Jewish Rapper Matisyahu Throws First ‘Matzah Ball Pitch’ at Mets Game for Jewish Heritage Day
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Matisyahu performs at Pompano Beach Amphitheater Pompano Beach, Florida on August 26, 2023. Photo: Rick Munroe/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Rapper Matisyahu replaced a traditional baseball with a matzah ball when he threw the first pitch at a New York Mets game on Sunday in honor of Jewish Heritage Day at Citi Field.
The Grammy-nominated Jerusalem singer plucked the matzah ball directly out of a container of soup, presented to him by fellow Jew and star of The Flash, actor Ezra Miller, before throwing the opening pitch from the mound to Miller at home plate. A video that Matisyahu shared on Instagram shows the matzah ball breaking apart into millions of pieces when Miller tried to catch it with his baseball glove.
Both Matisyahu and Miller wore for the occasion all-white jumpsuits that had a large Hebrew letter “Alef” on its back and the actor — who has been touring with Matisyahu and occasionally joining him on stage to play percussion — also donned a yarmulke on top of his Mets baseball cap.
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The matzah ball used in the pitch was made by Miller, who adjusted a family recipe to make a “denser ball” for Sunday’s game, according to the New York Post.
A reporter for MLB.com who covers the Mets recounted the scene on social media: “The Mets are going all-out for Jewish Heritage Day at Citi Field. Matisyahu threw a ceremonial first pitch and performed live between innings. Ike Davis, Ty Kelly, Art Shamsky and Josh Satin were recognized on a scoreboard feature. The organist even played The Chanukah Song.”
The Mets beat the Seattle Mariners 6-3 on Sunday.
