Alan Shlomo Veingrad's Professional Blog

International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchim and the Lay Leadership Conference

2011-11-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

What an experience! I spent the weekend in Brooklyn (Crown Heights), NY with 4,000 Chabad Rabbis. With that size crowd it reminded me of my playing days. Chabad Rabbis are offensive lineman in disguise. The greatest pushers in the world, better the NFL Lineman. That’s what NFL Lineman do, push another man against his will-back, to the side and not get pushed back themselves. Really! I have never been with such a positive group of people all striving to help people, push people to be their greatest and help them uncover there Jewish identities in a non-judgmental meaningful way. I had one of the greatest pleasures as a speaker, I was asked to share my own journey in front of such a esteemed group, the Rabbis and Lay Leaders of Chabad who are the financial supporters assisting Rabbis in communities all over the world. What a group, with various back grounds who have been inspired by these Rabbis to grow, change and make a positive difference in this world. To see some of what I experienced go to www.chabad.org/kinus. Watch the video of the Key Note speech from Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks How the Lubavitcher Rebbe Changed My Life. Monumental! I could totally relate, however I never met the Rebbe but his teachings changed my life. What a coach!

Shabbaton at Chabad at KU (University of Kansas) Lawrence, KS

2011-11-21T09:48:00.000-08:00

I just returned from an awesome weekend speaking and hanging out with the students all weekend at the University of Kansas - Chabad. I also spoke to the community Shabbos day. I am grateful for the warmth I received from all I met and from Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel. I also received the greatest testimonial from Rabbi Tiechtel:

This past Shabbos we had Alan Veingrad join our Chabad House. In the past 6 years we had brought in quite a few speakers, but this guy was absolutely unbelievable! From the moment he came he was totally devoted to do whatever it takes to make this Shabbaton a success, speaking and farbrenging with our students and community again and again. He is ready and open to be there for whatever is needed, and very tuned in to the needs and sensitivities of the local place. He is also a great articulate speaker!

He is an inspiration to everyone he meets, as a very balanced person with both feet on the ground with an amazing story of athletic success on one hand (the students loved his super bowl ring...), with a very spiritual and religious connection as well. His message is clear out Yiddishkeit, motivating more growth and Kiyum of Torah and Mitzvos.

Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel
The Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Life
Serving the University of Kansas
and the surrounding Communities

Don’t get locked out…of Judaism

2011-09-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

by Alan Shlomo Veingrad

Another season in the National Football League is now underway but it almost never happened. For months, players were locked out of their jobs, as owners and players failed to reach an agreement. This happened to me as a player, but even worse.

Imagine what this is like: you’re playing professional football – your dream for most of your life. You just start your second year in the NFL, everything is going really well for you, and then all of a sudden, right in the middle of the season, the collective bargaining agreement between owners and players breaks down and the season grinds to an immediate halt.

You are locked out: you can’t even get into the locker room, weight room, or stadium. Your season is over just like that. You are not even sure what the whole thing means but you know this: there are no more games, no team, no job and no paychecks. But the worst part is that the owners bring in replacement players to fill their rosters and all you can do is watch on TV as your own “team” plays every Sunday. This is what happened in the last strike.

This was not how my career was supposed to go. I didn’t even know what to do. Should I keep working out, expecting this to be over soon? Should I go try to find another job?

I felt terrible. I worked so hard to get into the NFL. I had built my life around this – why did this happen? All because the two sides couldn’t agree – because they were unwilling to compromise on their demands. In the end, they didn’t really get what they wanted anyway, but to fight for it, they could have ended up with nothing meaning no season.

This almost happened again this year with even more at stake. The NFL now brings in more than $9 billion in revenues each year and the whole season was jeopardized because the principles were not getting exactly what they wanted.

Sadly, this refusal to compromise, this rigid approach to insisting on our own terms, is not limited to the NFL. It almost took down our whole country in the recent debt-ceiling fiasco. And it is one of the most common reasons people pass up on invaluable opportunities for meaningful Jewish experiences.

“That synagogue is not my favorite,” “this rabbi seems too religious,” and “those classes make me uncomfortable” are just some of the reasons we just stay home, locking ourselves out of our Jewish communities – and ultimately out of our own Jewish lives. We set high expectations for the Judaism we want, which may even be appropriate, but when they are not met we give up.

In the NFL, few games go according to plan. The passing game you were counting on gets thwarted by a great defense, or even by bad weather. A key player gets hurt and someone has to take over a job they’re not suited for. When that happens, it’s time to embrace “Plan B.” Nobody likes to accept Plan B but if that’s what it takes to win, there’s no time to fret over it. You make the adjustment and get right back out there.

In Jewish life, Plan A’s can be hard to come by. But Judaism is too valuable to lose out on. $9-10 billion is nothing compared to what there is to gain from investing yourself in Jewish living and learning. You just have to be willing to give a little here and compromise a little there. The truth is, that’s when the game really begins and that’s when winners prove themselves.
This New Year, don’t let anything lock you out of the stadium. The payoff is just too great. Have a healthy, happy and sweet new year.

The Ultimate Preparation

2011-08-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

Could you imagine knowing that you are being videotaped at work every single day? Knowing that every time you perform any action at work, you are being watched? That is what I experienced as a player in the NFL. Each time I put on a uniform, I was either being videotaped or watched at a football drill, practice or game. Players were constantly graded. The grading scale was simple: you got either a plus or a minus. Did you make the play or not? That’s it. The coaches reviewed the videos and then went over it with you in front of your teammates. They saw it all - the good, the bad and the ugly. Many times you dreaded going to those meetings after a bad day because, let’s face it, no one likes looking at their mistakes (especially when they are shown to you on a big screen) in front of their teammates.

