is making my parents happy. That type of joy lasts forever.
Please send nominees for upcoming Jewish Link and Gotham Burger Sportstars of the Week to [email protected].
By Steve Gutlove, JLNJ Sports Editor
