Twenty-five hundred years ago a tradition was started in a Mediterranean region, subsequently known as Greece. Once in four years a fierce competition was held to determine which person was the swiftest, strongest and most agile. It was an event that celebrated the beauty and grace of the human body, the limits that it can be pushed to, the drive and spirit of these who wanted to be best at all cost. It also created a sense of unity amongst the peoples of the Hellenistic civilization.
We are celebrating a revival of that tradition after a lapse of about 1500 years in the form of the Olympic Games that are taking place these days.
There was another tradition that started 3500 years ago in the Near East. The Torah was given to the Jewish nation, as a beacon of light meant ultimately to draw all nations of the world. The tradition of Torah, both written and oral law, continued uninterrupted till this day. Once in seven years the entire nation would come together in Jerusalem to read significant portions of the Torah. Although this came to an end with the destruction of the Temple, a new tradition arose two millennium later. About 90 years ago, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, a great rabbi from Lublin, Poland, implemented a "page a day" study program of Talmud. This would ensure universal Jewish literacy and create a sense of unity amongst the Jewish people.
At the conclusion of this cycle – once every seven and a half years – a huge celebration of "Siyum HaShas," the completion of the Talmud is held. The program started successfully, was devastated during World War II years and slowly came back. Last week, the twelfth "Siyum" was held at Metlife Stadium, with over 90,000 people in attendance and tens of thousands the world over participating via hookup and local celebrations.
I was privileged to be there. It was an event moving and inspiring beyond words. But it was for me a time of reflection about what it means to be a Jew, one of the "chosen."
I could not help but reflect at the coincidence of the event happening in a sports stadium at the same time of the Olympics. The contrast in events brought home to me what it means to be a Torah Jew, in a most impactful way.
Let me itemize the three stark contrasts that struck me:
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The cause for celebration: The Western world celebrates the achievement of the body. True, there are certain worthy qualities that participate in the process, i.e. persistence, training, patience, cooperation (in team sports) but these are ancillary to the main goal of a physical accomplishment. And in their essence, the accomplishments are meaningless. Running a quarter of a second faster has brought no great good to any man.
The Jewish people celebrate intellectual struggle. Not just any intellectual struggle, but the struggle to define good and bad and their manifestations. The body is significant only because it is the platform for the mind and heart. It is the spiritual and intellectual achievements that deserve to be celebrated, not the body's.
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Who is celebrated: The Olympic Games celebrate the winner. Only one person can win the gold. The Torah describes the Jews as a "nation of priests." What makes the Siyum HaShas so amazing is that it is the achievement of "everyman." The rabbis and dignitaries were there to celebrate the achievements of the 90,000. Torah teaches us that each person individually is in the image of God, and each one attains his personal greatness, at no expense to the other. The "champions" of the Siyum event were the thousands of people who work hard at a job, push themselves to wake up early, go to sleep late, and puzzle though difficult text and persist undaunted, day in and day out for over seven years.
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The effect of the event: The end of a major sporting event tends to bring out the coarser side of society. "Crowd psychology" is by and large a pejorative term. As I waited for my ride outside the stadium at the end of the event, I watched the streaming crowds intently. They had been there from 6 pm until 1:30 am! The adjectives that came to mind watching them stream out were: dignified, uplifted, spiritual, joyous.
One of the prayers we recited on Sabbath reads, "And when the tens of thousands people of your nation gather together, they praise your name joyfully." The simple meaning is that Jews gather in great numbers in order to engage in the activity of singing God's praises. Looking at the crowd a new meaning of the prayer dawned on me. The comportment and demeanor of the Jewish People as they gather in the tens of thousands is in itself the greatest hymn of praise to God.
The morning after, as I recited the blessing before the study of Torah, the words jumped at me: "Blessed are You … who has chosen us from amongst all nations and given us Your Torah." How fortunate are we that our life focuses on the spiritual and intellect. How honored we are that we have been chosen to live a hard life in a mundane world, and then to accept the difficult yoke of infusing it with spirit. How privileged we are to act as a paradigm to the world of what man's true achievements are. How privileged we are to be given the task of refining ourselves to a degree that we become a light unto nations.
I look forward to the day when humanity will take note of this and also choose to become chosen.
(30) Richard G Raff, December 2, 2013 5:48 AM
What would you choose?
We must remember that this is a temporary home until we merit the world to come. So with this in mind what questions or answers have we not found because we have to many choices, what would you choose the mind or body or? I made my choice, I am not so refined but I choose life and Hashem blessed be He.