Being Jewish, the Almighty has done us a big favor by establishing a certain time of year when we take spiritual inventory of ourselves. If we do this the right way, it should be painful, like watching a video of all of our actions. However this process allows us the opportunity to fix ourselves and become better. Isn’t that what we want, after all?

You wait for this time of year. You repeat to yourself over and over, “This will be the year.” You use this time to re-examine where you are and where you would like to be. To explore so you will truly know what changes you need to make. Are you aware of who you really are and who you really want to be? Are you open to changing to realign your behavior and your values? Although we know it’s certainly easier not to change, but we also know that tremendous growth comes with making change and meeting challenges. This year we can finally get out of the old and into the new, to make those meaningful changes and to finally have what we want. How can it be, though? It’s so hard to change since, after all, its taken quite some time to get this way.

That is what is so great about the upcoming Jewish month of Elul. It is the month that gives us a wake-up call. It’s preparation time, to start the process of preparing ourselves for the changes. To soul search and ask questions such as, where did I fail and where was I successful? We all have this ability; the ability to be the accountant of our own life and take the time to reflect on the previous year. As a former NFL lineman, I used to sit in the “cold plunge” (ice-cold water tank) to prepare myself for the upcoming game. Football is all about preparation and the last thing you wanted was to feel your legs weighed down on game day as you ran out of the tunnel because you didn’t prepare your body properly. My teammates and I would often say the word preparation during this process. It is an intense visual: a bunch of lineman in the cold plunge saying preparation? We all wanted to get out of the gate fast and do it right to start the game. My former football Coach, Jimmy Johnson, expected his players to be 5-10 minutes early for team meetings. He would often scold players if they showed up on time by saying, “How can you be ready for a team meeting without a few minutes of extra time to get mentally ready?” Trust me, you didn’t want to have that conversation! Right now is the time to get a head start, to get into the cold plunge, show up early and to insure a year filled with unbounded success, peace and joy in all you do.

About the author Alan Shlomo Veingrad
Alan Shlomo Veingrad had a seven-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII. He has been the subject of features on NBC, NPR, JM in the AM, and the Jewish Channel; and in the NY Times, NY Post, Dallas Morning News, and the Miami Herald. In a one-of-a-kind presentation, Alan shares with audiences around the world the story of how he became aware after retiring from professional football that his lifestyle was more style than life. It left a void in him that ultimately led to his becoming an Orthodox Jew.

For more information about hearing his uniquely entertaining and valuable perspective, please visit www.alanveingrad.com.

Check out our latest Newsletter posted today

2011-05-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

BRAND NEW TALK:
Same guy, different hat and more Jewish - How do you know when it's time to change?
Why do some people change? Why did the doctor, CPA, Sports Agent, Lawyer and Pro Football player make a transformational life change to become Torah Observant? Shlomo details his 3 point-plan that serves as the play book to score big; no matter how challenging the formation or how long the odds to make the change, get out of the old and into the new. Hilarious Entertaining and Non-Threatening

Other talks available:
My Teshuvah Journey: Steps to Self-Discovery in Size 14 shoes - Shared with hundreds of audiences around the world the story of how Shlomo became aware after retiring from professional football that his lifestyle was more style than life. In this very personal presentation, Shlomo shares the steps that have led to his own spiritual journey where he has found a deepening sense of contentment and a renewed sense of purpose.

In Overdrive at OverTime-Consistently Doing More Than What's Expected
Excellence begins with doing more than what's expected more than what the terms of the contract specify. The NFL is not for the faint -hearted, you must do more be over-the-top crazy, hyper-intense, super-focused and totally dedicated. Doing more than the minimum; never focusing on the language in the contact or strict construction of the suggested workout. It's all about doing more-run more, lift more, and study more. In Overdrive at OverTime Shlomo relates the discipline of being a professional athlete who became a leader of high-performance sales teams - and then an observant Jew.

Alan's Upcoming Events:
May 26 Yeshiva Torah Ohr - North Miami Beach, FL
May 27 & 28 NCSY Central East Regional Shabbaton/Convention - Detroit, MI
June 1 - Torah Academy - Jacksonville, FL
June 5 Chabad of Plano, TX

About the speaker Alan Veingrad
Alan Veingrad, the transformational speaker, had a seven-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII. He has been the subject of features on NBC, NPR, JM in the AM, and the Jewish Channel; and in the NY Times, NY Post, Dallas Morning News, and the Miami Herald. In May 2010, Alan was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and invited to the White House to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. He speaks to businesses, colleges, universities and religious audiences around the world, bringing his inspirational messages of transformation, excellence, leadership, team play, and spiritual connection. For more information about hearing his uniquely entertaining and valuable perspective, please visit www.alanveingrad.com. For Inquiries and bookings, contact alan@alanveingrad.com or 954 205 6369.

Super Bowl Champion loves The Simply Bar as part of his post-NFL kosher diet

2011-05-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cathy Richards
CEO, Wellness Foods Inc
cathy@wellnessfoods.ca; 1-800-547-5790 x4

Super Bowl Champion loves The Simply Bar as part of his post-NFL kosher diet.

TORONTO, Ontario, May 6 2011
As a former NFL star, Alan Veingrad knows a thing about the struggles of eating well. Fuelling himself to play in seven NFL seasons as an offensive lineman, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII, required a lot of determination and knowledge.

