It is an understatement to say that Congregation Emanu-El’s Rabbi Ryan Bauer is a huge 49ers fan. Bauer is one of two clergymen who star in “The Men of Faith,” the Oct. 11 episode of the San Francisco 49ers web series “The Faithful,” which tells stories about 49ers fans and players.
“Faith and football have always seemingly gone together,” intones the narrator at one point. “Whether it be the Hail Mary, the Immaculate Reception or the Holy Roller, it’s always been there, plain to see. The two are connected, and heaven on Earth for many.”
That certainly seems to be the case for Bauer, who first appears in the video sitting in Emanu-El’s immense sanctuary, speaking directly to the camera – and wearing a red and gold 49ers scarf like a tallit.
He begins by explaining how he became such a big 49ers fan. Like Judaism, he inherited it from his parents. They came to San Francisco from Dallas. “By the time I was born, they had converted to the 49ers. They were done with the Cowboys,” Bauer says. “My parents were screaming at the television every Sunday. That is what we did.”
Bauer appears about one minute and 25 seconds into the 22-minute episode, which also features a Seattle pastor.