NEW YORK (VINnews) — 7-year-old Samuel Steigler lives in the Brazilian city of Coritiba, where being Jewish is an anomaly. Despite this he proudly walks around with his Tzitzis and Kippa, after his family became closer to Judaism via the local Chabad house.
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Recently Samuel participated in a judo contest, in which he missed the first rounds which took place on Shabbat. When he competed, he was asked to take off his kippa for the game but refused, even though he lost points whenever it fell during the course of the game.
When asked later about his response when asked to take off his kippa, Samuel answered that “I didn’t have any doubts, my first thought was: No, I’m not taking off my kippa.”
Local media outlets expressed their admiration that the child had maintained his religious principles despite wanting to win the contest.
Rabbi Yosef and Tilla Dobrevski, who run the Chabad house in Coritiva, praised Samuel for choosing not to hide his Jewish identity. Their daughter, Mrs. Tzivi Stolick who is in touch with Steigler’s family, said that “since they became involved with our Chabad house, they have taken steps like koshering their home and keeping Shabbos. Samuel has joined our shiurim and demonstrated unusual determination to do what is right.”
She said that people had thought Samuel would ignore his Kippa when it fell during the contest but he was determined not to compromise at all.
Kol Hakavod to the Lubavitcher couple and all of the shiluchim who have brought more Jews back to keeping Shabbos , Tzizos tefilin, mizuza, and many other Mitzvos than any other group of Jews.Yasher Koach to Samuel(A Holy Jew and sooooo cute)and his parents!!
Curitiba is not a town. It it is a city with a population of over 3,800,000 people in 2023
It’s about time we focus on a real kiddish haShem as opposed to the phony baloney garbage feel good type of stories which have nothing to do with being מקדש שם שמים . I’m referring to a lot of things but specifically that horrible garbage soccer tournament that happened a few weeks ago where the Israeli team was playing on Shabbos, and far too many Jews were all excited about it. That was disgusting! THAT WAS A MAJOR CHILUL HASHEM!