(29) susannah garbutt, August 22, 2012 10:09 AM
values of western civilisation
I disagree that the values of the West are all to do with the body and the physical. What are universities but places where the intellect is celebrated; churches synagogues, mosques and temples places where the numerous religions and spirituality of the world are nurtured and practised in the name of goodness and virtue; and galleries and concert halls places where the arts are nurtured - in the West (and the East, for that matter)? Not to mention the sciences, including medicine, in which many, (but not all) of the outstanding happen to be Jewish - the West is populated by people of all faiths who devote their lives to enlightment in whatever their field of expertise. I guess some of these people attend to the physical in their daily jog or gym visits (the physical demands attention one way or the other), but the West encompasses all these pursuits. Age and death are great levellers and beauty and the physical depart when people may be only halfway through their lives. We take interest in the Olympics, more for the ideals the movement stands for, as in cricket - ideals of fair play etc., but people can work out for themselves what is truly important in their lives, and although the physical can be ignored, and the spirit may be willing but the flesh weak, it doesn't hurt to take an interest once every four years. And finally, the athletes are competing for their nation, not personal glory - when your country participates, you are in there with them, and if they win a medal, the whole country feels they have won. Thank you, Susannah Garbutt
(28) Jonathan, August 13, 2012 10:07 PM
What happens when a Jew succeeds at the Olympics?
The orthodox aren't much on athletics but when it comes to grabbing a big jock, especially a Jewish jock, for a fundraiser....well, buisness is business as the old joke goes. My problem is that the Olympics are over exploited for commercial purposes while 90,000 people at Metlife Stadium could use with a little more branding - The OU in partnership with Kedem presents Siyum HaShas Live! sponsored in part by Rubashkin Meats and ...and... it wouldn't hurt to hand out some tin either. Life isn't Westchester T Ball. There are winners and losers and our over coddled children don't understand that truth.
(27) Anonymous, August 13, 2012 9:42 PM
Apparently..
Rabbi Dov Moshe Lipman, who also writes for Aish, thinks that there is much to learn from the physical achievements olympians display: http://www.aish.com/sp/pg/Smashing-the-Barrier.html
(26) lee, August 11, 2012 2:22 PM
how amazing!
How amazing it must have been to be able to attend. I have taught my children to imagine what it would have been like back in the day when all gathered together in anticipation of hearing Hashems word read aloud. What a privilege it was to be there. To gather with others or the nation, to hear and talk about what is required of us. We are truly blessed among the nations. How is it that others can choose to be chosen?
(25) Wassim, August 11, 2012 5:21 AM
The Rabbi didn't say the body should be neglected altogether.
It's about priorities. Our survival, personal success, and measure of contribution to "the world to come" depend more on a developed intellect than a developed body. So does our ability to enjoy the blessing of life by being compassionate and understanding despite our differences. I know which event I'd prefer to qualify for, let alone partake in and complete. Better to be healthy and chosen rather than a "magnificent specimen" that is idolised. Idolatry is often a curse to both the idoliser and the person being idolised.
(24) Chana, August 10, 2012 7:49 PM
sports and music
while all the commentary here is regarding the Olympic games, sports in general, and Talmud, and i most certainly agree that Talmud study has absolutely nothing to do with sports... there is another aspect of ONE winner, and that is in music and the arts. In ANY competition , there is ONE winner. Sadly, its not necessarily the "best man for the job" as in the case of an orchestra audition, however the one who *wins* the audition, is the one who played best, that day, at that moment. That is the way human life is. There are the 'slow and steady, win the race' and the one who did the best at that moment. One should not be confused with the other. AND, Talmud study has nothing to do with it at all, INHO thank you
(23) Shlomo Aziz, August 10, 2012 1:46 PM
Enough of these comments
I don't understand why everyone is ripping on the author. He NEVER said that one may not watch the olympics. Read the article. All he does is compare the two events and point out why it is better for mankind to be living in the world of Torah as opposed to the world of sports. And he is RIGHT! One is not utilizing his talents by winning an olympic medal because, as the author already said, that doesn't help anyone. It doesn't do any good for anyone. If anything, it hurts people much more than it helps. Forget about the thousands of losers you have for every one winner. How eveyone focuses on the ones wearing the medals, and forget about all the athletes who put their lives in to this tournament and lost, all the pain for them and their families. Think of all the hard work and effort that they put in, which could have been used for good. All the time, money and effort that was used for the olympics could have been used for a greater purpose. Again, the olympics are not bad. There is nothing wrong with watching. It is quite entertaining. But the point of the author is that all of mankind would be better off living in a world of Torah as opposed to a world of sports. And he is right. Terrific article.
