Life’s Only Disability: A Bad Attitude

A powerful message from a Jewish Baltimore Ravens fan.

Matthew Jeffers is a Beth Tfiloh graduate in Baltimore. He sent a letter to the Ravens which
was later turned into a video shown on ESPN. Matthew’s message is important for all of us.

Click here if you are unable to view this video.

Published: February 3, 2013
Hear related audio on this topic.

(11) mike north, February 16, 2013 11:04 PM

example extraordinair

Matthew-you are truly an inspiration. May Hashem bless you and your family with good health and success

(10) Aviva, February 13, 2013 11:36 PM

Winners All

Dear Mathew, whatever & however you are doing it. Keep it going........you made my day! Hope you are blessed with long & healthy life...B'H. Aviva

(9) Evy, February 8, 2013 1:37 AM

Matthew, you are a true inspiration to all of us. I applaud your great attitude.

(8) don weissman, February 7, 2013 10:39 PM

Awesome and inspirational

(7) Yaakov Novograd, February 4, 2013 7:20 PM

Let's try to join Jethro's team!

It seems that comment #5 and Eva's reply, reflect ArtScroll's Chumash (the Stone edition) which states Jethro realized (p. 397) ... God treats people in accordance with their own deeds, both for the good and for the bad, although the fairness of his judgment is not always apparent to us....

(6) Dovid, February 4, 2013 11:12 AM

So much more

Beautiful. Obviously, this message is really about so much more than football. I suppose that's why it's here at Aish.com!

(5) Anonymous, February 3, 2013 11:48 PM

WOW

this is so beautiful and inspiring. the only thing is, i think it is wrong to say that "at the end of the day, life is not fair." G-d runs the world, and ultimately, even if we cannot see how, LIFE IS FAIR. life is fair becuase it is run by the Ultimate Perfect Being.

Eva, February 4, 2013 12:02 PM

"Fair" is not a Jewish word

In the Hebrew language, there is no word which means "fair". The Israelis say זה לא פייר! This is because there is no concept of fairness in yiddishkeit, only Righteousness, צדק.

David Eisen, February 5, 2013 9:22 AM

Fair in Hebrew is "Hagun"

Just to follow up on the above comment, fairness in Hebrew is haginut/הגינות and may be of Biblical origin (see Radak's commentary to Ezekiel 42:12); also, it appears throughout the Talmud - see sources in tinyurl.com/hagun-wiki. Perhaps this us just semantics, but I do not see what is the difference between fairness (הגינות) and righeousness/justice (צדק/צדקות); as far as I am concerned, the words are synonymous in this context, no?

Mo, February 4, 2013 10:21 PM

Although Life is fair....

I agree with you that Life is Fair- because God is running the show and whatever he does is Just- but I think the message here really is- we go through a lot of hard times- and most people have an idea what they think life should be like- but in the end of the day- it doesn't matter what we think life should be like- it is how God wants it to be- in that light it is "unfair"- it isn't the way we want it to be all the time- or it things don't always fall into place the way we want things to fall......in that way life is "unfair". But although life is "unfair"- it doesn't mean it isn't JUST- and therefore we must handle life with a positive attitude and know that there is someone running the show- we just need to accept what He is doing whether it be fair (in our minds) or not.

(4) Rebecca Chesner, February 3, 2013 11:22 PM

What an extraordinary and talented young man. So inspirational, way beyond football, as a way to live one's life. May G-d bless you and your family and may your mother have a speedy recovery. I will keep her in my prayers!

(3) hazelgreen, February 3, 2013 5:47 PM

WOW..............

Absolutely incredible! BRAVO to him...and Bravo to the RAVENS for truly "getting" his message----As a lover of Baltimore and it's people, I especially appreciate this! Guess who I'm rooting for tonite?????GO TEAM!

(2) Anonymous, February 3, 2013 4:16 PM

YES!

thank you - fabulous.

(1) Jay, February 3, 2013 3:15 PM

Inspired

As a fan who is indifferent to these two teams...I am now rooting for the Ravens.

Life’s Only Disability: A Bad Attitude

A powerful message from a Jewish Baltimore Ravens fan.

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