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There's No "I" in Team
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love sports. I have been a faithful Pittsburgh Steelers fan for the past 30 years and am passionate about football in general. I have "adopted" the Miami Heat and Marlins as my basketball and baseball teams, respectively, but I'll happily watch any game, any time. I find playoff hockey uniquely exciting down to the very last buzzer, doesn't matter who is playing.
As a son, I bonded with my father over sports, and as a father I get emotional at the thought of passing that love of sports on to my son and daughters.
What is it about sports that I find so attractive, that draws me in almost magnetically? Of course, there is the love of healthy competition, the triumph when my team wins, the optimism for next season when my team loses. All those things are exciting for both players and fans. But I think the real allure lies in the fact that being part of a sport - even as a fan - means being part of a team. We all know that "no man is an island;" we all thrive when we are part of something bigger than ourselves. The Torah teaches this concept with the idea that "kol Yisrael areivim zeh la'zeh," that we are each responsible for being part of our greater Jewish community.
Like so many of the Torah's lessons, this one, too, is just as relevant outside the classroom. Participating in sports means being part of a team, taking credit for the team's successes and responsibility for its failures. Being part of a team reinforces so many of the life lessons that we strive to teach from the earliest days of preschool. Selflessness. Humility. Partnership. Sportsmanship.
At WYHS, we place great value on our sports program, our teams, and our athletes. We are, of course, so proud of all of their accomplishments season after season. But most importantly, we believe that involvement in sports helps teach our students the value of teamwork, of contributing to and gaining from the experience of being part of a community.
This Wednesday night, I was blown away by the teamwork that I witnessed at the boys soccer regional quarterfinal game. Not only did our amazing soccer stars work together to compete at the highest level, but so many of our other students were there on the sidelines, the greatest fans ever! Standing there, cheering right along with them, I was reminded once again of the power of sports to help teach us values that we cherish. And I was - and still am - so proud to be part of our team!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Benji Horowitz
Director of Judaic Studies
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