An Unfair Super Bowl - Kedoshim
As some of you may know, I’m not an avid sports fan and haven’t been following the NFL season this year.
Nonetheless, the holy Baal Shem Tov teaches us that everything in this world – even a football game - is meant to teach us a lesson in the way we approach G‑d and our fellow man. With this in mind, here’s an important parallel between tomorrow’s Torah reading and this year’s Super Bowl.
You see, the defending champions, the New England Patriots, beat their own record and will be playing in their eleventh Super Bowl. For the past 18 seasons they’ve had the same head coach and quarterback. This is a tried and tested team. If there is a dynasty in American Football - they are it.
They will face off against the Rams, a team that recently moved to Los Angeles , has the youngest head coach in the league, and a relatively inexperienced team.
So, are you rooting for the reliable favorite or the upstart underdog?
It’s popular today to root for the underdog. First of all, an upset is a great surprise. But also, the rags-to-riches storyline is one that humans love to fall in love with. Perhaps we see some of ourselves in it.
Now to this week’s Torah reading, a section filled with the civil and ethical laws of the Torah. In it we find the command to love the convert, the orphan and the widow. It seems like G‑d is pulling for the underdog. G‑d gives the less fortunate His full attention, elevating them to VIP status. And, He expects the same from us.
In another sentence we read, “You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor man in his lawsuit.” The Torah enjoins judges not to accept bribes. The underdog deserves a chance at a fair hearing.
But at the same time this week’s Torah portion also tells us: “Do not glorify a poor man in his lawsuit.” Meaning, we are not permitted to show preference to a poor man. A judge may be tempted to right the “injustice of life” by favoring an unfortunate fellow in a lawsuit versus a well-heeled person. After all, the judge may reason, the rich man will not suffer at all if he doesn’t win, but the poor man can by no means afford to lose.
That’s a no-no, says the Torah. It might seem like we are helping straighten a misguided ship. But, G‑d asks us to simply pursue justice and truth – and let the chips fall where they may.
To be sure, G‑d does need our help. He does want us to be His partners in & assist the less fortunate. But that’s through our pocketbooks and sweat - not by distorting the truth or corrupting justice.
Whether or not you’re watching Sunday’s games, let this match up remind us all to 1) be giving, generous, and compassionate towards those less fortunate than us, and 2) to stand up for truth and Divine justice, even if it may feel unfair to us
Fruma and our children – Malka, Yaakov, Shimi, Mendel, Mushka, Riva, Rachmiel, & baby Yosef – join me in wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!