After his time in the NFL, Alan became increasingly aware of blankness in his heart and an emptiness in his soul. He reacquainted himself with the teachings and practices of Jewish life. Alan, who had been the only Jewish player on the Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboy Team in 1992, soon embraced Judaism. He now goes by his Hebrew name Shlomo, and says he has a deepening sense of contentment and a renewed sense of purpose.

Along with Alan’s adoption of the orthodox Jewish religion has come a new struggle: how to continue to eat well while constantly on-the-go and, more importantly, maintaining a strict kosher diet. He is discovering just how hard it is to find healthy, kosher foods:

“The Torah tells us that we need to eat healthily, but overeating at Shabbath and holiday dinners makes that hard to do. Furthermore, some traditional foods in our culture are not always served in the healthiest manner. In the last couple of years, I have noticed that many of my family and friends have been cutting back:
• low fat instead of full fat mayo in salads and sandwiches,
• less oil usage and reduced consumption of traditional greasy foods (like latkes, kugals),
• lean meats instead of full fat kishkes and chicken liver,
• reduced consumption of breads and cakes.”

Alan has recently discovered The Simply Bar, a kosher protein bar from Canada, which is low in fat and only 160 calories or less per bar.

“The Simply Bar is great when I am on the go. It gives me the energy I need, without junk ingredients. If I cannot find a suitable food choice when I am travelling, I know that I have a healthy, portable option that tastes great too. I always make a point of telling others about it, especially if they follow specific diets. I want everyone to have a healthy option available, regardless of the diet they follow or how hectic their schedule is.”

About The Simply Bar:
The Simply Bar was created by Cathy Richards. With Crohn’s disease since she was 12 years old, and a hectic work schedule, she wanted a high protein, low fat, low glycemic bar that had only a handful of all natural ingredients she could pronounce and no chemicals or ingredients she couldn't. In addition to being healthy overall, the short list of natural, kosher, gluten/casein free and vegan ingredients makes The Simply Bar especially easy to digest for those with food sensitivities. The Simply Bar is now loved not only by athletes, vegans and celiacs, but also everyday healthy people who want to make better eating choices. Contact info: cathy@thesimplybar.com 1-800-547-5790 x4

About Alan Veingrad:
Alan Veingrad, the transformational speaker, had a seven-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII. He has been the subject of features on NBC, NPR, JM in the AM, and the Jewish Channel; and in the NY Times, NY Post, Dallas Morning News, and the Miami Herald. In a one-of-a-kind presentation, Alan shares with audiences around the world the story of how he became aware that his lifestyle after retiring from professional football was more style than life. It left a void in him that ultimately led to his becoming an Orthodox Jew. For more information about hearing his uniquely entertaining and valuable perspective, please visit www.alanveingrad.com. For Media Inquiries and bookings, contact alan@alanveingrad.com 954 205 6369.

LOMBARDI - A New American Play on Broadway last minute price discount

2011-04-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

LOMBARDI is able to offer a last minute price code to my friends, followers and supporters. Those who visit www.broadwayoffers.com and use code VINCDE40 will receive $40 tickets to tomorrow night's show April 12 or call Sarah Hutton at 212-554-3430 for best available seats. I look forward to seeing you at the show tomorrow night!

Former Packer and Super Bowl Champion Shares His Days as a Green Bay Packer at Broadway’s LOMBARDI on Tuesday April 12

2011-04-04T19:10:00.001-07:00

April 4 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alan S. Veingrad
President, Alan S. Veingrad Inc.
954 205 6369, alan@alanveingrad.com

Former Packer and Super Bowl Champion Shares His Days as a Green Bay Packer at Broadway’s LOMBARDI on Tuesday April 12

Alan Veingrad, former NFL offensive lineman, will share his story of being the only Jewish player on the Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboy team XXVII next Tuesday April 12 following the performance of LOMBARDI at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre, 50th Street, west of Broadway. He will share his riveting personal account of self-discovery following his retirement from the NFL. In this one-of-a-kind presentation Alan vividly relates the discipline of being a professional athlete and leader of high-performance sales teams to the process of becoming an observant Jew. His story is one of Jewish pride in the least likely of places. He relays his personal breakthroughs and accomplishments during his five years as an offensive lineman with the Green Bay Packers and two years with the Dallas Cowboys playing for legendary coach Jimmy Johnson playing alongside hall of fame quarterback Troy Aikman and record-breaking running back Emmitt Smith. With remarkable candor and alacrity, Alan keeps his audiences spellbound with his accounts of the intense training, ruthless competitive atmosphere, and performance requirements of professional football life. Since his retirement, Alan has used his championship experience to score big in his business career where he has consistently exceeded the revenue expectations for his divisional responsibilities by three-digit percentages and exceeded the performance goals of his sales teams.

Perhaps most compelling is Alan’s account of finding himself and his religious identity following his NFL career as he became increasingly aware of a blankness in his heart and an emptiness in his soul. As Alan reacquainted himself with the teachings, values, and practices of Jewish life he began to get a glimpse of what was missing. In this very personal presentation, Alan shares the steps that have led to his own spiritual journey where he has found a deepening sense of contentment and a renewed sense of purpose.

Alan was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2010, Texas A&M, Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2006 and invited to the White House this May 2010 for the first ever reception honoring Jewish American heritage month.

