Israeli Ninja Athlete Wins Silver After Upholding Jewish Faith and Sabbath Observance

Dvir Efrati, an Israeli athlete and fitness instructor, recently won a silver medal in the speed category at the World Ninja Championship held in North Carolina, USA. Despite the demanding nature of ninja competitions, which include endurance and technical obstacle courses, Efrati prioritizes his religious observance above all. He trains seven to nine times a week and finances his participation in international competitions himself, often spending tens of thousands of shekels to cover flights and related expenses.

Efrati travels daily from his hometown of Yavne to Raanana for training, where the best facilities and athletes in Israel are located. Maintaining a kosher diet abroad poses significant challenges, especially in places like North Carolina where kosher food is scarce. To overcome this, he flew to New York a week before the competition, stocked up on kosher food, and then drove ten hours with boxes of food to the competition site.

A key aspect of Efrati's story is his strict observance of the Sabbath, which often conflicts with competition schedules. He proudly states that he refuses to compete in 99% of international events that take place on Shabbat, even if it means missing out on major opportunities. He calls the Sabbath a "gift" and emphasizes that his values guide his decisions. Despite his busy schedule, he also attends Torah classes with Rabbi Yigal Cohen.

Efrati values the journey and effort more than the trophies themselves, noting he has a wall full of awards but treasures the hard work and failures behind them. At the recent championship, he made a powerful statement by wearing a kippah and tzitzit on the podium, highlighting his pride in his Jewish identity and faith. His commitment to religious principles alongside athletic excellence exemplifies a profound Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God's name).