“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Tetzaveh 5786 – Parshas Zachor
10 Adar 5786/February 27, 2026
NAME THAT MESSAGE
The great American philosophers, Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, introduced America to a baseball team comprised of players with bizarre names. Who is on first, What is on second, I Don’t Know is on third, Today is catching, Tomorrow is pitching, Why is in left, Because is in right and I Don’t Give a Darn is at shortstop. We never find out the names of the base coaches. I would bet it is Hi, Max, and Norm.
Sometimes unusual names can have inspirational messages in unexpected ways.
As a case in point, you would think that doing a web search about Torah bright would lead to articles about the significance and importance of Torah. However, a few years ago I was stunned to learn that Torah Bright can refer to something very different.
While searching the “light of Torah”, I came across an article on the Aish website, by Rabbi Benzion Scheinfeld. He writes that in the summer of 2010, he was part of an Orthodox Jewish teen ski and travel camp in the South Pacific. As they drove through the small Australian town of Cooma in New South Wales, they were stunned to see signs plastered all over the town with the words “Torah is the best!” This was a small community with no Jews and no Chabad house. What connection did they have to Torah?
After inquiring, they were informed that Torah is the first name of the 2010 Olympic Halfpipe Gold medalist. Her full name is Torah Bright! She is from the town of Cooma and the town took great pride in her accomplishments by hanging up those signs everywhere.
The Bright family are devout Mormons. When Torah’s mother was pregnant with her, Torah’s older sister was taking piano lessons from a local teacher who was Jewish. Torah’s mother told the teacher that she was having a hard time feeling inspiration as to what she should name her child. When the teacher mentioned that the central text in Judaism is Torah and it contains the basis of spirituality, Mrs. Bright decided to name her daughter Torah.
This week I had a similar experience.
I like to read Hebrew articles to build my Hebrew vocabulary. As I was perusing some Hebrew sports headlines, I came across one that read: Ahavat Hashem Wins! It definitely caught my attention. I wasn’t expecting an inspirational headline in the Israeli sports section.
I soon learned that Ahavat Hashem Gordon is an increasingly popular boxer. His mother was born in Hong Kong and is a convert to Judaism. When she met her Israeli husband, he wasn’t religious. As she became religious, she brought him back to Judaism.
Ahavat Hashem Gordon has seven siblings, all of whom carry G-d’s name in some form: Otzmat Hashem (G-d’s Strength), Teshurat Hashem (G-d’s Gift), Emunat Hashem (Faith in G-d), Kibed-Yah Hashem (Honor Hashem), Simchat Hashem Belibeinu (G-d’s Joy in Our Hearts), and Ruach Hashem (the Spirit of G-d). His brother, Ruach Hashem Gordon, who is also a professional boxer has said, “I can’t be a bad person with a name like that… My full name is Ruach Hashem Bechayeinu—‘God’s Spirit in Our Lives.’ I can’t just behave however I want; I have to act respectfully, with good values.”
Last week, Ahavat Hashem squared off against Turkish boxer Ali Konyuncu.
Ahavat Hashem entered the ring wearing tzitzis and a kippah, with the song “Hashem will be King forever” by Ben Tzur playing overhead.
The fight lasted only two rounds. In the second round, Konyuncu socked Gordon with an uppercut before Gordon knocked him to the floor with a blow to the head. As soon as he was pronounced the victor, Ahavat Hashem placed his kippah back on his head and draped himself in an Israeli flag.
Ahavat Hashem Gordon has spoken openly about his journey from being an insecure child with a unique name to a confident, professional athlete.He has become a formidable Muay Thai fighter with an undefeated record and 6 knockouts.
Most impressively, Gordon is proud of his commitment to his faith, often stating, “I am a soldier of G-d; without Him I am nothing”. He is fiercely proud to be a Jew.
This too is an important component of the Purim story. Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik explained: “How beautifully the Megillah tells us, “There was a Jewish man in the imperial city of Shushan” (Esther 2:5). Certainly, there were many Jews numerically, but there was only one ish Yehudi, a Jew with commitment, determination, and a sense of responsibility, ready to sacrifice, not embarrassed to protest in front of the royal palace. There were many Jews, but there was only one who proclaimed the doctrine of total and unqualified commitment of the individual to the community. Mordechai was a lonely ish Yehudi who lived all his life in Shushan as an intelligent, knowledgeable, dedicated Jew, determined to perpetuate the great heritage that he brought along from Jerusalem.”
Purim is a celebration of our unyielding dedication and love for Hashem. At the time of the miracle, we recommitted ourselves to observing the Torah. The Megillah states, “For the Jews there was light, joy, gladness and honor” (Esther 8:16). The Gemara (Megillah 16b) explains that light refers to Torah. When the Purim story occurred, the Jews felt renewed connection and appreciation for the eternal, spiritual light of the Torah.
It’s fair to say that Purim celebrates Torah Bright and the victory of Ahavat Hashem. And while Costello couldn’t understand who is on first, we know well that the Jewish people will always be first and foremost.
It may be ironic that we have gleaned a poignant and applicable Purim message from the sports section. But isn’t that precisely the message and theme of Purim? Purim trains us to see beneath the surface, to peer beyond the mask and to discover the deeper meanings and significance of life.
With all this in mind, what do you think, dear reader? Can we learn divine messages from the names of famous sports players?
You be the Judge!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos
Purim Sameiach & Freilichen Purim,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
STRIVINGHIGHER.COM