Just after sunset on Saturday, Rabbi Chaim Zippel held a cup of wine and a tin of spices, celebrating the end of the Sabbath with a small Jewish community at his home, which serves as the only synagogue in the county.
The conclusion of the Havdalah ceremony prompted a hurried change into blue and white attire as attendees raced to the nearby Brigham Young University (BYU) stadium, a private institution affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Zippel never imagined he would become a BYU supporter or a football fan, but that changed when the university welcomed its first Jewish quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, to the team. With Retzlaff leading the charge, the Cougars enjoyed nine consecutive victories, setting the stage for a memorable season, although their unbeaten streak was snapped on Saturday at the hands of the Kansas Jayhawks. Nevertheless, BYU, currently ranked No. 14 in the AP Top 25, still has the chance to shine in the Big 12 Conference and possibly make it to the College Football Playoff. Retzlaff has become a beloved figure in Provo’s small but close-knit Jewish community, also gaining popularity among the broader BYU fanbase, which affectionately refers to him as “BYJew.
As one of only three Jewish students in a 35,000-strong student body, the quarterback and team co-captain has leveraged his rising stardom to share his faith and deepen his own understanding of Judaism. “I arrived thinking I might not fit into the culture, anticipating I’d just focus on school and football,” Retzlaff told The Associated Press. “But I found that I do fit in. People are genuinely interested, and being around such a faith-driven community encourages me to explore my own faith more.”
The junior college transfer from Corona, California, quickly formed a friendship with the Utah rabbi after starting at BYU in 2023. They began weekly sessions in the campus library to learn the fundamentals of Judaism, which bolstered Retzlaff’s ability to discuss his faith in public and excel in his required religion courses. BYU students are required to take classes on the Book of Mormon, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the belief that families can be together forever if marriages occur in temples. Retzlaff noted that he was surprised to discover numerous references to Jewish people in the Book of Mormon.
Some fans and classmates have even referred to him as “the chosen one,” reflecting both his on-field success and the Latter-day Saint belief that Jews are God’s chosen people. “Honestly, it’s a lot of respect. Sometimes I feel like they’re putting me on a pedestal, and I’m like, ‘Whoa, that’s a bit too much,’” he joked. At 21, Retzlaff has embraced his role as an ambassador for his faith in college football, especially in a state where only 0.2% of the population is Jewish. He wears a silver Star of David necklace around campus and participates in Shabbat dinners at the rabbi’s home during the offseason. Last year, he led the first public Hanukkah menorah lighting in Utah County at Provo’s historic courthouse, arranged for a kosher food truck during team weight training, and wrapped tefillin with Zippel at the BYU stadium.
The tefillin ritual involves Jewish men binding black boxes containing Torah verses to their arm and forehead as a connection to God. “I told Jake that after doing this and connecting to God in the stadium, no amount of pressure can faze you,” said Zippel. “He exemplifies how to find your space in the world and make a meaningful impact.” Retzlaff identifies with the Reform movement of Judaism, which harmonizes tradition with contemporary values, prioritizing ethics and personal choice over strict adherence to Jewish law. He plays football on Friday nights and Saturdays, during Shabbat, and views sports as a means of connecting to his faith while inspiring young Jewish athletes. Among those inspired is Hunter Smith, a 14-year-old quarterback from Chicago, who traveled to Utah with his family and friends to watch Retzlaff play. The brothers adorned their jerseys with Retzlaff’s No. 12, while their father donned a “BYJew” shirt featuring Retzlaff emerging from a Star of David.
As the only Jewish quarterback I know of in my area, I feel like I’m paving my own way,” Smith said at Saturday’s game. “Jake’s the only Jewish quarterback in college football, and he’s a role model for me.” When Retzlaff lit Provo’s massive menorah last December, Zippel was moved by the quarterback’s remarks on the significance of representation, especially for Jewish students who may feel unsafe expressing their identities amid rising antisemitism in the U.S. His presence has resonated with BYU alumna Malka Moya, 30, who struggled with her dual identities as both Jewish and Latter-day Saint while on campus. “Jake feels completely at ease wearing his Star of David everywhere,” said Moya, who resides near Provo. “I’ve sometimes felt uncomfortable expressing my Jewish identity, but lately, his example has inspired me to embrace it more openly.”
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