(JTA) — Congregation Rodeph Shalom of Philadelphia and Temple Israel of Boston have agreed to a Tzedakah (charity) Super Bowl wager over the results of the National Football League championship game on February 4th.
The synagogue from the city of the losing team will donate 18 times the difference in the score to the charity of the other synagogue’s choice. Rodeph Shalom has chosen Philly Youth Basketball, which empowers youth as students, athletes and leaders. Temple Israel has chosen the CTE Center at Boston University Medical Center, which conducts high-impact, innovative research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other long-term consequences of repetitive brain trauma in athletes and military personnel. Both synagogues also urged their congregants to donate to the charities ahead of the Super Bowl.