LOMBARDI opened on Broadway in October 2010; both theatre critics and sports writers weighed in:

“Eric Simonson has given us an extremely well-crafted piece of intelligent middlebrow theater, a regular-guy equivalent of Frost/Nixon. A good one for the guys. It is both tasty and filling. I know nothing about football and less about the Green Bay Packers, but LOMBARDI held my attention from start to finish, and when it was over, I went home feeling properly entertained.” Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal

“There’s a place for LOMBARDI in the Broadway huddle… It is theatrical catnip for husbands or boyfriends otherwise reluctant to see most Broadway shows: Football! Vince Lombardi! The legendary Packers!” The Associated Press

"Even if you never cared about Lombardi, you will enjoy LOMBARDI. And that really is everything." Mike Vaccaro, New York Post

"I loved LOMBARDI" Fox Five

"A rare Broadway drama that's also a real crowd-pleaser." AOL

“Sports fans will get a huge kick out of the it, but there's plenty for the uninitiated as well. As entertainment, LOMBARDI scores points.” Roma Torre, NY1

“With its uniformly good cast, tight direction and frequent flashes of humor, Lombardi is solid playing in every sense of the word.” David Cote, Time Out New York

Directed by Tony Award nominee Thomas Kail, LOMBARDI is an original play by Academy Award-winning playwright Eric Simonson, based on the best-selling biography When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by Pulitzer Prize winner David Maraniss. The production opened in October at Circle in the Square Theatre.

Starring Dan Lauria as the legendary Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi and Judith Light as his wife Marie, LOMBARDI also features Keith Nobbs as Michael McCormick, Bill Dawes as Paul Hornung, Robert Christopher Riley as Dave Robinson and Chris Sullivan as Jim Taylor. Joining producers Tony Ponturo and Fran Kirmser as special producing partner is the National Football League, marking the organization’s first foray on Broadway.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200, or in person at the Box Office (50th Street, West of Broadway).
www.lombardibroadway.com
Follow LOMBARDI on Twitter: @LombardiPlay or on Facebook.
Follow BBB on Twitter: @BBBway or on Facebook.
For the most up to date press releases visit our Blog.
For sports inquiries, please contact Joe Favorito: 917-566-8345 / fatherknickerbocker1@yahoo.com.

About Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad:
Alan Veingrad, the transformational speaker, had a seven-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII. He has been the subject of features on NBC, NPR, JM in the AM, and the Jewish Channel; and in the NY Times, NY Post, Dallas Morning News, and the Miami Herald. In a one-of-a-kind presentation, Alan shares with audiences around the world the story of how he became aware after retiring from football that his lifestyle was more style than life. It left a void in him that ultimately led to his becoming an Orthodox Jew. Today Alan is the National Marketing Director with CJA and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in tax elimination strategies, tax free retirement and estate planning options for business owners. Alan speaks to businesses, colleges, universities and religious audiences around the world bringing his inspirational messages of transformation, inspiration, business and personal planning, excellence, leadership, team play, and spiritual connection.
For more information, please visit www.AlanVeingrad.com. For Media Inquiries and bookings; please contact alan@alanveingrad.com 954 205 6369.

The Ultimate Playbook is The Haggadah

2011-03-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

By Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad

At the start of training camp each year, every player gets handed a playbook the size of the yellow pages. He is expected to study it and to know every single play backwards and forwards. Each play is strategically designed to use all eleven players to achieve a specific objective. The playbook provides the spacing, directions, timing, objectives and techniques required for every player for each play.

At times, every player will come up short in his execution but as long as he wins his share of the battles, all is well. The worst thing, though, is to get the play wrong because you did not study it well. Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and legendary Coach Forrest Gregg, who coached me in Green Bay, once told the team “if I open up your playbook on Sunday before the game and don’t find ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, coffee and maple syrup stains all over it you didn’t study your plays well enough.” More than anything else, our success would depend on how well we would execute our plays.

But if you don’t know who to block or where to go or what to do, the play breaks down and you have no excuse. Can you imagine running the wrong play because you didn’t know what to do? And worst of all – worse than knowing you messed up on national television – is that you, your teammates and your coaches will all watch the whole thing together the next day – in slow motion. Talk about embarrassing!

I have been there, and you dread going to that team meeting. And it can get worse – you may even get a visit from the Turk, delivering those ominous words: “Coach wants to see you and, uh, bring your playbook.” [NFL Lesson: The “Turk” is the messenger who informs a player that he is about to be cut from the team.] Can you imagine that happening to you? Again, I have been there.

In Judaism, we have several “playbooks” that describe how we can achieve our various spiritual objectives. One of my favorites is the Haggadah – the playbook for the Passover Seder. We have a lot to accomplish on this special night and we’ve got to do what it takes to make the most of it. It is our best opportunity of the year to break out of our own personal limitations, symbolized by the slavery of ancient Egypt. We can “gain more yardage” towards ultimate freedom at the Seder, and throughout Passover, than at other time of the year, moving downfield towards our “promised land.”

Like a playbook, the Haggadah is full of specifics: Make kiddush and lean in luxury as you drink the wine, wash your hands, take a vegetable and dip it in saltwater, break the middle matzah, ask and reward questions, etc. Each of these “plays” is strategically designed to achieve an objective, enhancing our identities, deepening our freedom. But if you want to be successful, you have to study the playbook. And, you have to understand it.

Success in football, and in Judaism, is about more than x’s and o’s. You also have to know what it takes to win. If you just follow the arrows on the chalkboard, you might get the play right but you’ll never be a winner. Great players don’t just study the playbook to memorize it but to understand it.

As a former offensive lineman coming out of the huddle to the line of scrimmage, I can assure you we didn’t focus on the instant success of crossing the goal line; we focused on making progress and “moving the chains.” How often do we see the referee holding up his fingers motioning to the head coach you just need an inch for the first down? We have to do the same thing, making our way down the field, away from the “Egypt” keeping us down.

The Hebrew name for Egypt is Mitzrayim, which means boundaries or limitations. These boundaries and limitations that exist in the realm of our relationship with God cause us to serve with limited commitment. We need to ensure that we don’t get taken down by our inner Egypt by taking out that playbook and studying it before the big night. That’s what it takes to execute our plan, making an unbounded commitment to Godliness. We just need to keep moving those chains, inch by inch, yard by yard and Mitzvah by Mitzvah.

Ready? On three – Blue 18 Blue 18 hut, hut - hut!

Have a happy, meaningful and kosher Passover.

About Alan Veingrad, the transformational speaker, had a seven-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII. He has been the subject of features on NBC, NPR, JM in the AM, and the Jewish Channel; and in the NY Times, NY Post, Dallas Morning News, and the Miami Herald. In a one-of-a-kind presentation, Alan shares with audiences around the world the story of how he became aware after retiring from football that his lifestyle was more style than life. It left a void in him that ultimately led to his becoming an Orthodox Jew. For more information about hearing his uniquely entertaining and valuable perspective, please visit www.alanveingrad.com. For Media Inquiries and bookings, contact alan@alanveingrad.com 954 205 6369.

The Ultimate NFL Shabbat Experience

2011-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

SUPER BOWL CHAMP HOSTS FIRST-EVER
NFL SHABBAT EXPERIENCE

Join Alan Shlomo Veingrad, former Green Bay Packer and Dallas Cowboy, on a four day, three night trip to legendary Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI. Home of the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers!

This Ultimate NFL Shabbat Experience will include:

Local Ground transportation
Hotel Accommodations
Excellent Glatt Kosher Food
Tour of Packer Locker Room
Tour of Lambeau Field, Packer Hall of Fame
Amazing Shabbos with inspiring Rabbis
"Chalk Talk" motzei Shabbos with Alan and another veteran Packer player
The ULTIMATE Kosher Tailgate party
Exceptional location seating to watch Packer game

Cost, Opponent and date to be finalized pending release of NFL league schedule*

Ultimate NFL Shabbat Experience reservations will be limited. To place your name on the list for priority positioning and further information, please email alan@alanveingrad.com.

* Estimated mid-April pending labor negotiations

About the author: Alan "Shlomo" Veingrad

Alan had a seven-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII. Alan’s presentation style and post-retirement experience in business have made him a much sought-after speaker by many organizations whose management seeks to lead their organizations by exemplifying a culture of personal and professional achievement blended with a higher purpose. Alan has captivated religious audiences around the world, bringing his inspirational messages of transformation, personal excellence, leadership, team play and spiritual connection. Today Alan is the National Marketing Director with CJA and Associates, a nationwide consulting firm specializing in tax elimination strategies and estate planning options for business owners and professionals. For more information, please visit www.alanveingrad.com. For Media Inquiries and bookings, please contact alan@alanveingrad.com 954 205 6369.

Crown Heights, NY Speaking Engagement

2011-02-09T03:30:00.000-08:00

Thursday evening, February 10, 2001 8:30 PM

Reim Ahuvim shul 1614 Carroll Street (corner Schenectady).
Crown Heights, New York

Fathers/son, Boys age 10 and older, all men are welcome

"Tackling Life's Daily Challenges on the Right Playing Field"

Refreshments will be served

Speaking Schedule

2011-02-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

Wednesday Feb 9 7pm Chabad of Orange County
1170 Route 17M Suite I Upper Level Parking Lot• Chester, NY 10918 845.782.2770

Thursday Feb 10 6pm Yeshiva of Flatbush
919 East 10th Street Brooklyn, NY 11230 718.377.1100

Thursday Feb 10 Father/Son Farbrengen
Crown Heights, NY (location TBD) please check back

Friday Feb 11/12 The Roitman Chabad Center @ Cornell University
102 Willard Way Ithaca, NY 14850 607.257.7379

Sunday Feb 13 6:30 PM Chabad of S. Mateo
Marriott Hotel 1770 S. Amphlett Boulevard in S. Mateo, CA 650.341.4510

Why I Love the Green Bay Packers?

2011-02-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

Having had the opportunity to play for the Green Bay Packers for 5 seasons would be the most logical reason. Of course I have to mention the history of the team; so many great players, all those championships, and who can forget Vince Lombardi, the famed head coach of the Packers in the 1960s?

As a high school kid I used to listen to Vince Lombardi’s motivational cassette tapes to pump me up before football games and track meets. Lombardi had claimed that Forrest Gregg was the finest player he’d ever coached. Amazingly, I was coached by Forrest Gregg for 2 of my 5 years as a Packer! Those that have had the chance to visit Green Bay and/or take in a Packers game at Lambeau Field would concur, the fans and the people are truly real, genuine and just so loyal to those Packers. These are all very sound reasons why I should love the Packers, however, there is another reason – the main reason.

