Instagram/@amareisreal
Amare shared his weekly Torah teaching, focusing on Parsha Vayeilech. In his post, he did mention his full embrace of Orthodoxy-a clarification of the Jewish nation as the “priestly nation,” meaning that they should not proselytize but teach Torah to those who decide to learn it from them. The lesson was accompanied by a video in which Amare Stoudemire expanded on Moses’ handing his leadership to Joshua and the command to teach the law to the “stranger.”
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Amare Stoudemire continues to assert his image as a serious Torah scholar and teacher-a process he publicly documented throughout many years. The new installment of his teachings illuminated particular issues in the weekly reading by connecting these with the modern world. The video taught that teaching the stranger is something we must all do: “We are a priestly nation. It is our task to teach all sons and daughters of Adam how to live according to the Torah. That is why we are a priestly nation.”
In this way, Judaism is construed as a community to whom the wisdom must be granted and not an exclusive club of members. Stoudemire stressed that Jewish leaders are there to teach, unlike ministers who are attempting to convert; however, anybody interested in following the laws of the Torah is always welcome. He went on to describe the Torah as a “force field” that allows a person to become a joy to live along with, awakened and holy; this was a very powerful image for his followers.
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with many followers expressing gratitude for his clear, relatable teaching. An admirer exclaimed, “I love that I live in the timeline where Amare Stoudemire gives us weekly Torah lessons. Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tova!” This particular comment is evidence of the unique intertwining space Stoudemire has forged, one that meshes his celebrity with deep religious scholarship.
Another comment took this perspective and applied it to an ethical imperative: “And with that comes our obligation as Jews to WELCOME all strangers and fight for the preservation of all humankind. For we – as we particularly remember during these High Holidays – were all strangers in the land of Egypt.” The comment proves further thought concerning hospitality and social justice was triggered from Stoudemire’s lesson.
There were also compliments in the comments from an Orthodox Sunni Muslim: “As an Orthodox Sunni Muslim, I love Torah and everything in it. Amen.” An interaction like this speaks volumes about the cross-cultural appeal and respect that Stoudemire’s platform creates.
The comment section, however, was not all goodwill. Some comments took the opportunity to settle present political conflicts in a spiritual dialect-the thread was dotted with “Free Palestine” comments that were mostly dismissed from many others or even met with defensive rejoinders, a stark contrast from the post’s initial agenda of religious teaching away from some chosen ones. One particularly angry user rebuked: “What’s ur take sir?” referring to the current geopolitical issue; however, Stoudemire never publicly issued a direct remark in reply.
Mostly, ensuing engagement stuck close to the spiritual core. Anonymized recounted: “My Rabbi Zeide always taught me that we aren’t chosen because we are better; we are chosen to teach. And teach we will!!” This echoes the exact message from Stoudemire’s own video-that being chosen is about responsibility, not being better.
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Through his consistent teachings, Amare Stoudemire has become an important voice for many seeking to understand Judaism. He has built an audience of many nationalities with the ability to take difficult passages and relate them to life lessons, the shock attached to his unusual profile. While the inevitable disagreements merely serve as fuel in the digital town square, the primary takeaway from this post-centered around the reason for teaching and openness that epitomizes his understanding of faith. This recent post further highlights his impact.
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