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\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n Stoudemire, who formally converted to Judaism in 2020, has been vocal about his affiliation with the Black Hebrew Israelites, a movement whose core belief is that African Americans are the genealogical descendants of the ancient Israelites. He has also coached at the Maccabiah Games and owns a line of kosher wine.<\/p>\n \t Stoudemire left his assistant coaching job with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 after saying the role interfered with his Shabbat observance. Stoudemire, whose name on Instagram is \u201camareisrael,\u201d frequently posts on social media about studying the Talmud and other Jewish texts.<\/p>\n Stoudemire joins a lineage of Jewish basketball icons in the Hall of Fame, including Sue Bird, who was inducted last year, Nancy Lieberman, Nat Holman, Barney Sedran, Max Friedman and Dolph Schayes \u2014 the only other Jewish player to have his number retired in the NBA.<\/p>\n Non-players include coaches Red Auerbach and Harry Litwack, Harlem Globetrotters founder Abe Saperstein, coach and executive Eddie Gottlieb, the NBA\u2019s first de facto commissioner Maurice Podoloff and referee Dave Tobey. Senda Berenson Abbott, a pioneer of women\u2019s basketball, became the first woman inducted into the hall in 1985.<\/p>\n The official announcement for the Hall of Fame class is April 4, and the induction will take place the weekend of August 14.<\/p>\n Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tFormer NBA basketball player Amar\u2019e Stoudemire shows off his Israeli national identity card at the Interior Ministry March 13, 2019. (Hadas Parush\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
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