On the Same Team

I hate when I read about Jews with adjectives, such as: "Orthodox", "Conservative", "Reform", "Chassidic", "Lubavitch", etc., etc. I never heard about these denominations and these divisions among Jews until I came to Canada. As a Sephardic Jew, I know that all the Jewish people, back home, prayed in one Synagogue -- with no denomination. Hajamim, seculars, liberals and racha'im prayed together in the same Sanctuary. This division has been brought into our existence by the Ashkenazim and it's about time to abolish them and go back to our beginnings. Jews and only Jews denomination for all AM ISRAEL.

It seems that your identification "I am a Sephardic Jew" and then to accuse the Ashkenazim is just what this article was addressing!

Where I grew up sephardic/ashkenazic was never an issue and I nobody spoke about this. Also all prayed in the same synagogue. And also there was never any division between religious and less religious people. Again, all prayed in the same synagogue.
I share Don Long's view.
Let's not fall in that trap.

We are so blessed to be a community, so blessed of Hashem to bring light and salvation into the world, we should appreciate each other and truly be "za be za".

unbelievable. This clip got my heart pounding. and so did the message

While I love that scene form the movie, my favorite, is just before the games vs teh Russians, when Coach Brookes tells the team in the locker room, that if you do not go out and win, you will carry it with you your entire lives to your *%@* graves. In other words, if you do not do all you can to succeed, you will live with it and regret it forever.

Charity and mercy forgiveness and understanding bridge border Sharing our lives giving to others on a day to day basis Living in the now instead of losing our self in distraction pulls our actions into meaningful connection with The Light ofThe Creator and positive change in our world - now

B'H Look into the soul of every Jew and see a beautiful human being in all his or her flawed stages of development and respect them and have compassion. Even the non Jews we need to acknowledge their different paths and role in this world of Hashem's and fulfil our mission.

So well put...........it's not as easy as it sounds....but if we all put our mind to it, it can be done!! Yasher Koach!

This is SOOO beautiful - I am sitting here sobbing in front of my computer. You make a very interesting analogy - perhaps someone needs to edit the video, and every time the coach says "Again," flash a period in Jewish history. "Inquisition," "Crusades," "Cossacks in Ukraine," "pogroms," "Holocaust," 1948 War, 1967 War, 1973 war, 1st intifada, 2nd intifada, HAMAS comes to power in Gaza, etc.

THIS MADE ME CRY. MY SON IS HEADING OUT TO REISHIT THIS SEPTEMBER IF ALL HE EVER LEARNS IS THIS THEN I SAY DAYENU

This is an amazing amazing article

Thank you for reminding us

Go for it team Klall Yisroel!!!

Please put this article in every Jewish Media outlet possible. You made your point brillantly with the Hockey team. When will we learn that when our enemies try to destroy us they do not ask us what we do on Saturdays or what we eat. We must unite as one and not stand as individuals with differences. What is important is what is on the front of the Jersey not the back. Thanks,

I just want to say that the analysis and comments from Anonymous, 10/8/2008, are so dead on and well written, they are most appreciated and are my own sentiments to the last letter. Thank you.

We are the chosen ones. G-d chose us due to the covenant he made with Avraham and Yacov. Chosen doesn't mean necessarily "better". It means chosen. People can be different, do different things, live different lives and still be unified under one G-d. It doesn't mean we all have to look, dress, be the same or have the same occupation. That's where real unity comes in! Bonding together based on differences, not melding all into one and loosing what makes us different. True Unity comes when people are themselves and when they are able to be themselves and bond with others based on similarities, not by suppressing what makes us different!

It is a shame that all of us are not on the same team. We, the Jews of the world seem to think that whatever we are....we are the "chosen" ones.

Excellent article! My mother used to say the Nazis didn't ask who is frum and who is not, all they wanted were Jews.

Wonderful article, wonderful concept. I'm all for ahavas chinam.

As for the "same team" anaology, however, there's a bit of a glitch. In order for a declaration of unity to be worth anything, we can't just say "we're on the same team, rah rah rah" and go around giving each other hugs and patts. If it were that simple, well, it would much much simpler!

The problem is that we can't seem to agree on the RULES OF THE GAME. If we're all on the ice wearing our hockey gear, and we all agree to "being on the same team," but once the puck hits the ground only a few players stay on the ice while the rest scatter (and/or start playing according to the rules of other games - basketball, cricket, baseball...), what good is the declaration of "teamship?" We can't get too far by simply acknowledging our common bloodline, our common ancestry, our "differentness" among the nations - we can't work as a team when most the team members don't believe there are any rules and/or have no interest whatsoever in playing by them.

When the laws of the Torah are the rules of the game, then there's room for respecting and understanding the need for different roles in the game - i.e., goalie, defense, offense, etc. All different roles, but all playing by the same rules, with the same goal, for the same team in the same game (i.e. Yeshivish, chasidic, Sefardic, Ashkenazik - all united in the service of G-d and living according to the Torah).

Problem is when we're all wearing the team jersey - which to the outside world, all Jews are - and the vast majority of us are trying to cover it up with another teams jersey, playing on the other team's side altogether, sitting in the bleachers with the fans, out in the hall buying food and souvineers, and/or simply making up their own rules as they go along, creating chaos and undermining the game (and those trying to play it properly) in the process. When the Torah says certain things are forbidden, but a Jew (or group of Jews) says, either in thought or deed, "but that doesn't apply to ME," or, "Well, THEY may observe that but I don't have to." as if it were optional, then what does our "feeling" of unity mean?

Now, don't get me wrong, I go to great pains to "judge favorably," and to find love in my heart for every Jew regardless of stripe, level of observance, etc, even as he leads me down the path of destruction (G-d forbid!) because that is my chiyuv (no different than keeping Shabbos, Kashrut, Taharas HaMishpacha, Tzniut, etc) and because I genuinely love people and want the best for them.

I came from a reform background and am now Torah observant, so i know full well what it's like to be on both sides of the fence - so to speak. And I can tell you that there was a great deal more ignorance, arrogance and patronizing of observant Jews over there than I've experienced of the reverse over here (of course the sentiment for the ideology is horror, because it flies in the face of the Torah itself. But the lack of warm sentiment does not extend to the people who are alligned with it, and that's a big difference.)

Until we can agree that there ARE rules of the game, learn what those rules are, and put them into practice to the best of our ability, we can't possibly hope to win the game. And, quite frankly, sometimes it takes a lot of effort to find love for people who are happily and willingly - even if sometimes utterly obliviously - drilling holes in the boat that we are all sitting in, self and family included.

I'm the first person to admit that I'm not even close to perfect, and my failings are significant in quantity and quality. But I will say that I do not rest in trying to make myself into a Torah personality to the best of my limited ability(a goal I will likely never acheive), and that I work hard and expend great effort to do my part. I am fortunate to be part of a community of people who take their Judaism very seriously, and for whom living as a Jew it is a full-time job (that is the job description, for anyone who's seen the Torah!). But sometimes it's very very hard to be working so hard, and knowing so many others who work tirelessly - to be the best Jews they can be in all facets (again, not without some failure) -while 80% (more?) of our "team mates" are partying - and making fun of us at the same time. We are trying to carry the weight - the yoke of Torah - for the entire Jewish people, and it's not easy when 80% aren't pulling their weight.

Halavai we were truly on the same team, not just willing to wear the same jersey and claim the same team name. When I imagine the thought of EVERY JEW on the planet fully owning their Judaism, embracing and living the Torah and it's dictates, fully united with all other Jews in the shared purpose for which Ha-shem enjoined us - united as at Har Sinai in our wholehearted acceptance of the yoke (the gift) of Heaven and in so doing stepping up to our responsibility - to be a conduit for G-d's presence in this world, to be a light unto the nations...It's like going from one person carrying a 200 lb. weight up a steep mountain to taking off in the Concord jet! It positively gives me chills!
This is the way in which we "join" with the family of humanity, not by disowning our unique and neccessary role and trying to be like them - that doesn't serve us or them. Not only do we invite destruction upon our nation, but we don't do the non-Jews any favors either when we marry them, try to be like them, try to blend in with them.If we really cared about them, let alone us, we'd do our job and not try to second guess G-d.)

Unless Ha-shem in his mercy redeems us very soon, it seems that we will instead have no choice but to "love each other" as we are lead to the next wholesale Jew-slaughter, G-d forbid, G-d forbid. It's the same old story, and it astounds me that we still can't "get it," but the warnings of the Torah and the prophets have been chillingly, horifically proved out again, and again, and again. It seems that, at the moment, we sit once again in the chapter just before the tables turn, and the unfathomable ("It can't happen HERE!") horror begins - Halila, lo aleynu, Ha-shem yirahem!!!

I pray that Ha-shem finally put an end to the broken record, and intercept before the next otherwise inevitable chapter of mass destruction begins. May Ha-shem shower US with ahavat chinam and bring moshiach soon, in peace and compassion.

I don't know what Hashem has in mind for you, perhaps your purpose is exactly what you say. But I want you to know that both I and my sister are middle-aged and disabled. My sister made Aliyah 4 years ago. She has chilren, I don't. Still, I visited the Jewish Agency in Boston to inquire about making Aliyah, the government will provide the plane ticket, and they gave me papers that offer full benefits for new olim (immigrants) who are under the age of 55.

As I said, I don't know where Hashem wants you to be. I figure Hashem scattered us about the world for a reason. But I also believe that every Jew who returns to Israel makes Israel that much stronger. (Even us disabled people.) G-d willing, I will be there soon.

Diana W.

We remember that game and you made an excellent parable! Yeshar Koach!

We should force all Rabbi's on the ice to run suicides until they come up with Rabbi Lipman's conclusions. But instead, like capable marketers, they construct their own unique form of Judaism that is exclusively for their members, while discounting all others. Yet they rant about the OTHER Jewish Movements that are SSOOO intolerant. Like the Team, we can better unify when we gain a common understanding of the mission. It seems to me that the mission is carry/live the Torah successfully through time. We've all got different roles to play. Some will be Goalies, so will be scorers, some defense, some will sell popcorn in the stands.....but every Jew is critical towards achieving the mission. "Torah" is the name on the front of the jersey, not the divisive issue of who's worthy enough to place "Jew" on the back of the jersey. "AGAIN!"

Everything that was created was meant for us Jews to eleavate. Once again a unseen lessen so very clearly pointed out by those gifted to "decode" serves AM YISROEl if only they could open the channels to do so ....

When some people sit and learn Torah all day long and, on the way home, exhibit boorish behavior in the market. it seems to me that the day has been completely wasted. When secular jews refuse to accomodate their observant employees needs to take off shabbos and yom tov, I see the same problem. Moshiach will return when both sides act properly toward one another.

Well Done! Find Hoosiers!

Wonderful clip showing all of us that Hashem sees the front of our jersey before the back... Klal before me.
Shana Haba...

I hope we learn finally. We can not over come the evil that peruses us to the corners of the earth individually. We must unite under one banner, with one mind, with one singular devotion: That anyone who connects to Israel weather it be nationally, physically, emotionally, or religiously should be a brother or sister to one another. I know I am not loved by you Israel but I love you regardless.

Someone asked why it is so difficult to make aliah. Have you wee what economic problems Israel is having? Do they have money to spend to get people to Israel?

I'd love to go, but I don't have the money and what would I do to contribute to Israel if I went? I'm what I consider middle age and I'm disabled. I'd not make a great candidate to moving there. I can do more for Israel by staying here and helping people understand Israel's situation.

Great scene from a great movie and a great message for us all. Jewish unity may not be the only lesson of Tisha B'Av but it's the most important one. The lack of unity and baseless hatred in the Jewish world, continues to threaten our existence. It's time, now more than ever, to unite as a people. We may not agree on all matters, but there should always be tolerance and respect. It's only through unity that we can defeat our many enemies and meet our destiny as a people. G-d's people.

Well said, now if we Jews would just listen.

kol yisroel areivim zeh lozeh

Many Jewish authorities, including the Talmud (see Sanhedrin 104b as referenced in a footnote to Lamentations 1:1 on page 1716 of the Stone Tanakh published by Mesorah Publicatons), teach that the first temple was destroyed "because the Jews transgressed the Torah" from beginning to end. That is an explanation as to why Jeremiah is said to have written chapters 1-4 of Lamentations in the form of an alphabetic acrostic, i.e., each verse beginning with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, starting with alef. Jewish disunity (or causeless hatred) was later given as the reason for the destruction of the second temple. So Jewish unity, as important a goal as it is, isn't the entire lesson of Tisha B'Av.

Everyone should pass this poem on to all of their jewish friends and family and post it somewhere where all can read this everyday!! and, not that it matters a hoot but I am Orthodox and love love love this poem!! I will post this on my wall or somewhere until Moshiach comes and will welcome him if he is dressed in purple with a clown's hat on!!

Perhaps you should have a competent orthodox rabbi explain to you the importance of what our sages say. In short: G-d gave these great, learned, pious, and G-d fearing men the authority to explain further what is required of His people.

While unity is always a wise idea, especially among Jews, I thought we were in exile for breaking Gods commands. Maybe its time we stopped worrying so much about what our sages say, and start obeying God!

i totally agree with this entire article. The only thing that matters is that we are Jewish and that we all want to accomplish the same goal. Mr. Lipman you really did a great job on the article!!

We must all learn that we are on the same team, just play different

Sadly but true there is a pecking order among the Jews. All you have to do is be in a crowd and right away someone wants to know if you're Askenasi or Sephardic. Always the asker is askenassi and looks down upon the sephardic. Then you're w the Hassidic who treat you as a vermin if you aren't what they are. That attitude kept me from being part of a community. I agree w your article 100% and i thank AISH and writers like yourself who write some very hard to swallow truths for some people. Also, there is a bunch of Jews who are just discovering their heritage. these are the inquisitional jews who live in South America and the USA. why are they having such a hard time getting recognized in Israel. Why do they make it so hard for them to make aliyah. These Jews are most orthodox and truly observant. If we have accepted Jews from all over the world, what is keeping Israel from giving these folks their rightful place in eretz israel?





shkenassi or

This essay speaks to the heart of the crisis of intolerance that permeates the Jewish world.
Rabbi Lipman's words of wisdom should be taken to heart. Perhaps then we will merit the coming of the Mashiach in our day.

YES I TOTALLY AGREE!!!

SHALOM:)

I could not agree more! Our shul is "conservative," and in our neighborhood we are surrounded by several "modern Orthodox" shuls. There has been so much cynical talk about "us" and "them" that you'd think we were doing some real-life version of "West Side Story" with the rival Sharks and the Jets gangs. Seriously, this has got to stop! When are we going to realize that the world sees us as one entity, and that we need to see ourselves just as "Am Yisrael." I am so tired of the sniping, the haughty and holier-than-thou attitudes, and the persistent sinat chinam (causeless hatred) that a sincere examination and observance of Tisha B'Av should wipe out. We should be asking ourselves at this time, "Am I praying out of love for all my fellow Jews, or just those I happen to know about and agree with?" We...are...all...on...the...same...team.

really great!
how right you are. we have to stop focusing on all the differences( which granted there are many), and we have to zero in on and really focus on the thing that we all have the same. that we are Jews, children of G-d. may we merit the building of our temple speedily in our days!

I loved this movie, and I especially loved the way the team finally came together. And it's so true- we need to learn from this and come together as Hashem's Chosen People, Am Echad.

This is an absolutely amazing article -its true that the 'labels' create alienation, and that uniting as one and discovering a common purpose is what should be number one on the agenda. The facts on the ground are this: despite common values of education, charity, justice, etc. that the Jewish faith has given the world, as detailed in Ken Spiro's book "WorldPerfect", Orthodox are wary of entering into the place of worship where Socially Liberal jews go to pray, and Reform and/or Conservative are wary of visiting Orthodox synagogues where Socially Conservative jews go to pray. BUT the key words are socially liberal and socially conservative - we may disagree on social issues and politics, but if this is what we disagree on, this is the least of our problems. As long as we don't hate each other for being "jewish" - that is to say belief in core jewish values, the Jewish people will not face what are our two biggest threats: internal civil war, or assimilation.