(22) Leib, August 10, 2012 12:45 PM
Celebrating a single winner
Hanan raised an important point by saying that comparing Talmud study to sports is like apples to Cadillacs, and I think that the authors intention was to point out exactly that. When we compare the two systems, doesn't it seem that the the spiritual playing field (talmud study) is more beautiful that the physical, where success is defined by vanquishing another? There is also an aspect of limitation in the physical realm, as the outcome of a competition is a bit predetermined, ie if A works out his abilities to the max and so does B, A will be the the most likely winner due to his greater base potential. A word about everyone utilizing their G-d given talents- One wonders if the athletes and the world would have been better off had everyone devoted more energy to utilizing their other G-d given talents, such as the ability to conquer one's ego and the ability to do kindness.
(21) TMay, August 9, 2012 8:31 PM
I am jaded about the Olympic Committee and the media.
This year I am seeing the Olympics differently. The youth who participate in the Olympics have to be amateurs.Every 4 years there is a new team of young amateurs. The Olympic committees and the media are professionals. The participants have worked long and hard to get there. I think that the Olympic Committees have lost touch and lost sight. There is unequal bargaining. The Olympic Committees make its demands and the participants comply. It appears they are not given notice of some of the rules. They should be given notice and read them and sign their name. The notice should include the prohibition on using Twitter to repeat jokes. The idea that some young person wiped out their chance to be in the Olympics because of a 140 character tweet is very sad. The young women are not allowed to wear clothes that make them comfortable to engage in the games. They have to wear skimpy clothes because it is better for TV ratings. This is exploitative. There have been problems with orthodox Jewish women and with Muslim women. Now I hear that the Olympics chose a condom manufacturer to be the exclusive distributor of free condoms. The Australian team almost got kicked out of the Olympics for using their own condoms rather than the ones made available. I think Olympians should be allowed to choose their own condoms. After all, paternity costs could last for a few decades.Is the Olympic Committee ready to pay for paternity costs and pregnancy costs for decades? IMHO the Olympic Committee is acting disrespectfully to the athletes. The athletes are more than trained monkeys performing so that various parties can enrich themselves. Even trained animals deserve to be treated nicely. Not having held a moment of silence was disrespectful and it is a part of the whole attitude of the committee. It is insulting to the concept of the Olympics and it is insulting to Muslims to assume that they support the terrorism, torture and murder, of participants in the Olympics who were Israeli.
(20) larry, August 9, 2012 5:21 PM
can't I be Jewish and like the Olympics?
The body is a gift from G-d. Yes, there are valid points in the article, but can't I watch and appreicate what the incredible human body can do?
(19) Sam Fistel, August 9, 2012 3:42 PM
Games and Playing are essential as well to individual and societal development
The author makes great points about the benefit of Talmud study but also seems to be greatly unaware of the tremendous benefits to individuals and societies of games, sports and other "social" activities. Two podcasts I listened to recently come to mind: 1. Jane McGonigal's 2nd TED podcast on game playing potentially increasing lifespans by 10 years (while improving life quality): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfBpsV1Hwqs 2. Steve Keil's TED podcast in Sofia, Bulgaria, "A Manifesto for Play," on how to get Bulgaria from being ranked last in the EU in Happiness, Innovation, Economy, etc.: http://podfreaks.com/view/tedtalks/50862
(18) Hanan, August 8, 2012 7:59 PM
Nothing wrong with celebrating a single winner.
I don't understand. What is wrong with celebrating a winner? Are we seriously going back to the era of the self-esteem movement where we handed out trophies to anyone that participated? There is absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating a single winner, because, that is what THOSE specific events are ABOUT. Comparing Talumd study to sports is like comparing apples to Cadillacs. They are two different things and function on different levels. I wouldn't WANT there to be a single winner in Talmud study because that is not what it is about. But sports ARE about that, just like any regular sporting event we go to. A lot of discipline goes into such sporting events, particularly, the drive to the first place winner. If you believe God gave everyone special talents and purpose, than what makes you believe that they are not utilizing it by winning an olympic medal?
