KIDDUSH HASHEM: Israeli Robotics Team Quits Competition Over Shabbos, Receives Standing Ovation

by Monsey.info

Team 5990, an Israeli robotics team at the First Robotics Competition bowed out of the race during its final stage this past Shabbos over the day of the week that the competition fell out on, Saturday.

To a standing ovation, a letter the team left was read at the competition in Houston, Texas outlined their reasons for not being present, providing an important lesson and making a Kiddush Hashem.

“Thank you for the reminder that there are other things outside the world of robotics that are also important,” the MC of the event noted after reading the letter.

The letter noted that the members of the team, consisting of students from the Amit High School in Modi’in, observed Shabbos, and that they were not willing to compromise their values for the sake of the competition.

According to reports, in their otherwise empty booth, they had left Shabbat candles, challah, a Kiddush cup, and an Israeli flag, together with a short explanation of what Shabbat is all about.