Jewish pride in ping pong

Baseball, barbecues and fireworks are how many celebrate the July 4 holiday. But for 12-year-old Akiva Ackerman, it meant traveling to Milwaukee to compete in the 2011 U.S. Open Table Tennis Championships.

Ackerman, who lives in West Hempstead and will begin eighth grade at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County in the fall, was one of more than 600 players from 26 countries playing for prize money, awards and rating points. He was also one of 10 Jewish players — and the only Orthodox Jew — participating in the five-day tournament, which was held at the Frontier Airlines Center.

Ackerman displayed what his father, Glenn Ackerman, considers “Jewish pride through sports” by wearing a yarmulke when he played. The tween pulled off a big upset, defeating the number three seed in the round of 32, three games to none. After winning his next match, Ackerman was defeated in the quarterfinals by the fifth seed, three games to one, losing the last two games by only two points. Overall he finished with a match record of 9-3.

Ackerman could not participate in the age-related events, as they took place on the Sabbath. He was hosted by the Chabad of Milwaukee.