Shlomo Aziz, August 10, 2012 1:47 PM
Sorry, but I believe you are mistaken
I don't understand why everyone is ripping on the author. He NEVER said that one may not watch the olympics. Read the article. All he does is compare the two events and point out why it is better for mankind to be living in the world of Torah as opposed to the world of sports. And he is RIGHT! One is not utilizing his talents by winning an olympic medal because, as the author already said, that doesn't help anyone. It doesn't do any good for anyone. If anything, it hurts people much more than it helps. Forget about the thousands of losers you have for every one winner. How eveyone focuses on the ones wearing the medals, and forget about all the athletes who put their lives in to this tournament and lost, all the pain for them and their families. Think of all the hard work and effort that they put in, which could have been used for good. All the time, money and effort that was used for the olympics could have been used for a greater purpose. Again, the olympics are not bad. There is nothing wrong with watching. It is quite entertaining. But the point of the author is that all of mankind would be better off living in a world of Torah as opposed to a world of sports. And he is right. Terrific article.
(17) lee, August 8, 2012 4:47 PM
Tishabeav
You forgot to mention tishabeav fell on the night of the Olympics.
(16) elaine, August 8, 2012 3:40 AM
i loved it and it helped me to clarify myself as baales teshuva
thank you so much i come from family of athletes and my father got a basketball scholarship to go to UConn in 1950 there he joined a jewish fraternity and then kosher food was no longer eaten then we moved to christian community when i was 11 so i did work out at the gym for many years and now i study torah as the priority and it has built my spirit and soul and i know the difference now i have returned elaine
(15) Richaed-Rafael Joachim, August 7, 2012 10:44 PM
The Trojan Horse
One aspect of the Oylmpic Games (both ancient and modern) not yet mentioned, is the fact that they celebrate 'pagan' gods and values. A careful person examines everything to make sure it is 'kosher' - in both a physical and spiritual sense. Don't people realise that at the beginning of each modern OG, as the torch is lit, prayers are said addressed to the ancient Greek gods? The very 'gods' the prophets and our ancestors had to battle? The glorification of the body - which the OG essentially is - means no circumcision (and as Aish membes would be aware it is this glorification of the body which has caused some governments - local, State and National - in various parts of the Western World to attempt to ban the brith. Vast sums of money are spent by governments and corporations (sponsors) so that 'their' athletes can 'bring home' a bit of bling - monies that are sorely needed for the health and welfare of the poorest of people, even in the wealthy Western nations, and as I am an Australian - a sports-mad and wealthy country if ever there was one, I can attest that we do have a portion of the people of Australia who live in dire poverty and are socially and economically oppressed, even in the Jewish community here. Yet the Australian State and Federal governments spend $billions on creating 'elite' sports men and woman (well, boys and girls really, given the average age of the athletes). In reality, the OG are actually a curse. The cost of the Athens games of 2004 bankrupted Greece and Europe's economies are shaky because of this and the knock-on effects to nations such as the US, is disasterous. It's the people that then suffer - not the achletes or their owner-sponsors, and the athletes are little more than property (slaves) who are quickly dumped if they don't perform as expected. Are people so blind they can't see what's really behind the OG - even the name refers to a pagan god-head? In East-London, the poor have been kicked out of their homes to build arenas!
karen, August 9, 2012 11:35 PM
Where exactly have the poor been kicked out of their homes? Actually the Olympic Park was built in east London in order to regenerate one of the most depressed parts of the county.
(14) Edwin Hissink, August 7, 2012 8:55 PM
Sports is a talent given by G-d
I believe that the Olympic Games do make a difference. Athletes are able to push their sports to extended limits because they received their talents for their sports from G-d. Indeed, there is a comparison to make between these athletes and scholars: both are willing to push their limits. Many of them know they are not able to push their physical limits alone but because G-d gave them this possibility
Anonymous, August 10, 2012 2:37 AM
What?
Mr. Hissink, Granted it's G-d given, I don't see how it helps make the world a better place being able to swim, throw, or kick a ball. Granted the Almighty has given them their physical abilities is this really what G-d had in mind for their talents? I don't claim to know the answer, but I doubt if He wanted the Olympics.
(13) Charles L. Richman, August 7, 2012 8:10 PM
not one minute
The OIC would not give one minute of silence to remember the 11 Jewish & I will not give the Olympics one minute of my viewing time. I agree with the following. "German police as a result of pressure from German investigative reporters, stated that Black September” terrorists, helped by a Nazi obtained fake IDs, weapons and access to the Olympic Village. Not surprised, the head of the IOC in 1972 was Avery Brundage, a Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite. His protege, Juan Samaranch, eventually served the second longest IOC term as president, but his support of Nazis was kept a secret. Most IOC members knew the truth but stayed silent because he organized a regal lifestyle for them. 'I want all of you to lose your jobs and be replaced by real Olympians who care about the athletes and believe in the Olympic charter.' The IOC denied the Israeli government's request for security for the athletes. Before the Opening Ceremony family members of the murdered Israelis met with Alex Gilady. Gilady has been a member of the IOC's Radio and Television Commission since 1984 and is senior vice president of NBC Sports.Gilady informed the families of the murdered Israelis that a moment of silence was impossible. Ilana Romano burst then cried out at Gilady, "How DARE you! You KNOW what they did to my husband! They let him lay there for hours, dying slowly, and then finished him off by castrating him and shoving it in his mouth, ALEX!" I looked at Gilady's face as he sat there, stone cold with no emotion. This man knew these athletes personally. This man led the Israeli media delegation at the 1972 Olympics and saw this atrocity first hand. This man saw my father's dead, naked body thrown out front of the Olympic Village for all the world to see. Without a hint of empathy, Gilady excused himself from our meeting. Now I want all of you OIC members to lose your jobs and be replaced by real Olympians who care about the athletes and believe in the Olympic charter."
(12) Plump Peninah, August 7, 2012 7:16 PM
Not really fair to pudgy people
Author suggests that "The Western world celebrates the body." Not exactly. Yes, the Olympic athletes are adonis-like. But what about the 30% of Americans who are obese? I am not in that category but I do weigh too much for my height. If we celebrate our bodies so much how come all you read about is how overweight we are as a nation. Anyway, why do the critical comments say the Olympics can be good and Torah can be good? Rabbi Lopiansky presents us with a choice; the Olypmpics are wrong! And wish me luck on my diet because i like oatmeal chocolate chip cookies..
(11) David Shimansky, August 7, 2012 6:04 PM
The true purpose of the Olympics
We can learn from the Olymlpic athletes very much. Amazing discipline, determination, commitment, will power, sense of unity, hard work, as well as many other positive qualities. Now if we can learn from these qualities how to serve Hashem better and to treat another human being better than we will know the true purpose of Olympic Games.
(10) Chanie, T., August 7, 2012 5:47 PM
integration
I feel that it is so important to announce the beauty of our nation and our Torah, which is the truth; but, my question to you, and which keeps rising to me a lot, is: Why do we need to negate something else in order to elevate something? I believe that it is more difficult to learn how to see the beauty in all our parts, and all the parts that Hashem has placed into this world that we live in, and that everything has its own value. To embrace our own bodies, and to embrace even the other nations feels better to me. Hashem created the world with Love and we need to exemplify it. I intention a world where there is optimal love grace and integration between all that Hashem created.
Rachel, August 8, 2012 12:41 AM
The West celebrates more than just the body
I agree with those who don't understand the author's denigration of physical achievements. I also disagree with his assertion that the Western world celebrates the body -- as if it doesn't celebrate other things, too. Awards are given at the national and international level for greatness in the performing arts, for writing, for science, medicine, humanitarianism. And frankly, I'm surprised that he seems to exclude Jews from "the Western world." Torah values are so integrated into much of Western thought and practice that some people seem to have forgotten that they are in fact from the Torah.
(9) Robert Dorsky, August 7, 2012 5:20 PM
The body reflects the soul
Tanya teaches us that a healthy soul is reflected by a healthy body. Further, by our appearance and clothing we do honor to G-d. Judaism teaches that the body is important, after all it is the vessel that carries the soul.
(8) abigail, August 7, 2012 4:36 PM
olympics in metlife stadium
Someone pointed out to me that if the New York had won the olympic bid for 2012, instead of the siyum hashas, the olympics would have been there in that exact stadium! What a contrast!
(7) Steve Skeete, August 7, 2012 4:09 PM
The good being a "quarter of a second faster" can do.