During my rookie year, when it was officially announced that I made the team, I received a phone call from Lou Weinstein, a local Green Bay businessman. Mr. Weinstein invited me out to his country club for lunch. I accepted not knowing what or why this man wanted to meet me and buy me lunch. During our lunch Mr. Weinstein said he read about me the previous week in the Jewish Press in an article listing the 5 jews that were in training camp that summer. He also read about me in the Green Bay Press Gazette as it announced the final Packer roster for 1986. Mr. Weinstein went on to ask me if I needed anything. I was taken aback, did I need anything? I was 23 years old at the time, living in a motel across the street from Lambeau Field with $9.00 dollars in my pocket and a suitcase of clothes. Who picks up the phone and asks a perfect stranger out to lunch and ask if he needs anything? Mr. Weinstein, that’s who. He also invited me to synagogue for the upcoming Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) holiday. Mr. Weinstein knew what the Torah says about the obligation and the privilege for one to reach out to another and ask, “Do you need anything? How can I help you?” When was the last time you asked a perfect stranger, “do you need anything, how can I help you?”
That’s why I love the Green Bay Packers. Go Pack Go!

About the author: Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad
Alan Veingrad had a seven-year career as an offensive lineman in the NFL, first with the Green Bay Packers and then the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he won Super Bowl XXVII. Veingrad’s presentation style and post-retirement experience in business have made him a much sought after speaker. Many organizations whose management seeks to lead their organizations by exemplifying a culture of personal and professional achievement blended with a higher purpose call on Veingrad to speak to their employees. Veingrad has captivated religious audiences around the world, bringing his transformational, inspirational messages of positivism, personal excellence, leadership, team play and spiritual connection. Veingrad is also the National Marketing Director with CJA and Associates – specialists in tax elimination strategies and estate planning options for business owners and professionals. For more information, please visit www.AlanVeingrad.com. For Media Inquiries and bookings; please contact alan@alanveingrad.com 954/ 205-6369.

New York Speaking Schedule

2011-01-27T21:34:00.000-08:00

Sunday, Jan 30 10am Chabad of Bedford
133 Railroad Avenue * Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914.666.6065

Sunday, Jan 30 1pm Chabad Center of Northwest New Jersey
*Event Location* Knoll Country Club East
Knoll & Greenbanks Roads Parsippany, NJ 07054 913.316.9500

Sunday, Jan 30 7:30pm The Chai Center of Dix Hills
501 Vanderbilt Parkway • Dix Hills, NY 11746 631.351.8672

Monday, Jan 31 8pm The Schneerson Center for Jewish Life
419 East 77th Street New York, N.Y. 10075 212.717.4613

Tuesday, Feb 1 7pm Chabad of Orange County
1170 Route 17M Suite I Upper Level Parking Lot• Chester, NY 10918 845.782.2770

Spiritual Chains

2010-12-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

Football is a game of inches. How many times do we see the referee holding up his fingers to show the coach your team is an inch short of making the first down? The object in football is to "move the chains" inch by inch, yard by yard advancing the football down the field. The great teams do this well. You can't rely on the big plays to win a championship...championships require consistency at "moving the chains".

One of the many ideas of Chanukah is to move our spiritual chains ascending each and every day throughout the year. During the eight days of Chanukah the head of the household lights the menorah adding a candle from the previous day never being content with the light from the day before. With our spiritual growth we should never take great strides and go for the big play, we should look to move inch by inch, yard by yard, always adding from the day before. Another idea of Chanukah is not only to illuminate our homes with light, we should also look to light up the outside as well. By doing this, each and every one of us participates in warming up both ourselves but the world around us. Chag Chanukah S'meach!

A Former NFLer's Journey to Orthodox Judaism

2010-11-29T17:57:00.000-08:00

By: Sammy Hudes

“There’s certainly a connection between football and Orthodox Jewry, believe it or not,” says former NFLer Alan Veingrad. “You get to shul in the morning and you have to put on the uniform − the tallis and the tefillin – and you start to clear your mind in order to have success in your prayers. It’s the same thing with getting to the locker room and putting on your uniform and clearing your mind so you can go out and have a successful practice.”

The year was 1972, when his family relocated from New York to Miami. Inspired by the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated 1972 season that ended in a Super Bowl championship, it was there in Southern Florida where Veingrad, who was just nine, discovered his passion for football. Intrigued by the sport, Veingrad and his brother began attending plenty of games and practices, as their father had purchased Dolphins season tickets.

“At that time of my life, I was growing up your typical American kid. I liked to go fishing, and boating and snorkeling,” says Veingrad of his childhood. Raised in a secular Jewish environment, his religion naturally took a backseat to his interest in sports. “I recall my parents were, not forcing me, but taking me to Hebrew school to learn about the history of the Jewish people and how to speak Hebrew to prepare for Bar Mitzvah.”

As Veingrad grew older, his passion for football began reaching new heights. After playing high school football, Veingrad received a scholarship to play at East Texas State University. He credits his five year college career for the physical and mental preparation he needed to advance his game. An offensive lineman, Veingrad went undrafted in the National Football League, but signed as a walk-on free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 1986. He made the team that same year, and started every game as a rookie.

After five years with the Packers, Veingrad spent two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. With Dallas, he was able to win the Super Bowl following the 1992 season. “It was definitely one of my proudest moments,” says Veingrad of one of the greatest professional sports achievements that there is. “It takes a buy in from everybody. You don’t have any naysayers on the squad. You have everybody that’s pulling in the same direction. Everybody expects everybody to give it their all and if there’s somebody that’s not, the players will approach him and let him know that that’s not acceptable to us, for the benefit of this team.”

Following the championship season, Veingrad retired from the NFL. He was satisfied with his career, and his life for that matter. “During my five years in college and my seven years in the NFL, if you had asked me what religion I am, I’d say I’m Jewish. If you had asked me what day it is, I’d say it’s Wednesday. Many times I didn’t know what Jewish holiday it was. I didn’t really care what Jewish holiday it was. I was playing football.”