The jewish people need far more bridge builders in our community like Coach Herb Brooks that can inspire everybody and bring diverse "labels" together. For 60 years that Coach has been Israel, which has projected our focus outwards, in terms of forcing us to compare ourselves to other nations in this world and make us realize how blessed and lucky we are - as opposed to silly internal fighting between jewish communities around the world.

Israel has inspired me to be a bridge builder and I will try my best to fashion myself in the Herb Brooks mold in the future and bridge the divide between various jewish groups.

maybe, yes, there is one more thing we can say and that is: members of ONE team, the human "race" and also Jews but that being Jewish is part of the team that is part of a greater whole that is all of us, because we are all of us more connected than we ever thought possible.

I think it's important as we move out into the universe ( ONE verse) to remember this.

MOSHIACH'S HAT

written for Purim by Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum

"Twas the night of the Geulah, - And in every single Shtiebel. Sounds of the Torah could be heard coming from every kind of Yeedel.

This one in English Some in Hebrew, some in Yiddish. Some saying Pshat And some saying a Chiddish. And up in Shamayim The Aibishter decreed: "The time has come for My Children to be freed."

"Rouse the Moshiach From his heavenly berth. Have him get in his chariot, And head down to earth." The Moshiach got dressed And with a heart full of glee, Went down to earth and entered The first Shtiebel he did see.

"I am the Moshiach! Hashem has heard your plea! Your Geulah has come! It's time to go free!" They all stopped their learning, This was quite a surprise. And they looked at him carefully, With piercing sharp eyes.

"He's not the Moshiach!" Said one with a grin, "Just look at his hat, At the pinches and brim!" "That's right!" cried another With a grimace and frown, "Whoever heard of Moshiach With a brim that's turned down?"

"Well," thought Moshiach, "If this is the rule, I'll turn my brim up Before I go to the next shul." So he walked right on over To the next shul in town. Sure to be accepted, Since his brim was no longer down. "I'm the Moshiach!" he cried, As he began to enter, But the Jews wanted to know first If he was Left, Right, or Center.

"You're clothes are so black!" They cried out in fright. "You can't be Moshiach You're much too far right!" "If you want to be Moshiach, You must be properly outfitted." So they replaced his black hat with a kippah that was knitted. Wearing his new Kippah, Moshiach went out and said: "No difference to me what I wear on my head."

So he went to the next shul, For his mission was dear, But he was getting frustrated with the Yidden down here. "I'm the Moshiach!" he cried, And they all stopped to stare, And a complete eerie stillness filled up the air.

"You're the Moshiach?! just imagine that! Whoever heard of Moshiach - without a black hat?!" "But I do have a hat!" the Moshiach then said. So he pulled it right out and plunked it down on his head.

The shul started laughing, And one said: "where's your kop?" You can't have a Moshiach With a brim that's turned up!" "If you want to be Moshiach And be accepted in this town, Put some pinches in your hat And turn that brim down!"

Moshiach walked out and said: "I guess my time hasn't come. I'll just have to return to where I came from." So he went to his chariot, But as he began to enter, All sort of Jews appeared From the Left, Right, and Center.

"Please wait - do not leave. It's all their fault!" they said, And they pointed to each other And to what was on each other's head. Moshiach just looked sad And said, "you don't understand."

And then started up his chariot to get out of this land. "Yes, it's very wonderful That you all learn Torah, But you seem to have forgotten a crucial part of our Mesorah.

"What does he mean?" "what's he talked about?" And they all looked bewildered, And all began to shout. Moshiach looked back and answered, "The first place to start, Is to shut up your mouths and open up your hearts. "To each of you, certain Yidden Seem too frum or too frei, But all yidden are beloved In the Aibishter's eye."

And on his way up he shouted: "If you want me to come, Try working a little harder On some Ahavat Chinam!"

I hope a lot of people get this message! It is terrible to feel alienated from your own people because you are not "Jewish enough", or observant enough, or don't fit the mold of what you "should" be in order to be a "good Jew." I identify myself, proudly, as a Jew, although I am not observant, and hate it when I feel as though I am being criticized for not doing more...

Just like the movie it took them into exhaustion to finally get it. A true leader came out and finally said what the coach wanted to hear. May that true leader come to us soon. With the help of great articles like this to lead the way we shouldn't have to wait that long. Thanks,

Thank you!