You’ve got the chips, you’ve got the dips, you’ve got the record button set for your favorite commercials…now you just need the Jewish. For those choosing to watch the Super Bowl this weekend, here are five ways to bring some Jewish flair to your party:
The Torah tells us to honor celebrations with food, and we’re completely okay delivering on that commandment. Instead of potato chips, use "MVP (Most Valuable Pita) Chips." Replace those burgers with "End Zone Egg Challah-lah Sliders". Or Purim is coming up, so make some “Halftime Hamantaschen.” Pro tip: When someone asks "What makes these wings different from all other wings?" you must respond with the full Shawarma-spiced recipe, in story form.
Who says gambling has to be guilt-inducing? Turn your betting pool into a mitzvah by having all proceeds go to charity. Create betting categories like "Tikkun Olam Tally" where you bet on the number of times community service is mentioned during player profiles or "The Rabbi’s Review" where you debate which plays would make great Torah lessons. The winner gets the satisfaction of choosing which Jewish charity receives the pool–and of course, bragging rights at next week's Shabbat dinner.
Create a special seating area dubbed the "Commentators' Couch" where those of us who have a knack for networking can put everyone else to shame. Sample quotes include "We share a therapist" and "I sit behind his radiologist in shul." Bonus points for anyone who’s ever had direct contact.
Instead of regular commercial breaks, host 30-second "Lightning Round Debates" on pressing questions like "If a player's tallit got caught in another player's helmet, would it be considered holding?" or "Is it considered work to throw a football on Shabbos?" Watch as your most scholarly friend tries to quote Rashi while everyone else is watching the Doritos commercial.
Before kickoff, gather everyone for a special "Super Bowl Seder." Pass around a football and have each person say what team they're grateful for (even the Jets fans). End with a modified blessing: "Blessed are You, Hashem, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season of questionable referee calls." Just remember - when your team is down in the fourth quarter, it's totally acceptable to negotiate with G-d using promises of future mizvot.
Remember, at its heart, the Super Bowl is about community, celebration, and eating way too much - three things Jews have been perfecting for thousands of years. So gather your mishpacha, both chosen and born into, and celebrate this uniquely American tradition with a Jewish twist. And if your team loses? Well, we've wandered a desert for 40 years - waiting until next season is nothing.