Soon after retirement, Veingrad was a happily married man with a newborn child. One day, his family was invited over for a Friday night Shabbat dinner at his cousin Jonathan’s. “His family is Orthodox, which I knew. They lived here in South Florida so I went to the Friday night meal, and I didn’t know anything [about Orthodox Judaism] and I didn’t really care. It was after the meal that he asked ‘would you go to a

When Is It Time to Change?

2010-11-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

By Alan Veingrad

When you are constantly feeling that your current path no longer makes sense, it is time to change.

I know today that I don’t look much like I used to – an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers and later the Dallas Cowboys. Today, I sport a long flowing beard, yarmulke and tzitzis. But I did not roll out of the NFL and into the synagogue – that change came later. Just as dramatic for me was the change I experienced when I retired from the game.

As a child, I wondered about what a pro football player would look like up close. Growing up in Miami, I had landed a coveted job with the Miami Dolphins: operating the net that is raised behind the goalposts during an attempted field goal or extra point. I wore an orange staff shirt which allowed me to get into the locker room after the game and to see what these guys were made of.

This experience really sparked my early appreciation for the value of awareness. I discovered how much I could learn by getting close to people and just paying attention to everything that was going on. I learned to listen to what other said about me and what they thought I could do. I needed this awareness to manage the two dramatic transitions in my life: the transition from pro football to non-player and the transition from a more casual Jew to a more focused one.

In the second case, my awareness was piqued when I was once invited to a rabbi’s home for a meal. While I was there, a neighbor, also a rabbi, stopped by to borrow a barbecue grill. My host jumped to his feet and offered to take the grill over to his neighbor’s house and I followed. I watched his neighbor’s son and his friends enjoying a simple relay race game in the street and I was struck by how much they were enjoying the few hot dogs from the grill that highlighted the boy’s birthday party. It caused me to think about all the material “stuff” I had accumulated in my life and how I really desired to be more like these families: relaxed, focused and confident, living simply with everyday joy. I had fallen into the “where are you going to spend the summer?” syndrome and wanted to make a profound change – to return to my spiritual roots. One thing I knew is that it would take focus.

I once had a fellow player teach me all about how to focus. He asked what I focused on when I was in my stance as an offensive lineman and taught me that it must be on one thing: THE TARGET. So I started to stare at a single point on my opponent’s chest. This proved to be exactly what I needed in pursuing my Torah studies, from which I learned even more about focusing my mind and actions.

In addition to focus, you need to keep moving. I once played against Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, a fearsome player that I dreaded facing. It turned out to be a great game for me and it was a big thrill the next day when I ended up getting a game ball for my efforts. But then the coach asked me, “OK, but what are you going to do TODAY?” That is the question we all have to ask ourselves each day if we are to continue to re-stoke our desire to be great at what we do.

You can do this! You can create changes large and small in your life if you ramp up your awareness, focus your desire and follow your passion, if you use your discipline and your wisdom and your transferable talents, if you create around you a team that will help pull you out of the old ways and into the new. You may not end up looking like you used to and that’s okay. You will be going on the journey of a lifetime.

It’s a brand new season!

2010-09-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

By Alan Veingrad

It’s a brand new season! Every Jew is in the game – perhaps playing a different position,role or level of participation than last year but nonetheless, we Jews are all on the same team. Some of us are in the front office, some are still learning the game as second- or third-string rookies and some are Pro-Bowl veterans. But all of us are unique and indispensible with our own special talents and contribution levels. We all have the opportunity to learn the playbook, study and prepare for the game. As a football player in the NFL, I would often change my game plan throughout the season based on the upcoming opponent, as each player I was up against presented a new style of play and unique challenges. And during the week, throughout the game and after the games I would get coached. My coach and I would study the successes and the failures together: Did I make the right block? Was I in the right place at the right time? Did I follow the coach’s instructions? Did I prepare myself properly? Or did I just miss a play or a block, jump off-sides or get called for
holding and cost my team an opportunity to win the game? Sometimes in life, we blow the chance to do the right thing. We say something we shouldn’t, we raise our voice or we’re just not on our toes ready for the opportunity to do it right. We have
the easy lay-up to help someone out, the chance to score on a meaningful mitzvah or free time to learn our offense better. But we drop the ball, or we miss the block and leave someone vulnerable, or waste time that could have made all the difference. We let our teammates down,the coach down and ourselves down. Life is not a game but I have learned a lot from my years in the NFL about what it takes to succeed –
especially at being a great Jew. It’s funny – the NFL season always starts in the fall, right around Rosh Hashana time. These days, I still feel the fresh opportunity in the air at this time of year, to put the past behind me and embrace a brand new
start. But now, it’s not about making the coach proud by being the best player I can, it’s about making God proud, and my family and community proud, by being the best Jew that I can. One key to success that I took with me from my playing days is always to be “coachable.” That means being open and eager to learn new things and make adjustments, to trust someone who knows more than I do and believe in my ability
to meet new challenges. When you relish the chance to make the coach proud, you forget about justifying what you’ve already done – you’re accepting the fresh challenge to build on the past and to look ahead. In every sport and every endeavor there are fumbles, errors, misses and failures. There comes a time when we have to face up to our own misplays, to say to the coach, “I blew a big chance to make an impact. I forgot what you told me and it hurt the team. I accept responsibility and I am sorry; will you forgive me, coach? This season, I’m ready to start over and be every bit the player you know I can be.” The beauty of our Jewish heritage is that we have the winning playbook. The Torah is all about guiding us to grow and always to be our very best at what really matters. Each and every challenge is direct from our Coach to take the next step and to do it right – to reach higher and higher,
never resting on past success or hiding from past mistakes.

