There have been (now) three times in the past ten years when I've been challenged by a major sporting event going on at a time that simply didn't fit into my schedule, religious or otherwise. And at those times, I've had to ask myself the question, "Are you going to turn your back on everything you hold dear, and watch this game instead?"
The first time was in 1995, when my Yankees were in the playoffs for the first time since 1981. They played the Seattle Mariners and the series went the full five games. the only problem was that Game 5 was held on a Friday night. So I couldn't watch it. And I remember it like yesterday. I was spending Shabbat (Sabbath) at my mom's house and when Shabbat morning rolled around, I picked up the newspaper and read that the Yankees had lost in heart-breaking fashion, on a game-winning double that scored Ken Griffey Jr.
After I read the headline, I shrugged my shoulders and went about my Shabbat. No harm done at all by missing the game. In fact, it actually felt great to miss it, and not just because the Yankees lost. It confirmed my religious priorities.
The second instance was in 2001, when I had the good fortune to be in Israel with Rabbi Moshe Hauer on a Baltimore shul mission. It just so happened that the Yankees again were at issue, this time due to World Series Game Four that would be played at 3:30am (Israel time). So, I set my alarm in my hotel room at Kibbutz Lavi and watched a full nine innings, leaving only when Tino Martinez hit a home run to send the game to extra innings, and leaving only because I didn't want to miss morning minyan (prayers).
But I felt absolutely horrible about having watched the game. Rabbi Hauer later described the look on my face that morning as having "eaten the whole thing." I felt a knot in my stomach that morning because I had been having such a spiritually uplifting mission, and I "blinked" by watching the game.
Which brings us to last night, the third time I've been challenged by a major sporting event, this time with my beloved Eagles participating in the Super Bowl for the first time in 25 years. The game was aired in Israel at 1:30am, which would basically render me useless at work the next day (today).
And what a game it was. The Eagles struck first. The Patriots came back quickly and scored themselves. The same thing in the third quarter, except the roles were reversed. First the Patriots, then the Eagles. And it was only at the end of the fourth quarter, when Donovan McNabb threw an interception with nine seconds left, that everyone knew the game was over...
Except for me. I found out a little while later, when my morning alarm went off. I woke up and went to the computer to see that the Eagles, my beloved Eagles, had lost in a heck of a game.
So, I didn't watch the game. But I'll tell you what I did do.
When I left my house this morning to go to work, there was the most incredible, full-arc rainbow extending over the hills of Binyamin. And I stood there, on the Land promised to us by Hashem, and recited the bracha (blessing): "Zocher habrit, ne'eman b'vrito vekayam bema'amaro." ("He [Hashem] remembers the covenant, is true to His commitment and upholds His word.")
And I realized that I may have missed the Super Bowl, but I'm definitely not missing the Real Game. I watch it everyday.
The first time was in 1995, when my Yankees were in the playoffs for the first time since 1981. They played the Seattle Mariners and the series went the full five games. the only problem was that Game 5 was held on a Friday night. So I couldn't watch it. And I remember it like yesterday. I was spending Shabbat (Sabbath) at my mom's house and when Shabbat morning rolled around, I picked up the newspaper and read that the Yankees had lost in heart-breaking fashion, on a game-winning double that scored Ken Griffey Jr.
After I read the headline, I shrugged my shoulders and went about my Shabbat. No harm done at all by missing the game. In fact, it actually felt great to miss it, and not just because the Yankees lost. It confirmed my religious priorities.
The second instance was in 2001, when I had the good fortune to be in Israel with Rabbi Moshe Hauer on a Baltimore shul mission. It just so happened that the Yankees again were at issue, this time due to World Series Game Four that would be played at 3:30am (Israel time). So, I set my alarm in my hotel room at Kibbutz Lavi and watched a full nine innings, leaving only when Tino Martinez hit a home run to send the game to extra innings, and leaving only because I didn't want to miss morning minyan (prayers).
But I felt absolutely horrible about having watched the game. Rabbi Hauer later described the look on my face that morning as having "eaten the whole thing." I felt a knot in my stomach that morning because I had been having such a spiritually uplifting mission, and I "blinked" by watching the game.
Which brings us to last night, the third time I've been challenged by a major sporting event, this time with my beloved Eagles participating in the Super Bowl for the first time in 25 years. The game was aired in Israel at 1:30am, which would basically render me useless at work the next day (today).
And what a game it was. The Eagles struck first. The Patriots came back quickly and scored themselves. The same thing in the third quarter, except the roles were reversed. First the Patriots, then the Eagles. And it was only at the end of the fourth quarter, when Donovan McNabb threw an interception with nine seconds left, that everyone knew the game was over...
Except for me. I found out a little while later, when my morning alarm went off. I woke up and went to the computer to see that the Eagles, my beloved Eagles, had lost in a heck of a game.
So, I didn't watch the game. But I'll tell you what I did do.
When I left my house this morning to go to work, there was the most incredible, full-arc rainbow extending over the hills of Binyamin. And I stood there, on the Land promised to us by Hashem, and recited the bracha (blessing): "Zocher habrit, ne'eman b'vrito vekayam bema'amaro." ("He [Hashem] remembers the covenant, is true to His commitment and upholds His word.")
And I realized that I may have missed the Super Bowl, but I'm definitely not missing the Real Game. I watch it everyday.