“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Noach
3 Cheshvan 5780/November 1, 2019
“PERSEVERANCE”
I really wanted the Houston Astros
to lose the World Series! It wasn’t simply because I’m a disgruntled and
resentful Yankees fan, and wanted to see the team that ousted the Yankees get
beaten (though that may have also been true). I had a much better reason; if they
would have won, it would have messed up this article. I told my students that I
had a great thing to tell them, but it was contingent upon the Astros losing
the World Series.
to lose the World Series! It wasn’t simply because I’m a disgruntled and
resentful Yankees fan, and wanted to see the team that ousted the Yankees get
beaten (though that may have also been true). I had a much better reason; if they
would have won, it would have messed up this article. I told my students that I
had a great thing to tell them, but it was contingent upon the Astros losing
the World Series.
As game 7 was being played on
Wednesday evening and the Astros jumped ahead 2-0, I felt despondent. But the
baseball gods intervened, and the once unimaginable happened, when the
Washington Nationals prevailed over the Houston Astros and won the World Series.
Wednesday evening and the Astros jumped ahead 2-0, I felt despondent. But the
baseball gods intervened, and the once unimaginable happened, when the
Washington Nationals prevailed over the Houston Astros and won the World Series.
During the Major League Baseball
season that just ended, there were four teams that had more than one hundred
losses – the Kansas City Royals (103), the Florida Marlins (105), the Baltimore
Orioles (108), and the Detroit Tigers (114). However, this was not the first
time four teams had so many losses; it also occurred in 2002. What was
unprecedented however, was that there were four teams that won more than one hundred
games this season – the Minnesota Twins (101), the New York Yankees (103), the
Houston Astros (107) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (106).
Incredibly, none of those four teams won the
World Series. They were all ousted in the Playoffs or in the World Series.
season that just ended, there were four teams that had more than one hundred
losses – the Kansas City Royals (103), the Florida Marlins (105), the Baltimore
Orioles (108), and the Detroit Tigers (114). However, this was not the first
time four teams had so many losses; it also occurred in 2002. What was
unprecedented however, was that there were four teams that won more than one hundred
games this season – the Minnesota Twins (101), the New York Yankees (103), the
Houston Astros (107) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (106).
Incredibly, none of those four teams won the
World Series. They were all ousted in the Playoffs or in the World Series.
The Washington Nationals on the other
hand, were hardly considered to be post-season contenders. They began their
season with an abysmal 19-31 record, and many fans wanted their manager to be
fired. They made the post-season by the skin of their teeth, beating the
Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card game. Then when they were six outs away from
losing the World Series, their bats came to life and the Nationals stunned the
mighty Astros 6-2. It’s The first time a World Series has been won in the nation’s
capital since the Washington Senators won the World Series in 1924.
hand, were hardly considered to be post-season contenders. They began their
season with an abysmal 19-31 record, and many fans wanted their manager to be
fired. They made the post-season by the skin of their teeth, beating the
Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card game. Then when they were six outs away from
losing the World Series, their bats came to life and the Nationals stunned the
mighty Astros 6-2. It’s The first time a World Series has been won in the nation’s
capital since the Washington Senators won the World Series in 1924.
I’m not a Washington fan, so why did
I care about their Cinderella-like saga? Because being in the world of
education it symbolizes a vital truth that can’t be stressed enough: That
ultimately the hundreds don’t matter. Sure, students should aim to do their
best and strive to score high grades on their tests and report cards. But too
often students and parents get too caught up in grades and numbers and forget
that success is far deeper than grades.
I care about their Cinderella-like saga? Because being in the world of
education it symbolizes a vital truth that can’t be stressed enough: That
ultimately the hundreds don’t matter. Sure, students should aim to do their
best and strive to score high grades on their tests and report cards. But too
often students and parents get too caught up in grades and numbers and forget
that success is far deeper than grades.
Last year there was an infamous
scandal involving many wealthy parents who cheated, bribed, and lied in order
to get their children admitted into ivy-league schools. (It is reminiscent of
the Dor Haflagah in parshas Noach. When constructing their massive
tower, the project became more important than the individuals involved in its
construction. If a brick fell, they would be very disappointed, but if a person
fell to his death, they were apathetic. When the project becomes more important
than the people there’s a serious problem. Being able to brag about their
children’s schools became more important than truly addressing their children’s
academic and personal needs.)
scandal involving many wealthy parents who cheated, bribed, and lied in order
to get their children admitted into ivy-league schools. (It is reminiscent of
the Dor Haflagah in parshas Noach. When constructing their massive
tower, the project became more important than the individuals involved in its
construction. If a brick fell, they would be very disappointed, but if a person
fell to his death, they were apathetic. When the project becomes more important
than the people there’s a serious problem. Being able to brag about their
children’s schools became more important than truly addressing their children’s
academic and personal needs.)
Academic success hardly reflects how
one is doing internally. Ultimately in life it’s the part of ourselves that is
not visible to others that comprises our true essence and is the real barometer
of how we are doing. To penetrate the external veneer and get to know the real
essence of a person takes time, concern, and fostering trust.
one is doing internally. Ultimately in life it’s the part of ourselves that is
not visible to others that comprises our true essence and is the real barometer
of how we are doing. To penetrate the external veneer and get to know the real
essence of a person takes time, concern, and fostering trust.
Any adult knows former classmates who
no one thought would amount to much, and yet have become greatly successful in
life. Conversely, many students who aced every test without trying, and never
had invest effort and time, who tragically became failures in life.
no one thought would amount to much, and yet have become greatly successful in
life. Conversely, many students who aced every test without trying, and never
had invest effort and time, who tragically became failures in life.
This is even more true in the world
of spiritual growth. Although, because of the way our educational system is set
up, we can’t do away with exams in limudei kodesh, we need to be cognizant
and remind our children that grades surely don’t determine success in Torah and
spiritual growth. To become a proficient scholar there is no substitute for
effort and diligence. One must strive for aliyah (growth) and then invest to
achieve it.
of spiritual growth. Although, because of the way our educational system is set
up, we can’t do away with exams in limudei kodesh, we need to be cognizant
and remind our children that grades surely don’t determine success in Torah and
spiritual growth. To become a proficient scholar there is no substitute for
effort and diligence. One must strive for aliyah (growth) and then invest to
achieve it.
The 2019 baseball season reminds us
that success is more the product of one’s drive, determination, resilience, and
perseverance than it is about grades and marks.
that success is more the product of one’s drive, determination, resilience, and
perseverance than it is about grades and marks.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum