_(english).jpg "My Son's Yarmulka")
_(english).jpg "Soul Food")
_(english).jpg "Searching for Superman")
_(english).jpg "Tammuz: Forces of Nature")
_(english).jpg "America and Jewish Values")
_(english).jpg "Seven Wonders of Jewish History")
+.jpg "Bilaam Versus Abraham")
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Does God care who wins the Super Bowl? It's a question that has been asked numerous times in sports and in other areas of life generally considered unimportant. There's no denying that the Super Bowl, with its half-time show and million dollar commercials, commands a tremendous amount of attention, unequaled by any other sporting event. In 1985, the public celebration of Ronald Reagan's inauguration was shifted from the constitutionally required day of January 20, a Sunday, to the following day, Monday, so as not to conflict with Super Bowl Sunday.
Prof. Joseph Price writes, "fans spend more money on the Super Bowl than Americans spend on traditional religious practices and institutions throughout the entire month." However, as we all know, God's policies are not dictated by the spending behavior and attitude of the American public.
Most people laugh at the foolishness of this question and insist that God has more important things to be worried about. They mockingly tell you that God is busy dealing with major problems like global hunger and world peace and does not pay any attention to trivial matters like sporting events, even one as grand as the Super Bowl. In their minds, the person who believes that God cares about Football is somewhat delusional.
In order to provide what I feel is the correct answer to this question, it would be helpful to reframe the conversation. Does God care about each and every human being on earth? I think so. Indeed, the Talmud tells us that a blade of grass doesn't sway in the wind without God commanding it to. Whether you agree with that Talmudic statement or not, (much ink has been spilled over its theological implications) the point is that God cares about us. We may not like His decisions, we may get angry at Him at times, but God cares.
Ray Lewis has led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. I don't know whether God will grant him a second Super Bowl victory, but he quite loudly and proudly believes that God has granted him these last couple of victories. After the first playoff game he wore a "Psalm 91" shirt and declared that because God is his refuge, he was victorious. After their stunning victories against the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, he preached the holy words of Isaiah to Sal Paolantonio, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper," and concluded by claiming that "man cannot change what God has already blessed and destined." A few years back, I wrote an article defending Buffalo Bills wide receiver, Steve Johnson, who similarly blamed God for causing him to drop a game winning catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
These men and many others know that God cares about them and their success. They understand that God desires a close relationship with everyone and appreciates every prayer – from the "mundane" to the "holy." Three times a day, many Jews recite the majestic words of King David, "God is close to all who call upon him sincerely." If we care, then God cares. It's as simple as that.
So does God care who wins the Super Bowl? Well, not exactly. But He will be at that game rooting for each player, owner, fan, and concession stand worker hoping that the experience of the Super Bowl will, win or lose, enhance and deepen their relationship with Him.
While some may claim that God has more important things to worry about, I believe that God is everywhere. I don't place limits on the limitless.
_(english).gif "Super Powers")
_(english).jpg "For God's Sake")
(17) Beverly Kurtin, February 18, 2013 4:31 AM
Oh yeah...G-d cares about the Stupid Bowl
If God gave a darn about the Stupid Bowl...but who caused the black out? Who gave us a tush on the edge of our seats until the Ravens pulled out a last moment win? Hmm...maybe he does care. At least he managed to keep the idiot Cowboys who refuse to play as a team but each member of the bunch try to be stars. Hmm...
(16) Russ Bertrand, February 4, 2013 4:38 PM
Non-religious people don't get it
G-d sure did determine the outcome of the super bowl. People who doubt that should be reminded that there was a horrible bus crash some years ago that killed 19 people (some burned beyond recognition) and injured alot of others. But one person was unharmed -- and she is someone I know!! So how can you say that God isn't there for us. I knew the Raven's would win. Its a no brainer because, as Rabbi Hess says, Ray Lewis wears Ps. 91 on his sleeve. The rabbi is so right and I wish I had thought of that but I'm not a rabbi. But I CAN tell the Rabbi that a linebacker for the Raven's has a tattoo of Leviticus chapter 18 on his lower back. So how could the Raven's of possibly lost?
Ben Waltz, February 7, 2013 11:40 AM
Russ Bertrand, I'm afriad you're the one who doesn't get it
As Bertrand Russel once said, "A stupid man's report of what a clever man says can never be accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.” However, I assume that your post is in actuality a clever straw man rather than a misunderstanding. Therefore, this is a reply for the benefit of the unfortunate souls who mistook the ridicule in your post for sincerity… The intended message is NOT what Russ Bertrand makes it out to be; that Judaism teaches that there is a direct correlation between one's dedication to G-d, and the events that happen in their lives. (The entire book of Job immediately disproves this notion!) The point is rather that if G-d is truly infinite, then there is absolutely nothing that is too small for his attention. If there were some states of existence that are not "worthy" of His time, then He would not truly be infinite! Everything that exists, no matter how seemingly insignificant from a human perspective, was created, and continues to exist, because G-d wishes it so. The author of the article recognizes that both Ray Lewis and Steve Johnson seemed to understand this concept. It follows from the above that G-d must consciously allow, and even wills, what humans perceive to be evil to exist as well. Had Ray Lewis lost, assuming he is both honest with himself and consistent, then he would recognize the loss as a significant, divinely chosen outcome. (to be continued in next post)...
Anonymous, February 7, 2013 11:41 AM
... (continued) This does NOT mean that one ought to passively submit to one's fate. G-d wants to hear from us via prayer - often, and about literally everything! Because NOTHING is insignificant. How disrespectful to the Creator, the notion that one of HIS beloved creations can possibly be insignificant! We therefore ought to praise and thank Him as much as we can. However, when something seems "wrong" in some way, we have every right to complain, ask for, and sometimes even demand change. (This does not take the place of action, which is required arguably even more so than prayer.) Every obstacle one encounters is one which G-d is focusing on and willing, and should be viewed not as a burden, but as an opportunity to grow as a human being, ultimately bringing one closer to G-d.
Russ Bertrand, February 10, 2013 5:56 PM
One of the greatest players ever, on Super Bowl day, is NOT insignificant!
If Ben Waltz is correct that the article means to say that G-d cares for even the most lowly and insignificant of creatures, then isn't it odd that the proof of this seems to be that G-d cares about one of the greatest football players in history as he is about to play his last game ever, in the Super Bowl? There's a talmudic principle, Ben, called kal ve-chomer. You can call it argumentum a fortiori. Simply, e.g., if a person is dead then kal ve-chomer that person is not taking a walk. Get it? The stronger case certainly implies a weaker case. Thus, if the Rabbi who wrote this gem of an article had expounded that G-d cares about some unknown shlepper then G-d surely cares about Ray Lewis (and especially cares about Ray on Super Bowl Sunday), I would understand the kal ve-chomer and I would take (or leave) the worth of the article. But Ben says the reverse; he says that the article argues that God cares about Ray Lewis so this "proves" that G-d cares about the insignificant shlepper. It may be true that G-d cares about the shlepper -- but not because He cares about the most celebrated football player in the Super Bowl game that is watched by millions upon millions of fans.