I am sure Rabbi Lopiansky meant well when he wrote this article. However, it has a tone about it that I find bothersome since I see no need, as someone else pointed out, to exalt "soul over body" since we need both to be people. I must also, respectfully, take issue with his statement: "Running a quarter of a second faster has brought no great good to any man". The good Rabbi should visit the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica and Grenada today where a few men and women with the God given ability to run "a quarter of a second faster" than anyone else on the planet in their respective sporting disciplines, are providing the inspiration for generations of other young people. These others will go on to similar and gretarer feats of endeavour, and will rise from poverty and obscurity to become heroes and heroine in several areas other than sports. The "little profit" of bodily exercise and exertion has done a lot to encourage and uplift people all over the world. Can anyone truly deny the place things like athletics, music, poetry, literature etc. have in the world? To say that good athletes contribute "no great good" is to view man as a disembodied soul, a heresy in any religion.
leora tasker, August 7, 2012 6:58 PM
Background of the Olympics
I think you have misinterpreted the Rabbis thoughts. I feel he means in the Olympic sense because of its Pagan origin. Of course sports, music, arts literature have a place in society, not just to worship the body as the Hellenistic mindset does. I encourage you to look up the background of the Olympics and what people are really taking a part of and I can assure you, it is not of Torah. Shavua tov
(6) Anonymous, August 7, 2012 3:36 PM
Well Written
Really beautiful and well written I love seeing the contrast and appreciating our deep celebration! Thank you.
(5) Mordechai, August 7, 2012 2:42 PM
Does the Shas go through us?
You write that unlike the Western world who celebrate physical achievements, we, the Jewish people, celebrate intellectual and spiritual achievements. Learning the Talmud doesn't automatically make one into a "mentsch." I am reminded of the story of the man who went to the Kotzker Rebbe and announced with great pride: ‘I went through Shas, the entire Talmud.’ At that, the Kotzker looked at him and said, ‘Very nice. Now tell me, did the Shas go through you?’
(4) Itzhak, August 7, 2012 2:28 PM
It is commendable to be learned and derive all the benefits of being spiritual, and how fitting it is that this event took place in a sports arena where athletes display the other part of being a human being . BODY AND SOUL. . What a great achievement
(3) ruth housman, August 7, 2012 1:07 PM
the coincidence of two great EVENTS
I am not great at sports but I am astounded by the agility and beauty of the human body and what can be done, and it never fails to astound me, in dance, in song as in being instruments of the Divine, and in art. In fact life itself seems to be a celebration of LIFE and what we're gifted, and each gifted in different ways. So I think you are wrong. Because getting through life is an Olympic "feat", and I know people who know suffering and whose dignity and whose light shines like a beacon for us all, regardless of religion. I also have listened carefully to the lives of some of these Olympic "stars", and they have been very hard, and filled with life's poverty, terrible problems, and yet they found their way, to do what mattered to them. And the young woman who does the Hurdle competition is one such example, as I watched her story unfold. Her hurdles were beyond great and her achievement, even though she didn't finally win, was in her smile, in her braveness, and her ability to say, hey, I did it and here I am, and in the process I learned and met people who mentored me, and I became myself. There is no way you can convince me that God did not script the Entire story, meaning the lives of all these shining people. And yes, I do mourn. I mourn the intransigence and hate that brought about the terrible unconscionable slaughter at the Olympics, of Jewish athletes, and the fact we are still not bowing our heads in 'that silence", at the Olympics. There are a lot of problems in this world that are unconscionable, and so for these, knowing deeply it's all G_d, I go to Jerusalem, to the Wailing Wall. And our job is tikkun olam, to take those who preach hate and not listen, but work for peace, for diversity and love. And that's the apparent "choice" and for this, we're all part of The Chosen. Spirituality exists in the temple that is our body, and athletes have this too, and also there is a dymanic in crowds, as you have said: accord, a chord: at one ness.
Cali Girl, August 7, 2012 2:46 PM
Good comment
My thoughts exactly!
(2) Michal, August 7, 2012 11:20 AM
I appreciate the "body" also.
It is not possible to carry the best soup to your guests without a vessel that holds it. God created both, Body and Neshama. I am thankful for that. Neshama and body gave my life the greatest joy. Only when we start to appreciate only one of the two, it gets bad. But thank you, Rabbi Ahron, to describe the Siyum ha Shas the way you did.
Anonymous, August 7, 2012 12:13 PM
It's not about appreciation, but glorification
You seem to have missed the point which is which one is glorified and which serves which? They use their intelligence and spirituality(sports science, nutrition, psychological coaching, visualisations, etc) to achieve the best physical performance. We use our bodies to achieve the highest intellectual and spiritual achievement. That is the point.
Aviva, August 7, 2012 5:54 PM
The Rebbes thoughts
I'm intriqued by all these.comments.There is much truth in all, but would be interested to know if the Rebbe.ever commented on any simulation between the two.
(1) Shraga, August 7, 2012 10:23 AM
the crowds
I read where one security guard, at the conclusion of the event, declared: "I've never seen a crowd of this size, where not one person was unruly or drunk."