The Forward recently profiled David Vyorst who took a running jump shot at researching the Jewish connection to basketball in his new documentary film, The First Basket. Here’s some history on “Jew ball” - an affectionate term to describe the emphasis on teamwork, crisp passing and defense.

This style of play originated earlier in the 20th century, when Jewish players competed on both the amateur and semiprofessional levels. Teams were sponsored by settlement houses that wanted to Americanize immigrants, and by labor unions and Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring branches. Players on the most famous of these teams, the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association, or SPHAs, wore Hebrew letters and Stars of David on their uniforms. What’s more, after many SPHAs games, the court was turned into a dance floor where young Jews could socialize and look for husbands and wives. Some of the figures mentioned in “The First Basket” — Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes and current NBA Commissioner David Stern, both of whom were interviewed in the film — are well known. Others are less familiar to casual fans. Barney Sedran, for instance, was an early 20th-century player who, at 5 feet 4 inches, is believed to be the shortest player in the Basketball Hall of Fame. During his heyday in the 1910s and ’20s, Sedran played in as many as three games a day, often for different teams.

The 92nd Street Y has a long and storied tradition of fostering Jewish sports programs, specifically basketball, going back over 100 years. Naturally, the Y was asked to supply archival material for the documentary and in addition to the photograph above, there are more below that were shared. No surprise, basketball is still very popular at the Y with programs for adults, teens and kids, but the only devotion required is on the court.

YMHA Basketball 1904

YMHA Rangers Basketball 1916

YMHA Basketball Teens

YMHA Basketball 1924-25

YMHA Basketball 1928

YM-YWHA Basketball 1940s