The holiday of Rosh Hashanah gets us back in the game – renewed, refreshed and ready to start another season. It’s the time to make our adjustments and to let the Coach know that we’re there for him with everything we’ve got, that we’re going to be coachable this season and better than ever. We’re going to learn the playbook like never before. And we’re going to make Him proud.

Veingrad named Marketing Sales Director for CJA & Associates

2010-07-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information:

Angel King
CJA & Associates
239.298.8210
aking@cjamarketing.com

Veingrad named Marketing Sales Director for CJA & Associates

NAPLES, July 21, 2010 – Ray Ankner, founder of CJA & Associates, a national employee benefits company, has announced that Alan Veingrad will assume the position of Marketing Sales Director of CJA. “Alan brings over 20 years of strategic business experience planning for business owners. This experience adds a new aspect to our marketing efforts,” Ankner said. “Alan has successfully parlayed his skills from the field of football to the field of business. His success story is one that business owners can relate to and respect.”

“At CJA, we have been successful designing and marketing insurance products and employee benefit plans for the small business and the estate planning markets. Alan’s ability to convey these programs to business owners will be a major asset in helping us grow.”

Alan is a former offensive lineman for the Super Bowl XXVII World Champion Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into his alma mater Texas A&M, Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2006 and into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2010. Since his retirement from the NFL, Veingrad has used his championship experience to score big in his business career. He has held executive level positions in the commercial real estate/mortgage and financial services industries. Veingrad speaks to audiences around the world, relating his story on the discipline of being a professional athlete and leader of high-performance sales teams to the process of becoming a successful business executive.

About CJA & Associates: Founded more than 35 years ago, CJA & Associates has been a leader in developing innovative benefit and estate planning programs focused on small business owners. CJA is one of the most respected third party administration companies in the nation. Companies affiliated with CJA include First Actuarial Corporation, a third party administration company; PlanGen, a technology company focused on the employee benefits market, RMC Reinsurance company and RMC Property and Casualty Company. For more information, please visit wwwcjamarketing.com or 239.298.8210.

About Alan Veingrad: Alan speaks to corporate and business audiences around the world bringing his inspirational messages of positivism, personal excellence, leadership, team play, and spiritual connection. His presentation style and post-retirement experience in business development have made him a much sought after speaker by Fortune 500 companies, professional services firms, and owner-managed businesses whose management seeks to lead their organizations by exemplifying a culture of personal and professional achievement blended with a higher purpose. For more information, please visit www.alanveingrad.com
For Media Inquiries and bookings, please contact Angel King
(aking@cjamarketing.com) at 239.298.8210.

Induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2010

2009-09-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robin Moskow
Public Relations, Moskow Management
(610) 804-6701 robinmoskow@comcast.net

SUPER BOWL CHAMPION TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL JEWISH SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad: From Super Bowl Ring to Torah Observance

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, September 24, 2009 – Former offensive lineman for the Super Bowl XXVII World Champion Dallas Cowboys, Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad has been selected for induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2010.

Veingrad’s career as a football player started at East Texas State University, where he may have been the only Jewish student on campus and where there was no Jewish community. The object of some proselytizing, he retained his strong Jewish pride and dignity. After college, he was signed as a free agent to the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin. Connecting with the small Jewish community in Green Bay helped him survive the isolation of being the only Jewish player on the team. After five seasons with the Packers, he moved on to join coach Jimmy Johnson and quarterback Troy Aikman on the Super Bowl XXVII Champion Dallas Cowboys.

“Being Jewish left me open to a fair amount of good-natured ribbing and kidding, more the by-product of insensitivity than of malice,” comments Veingrad. “In the rough and tumble environment of an NFL team, a Jew is an outsider.”

Since his retirement from the NFL, Veingrad has used his championship experience to score big in his business career. He has held executive level positions in the teleservices, sports marketing, and commercial real estate/mortgage industries. Veingrad speaks to audiences across the country, relating his story of how the lifestyle he fell into after his retirement from professional football left a void that unwittingly lead to the Torah and Mitzvos. He shares his unique perspective on the discipline of being a professional athlete and leader of high-performance sales teams to the process of becoming an observant Jew.

Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad will be inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 19, 2010. The ceremony will be held at the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center in Commack, NY. The organization chronicles and celebrates Jewish involvement in all sports and includes Jewish sports legends such as Sandy Koufax, Red Auerbach, Kerri Strug, and Hank Greenberg.

About Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad
Shlomo speaks to corporate and business audiences around the world bringing his inspirational messages of positivism, personal excellence, leadership, team play, and spiritual connection. His presentation style and post-retirement experience in business development have made him a much sought after speaker by Fortune 500 companies, professional services firms, and owner-managed businesses whose management seeks to lead their organizations by exemplifying a culture of personal and professional achievement blended with a higher purpose. Shlomo also speaks to colleges and universities, sports organizations, and religious groups who are intrigued by the unlikely juxtaposition of his personal story.

For more information, please visit www.AlanVeingrad.com. For Media Inquiries and bookings, please contact Robin Moskow robinmoskow@comcast.net (610) 804-6701
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Alan's New Website Launch!

2009-04-20T12:22:00.001-07:00

Monday, 4-20-2009

Alan Veingrad's new professional speaking website launches to the public. The improved website features photographs, videos, media & press as well as testimonials from previous speaking events. Log on to www.alanveingrad.com to see his new website and send him a personal message!