Editor's note: Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort is the director of the Chabad in the La Costa neighborhood of Carlsbad, a suburb in northern San Diego County.  Eilfort  is an accomplished writer who formerly was a regular columnist for the now defunct San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage.  We are delighted to welcome him to jewishsightseeing.com, and look forward to his commentaries on religious and secular topics.  


By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort

CARLSBAD, Calif.— There is no denying that Judaism has had a profound impact on the
world around us in every field of human endeavor. The ethical and moral teachings of Judaism are the foundation of the Western World. The legal code codified in our Holy Books was reportedly used extensively by the founding fathers of the United States when first establishing American law.

Individual Jews have been counted amongst the greatest scientists, actors, engineers, doctors, writers, politicians, and a host of other areas of human activity. It is uncanny to note the disproportionate number of Jews who have received Nobel Prizes. And yet when it comes to sports there have been relatively few great Jewish athletes. There is an old joke that goes,
"A Bar Mitzvah is when the young Jewish man realizes he is more likely to own a professional sports team than play on one."

All of this being said there are lessons aplenty that may be gleaned from looking at sports (that is my personal excuse for being such a sports fanatic). After all, the great Baal Shem Tov - originator of Chassidic Philosophy - maintained that a Jew is obligated to learn from everything he
or she sees, and apply it in his divine service.

This made me think, "Is Judaism more like a team sport (like football) or an individual sport (like golf)?" Think about it. For the time being let us compare Judaism to a team sport.

Football is perhaps the prototypical team sport, as the players must absolutely rely on the contribution of their fellow teammates to achieve victory. For example, the five players on the offensive line must work as a unit or else the running back will make no progress or the quarterback will get sacked. It is basically impossible for the other members of the team to
succeed if the offensive line does not do its job.

On a football team there can be no confusion as to the role of each player within the team unit. If there is any lack of clarity whatsoever the team will certainly fail. If the quarterback decides he is more of a running back or a blocker than a team leader and passer, he is likely to be
ineffective in his role. This is perhaps even truer on the defensive side of the ball. Should a linebacker or safety choose to rush the quarterback -when their role is to cover a receiver - the other team will almost certainly exploit this mistake.

In many ways Judaism is comparable to a team sport. Judaism, much as a great head football coach, excels at conveying the roles that are to be played. Not only does this go in the realm of each individual person, buteven as it relates to time and space. Certain times have certain roles (like Shabbat and Holidays), and certain places have certain roles (like the Holy Temple). It is when we deviate from our ordained roles that trouble comes for the Jewish people.

In the Torah G-d commanded us to be a "Light unto the Nations." This means that we are to act as living examples of G-dliness. We accomplish this lofty goal by living according to the Torah thereby bringing goodness and light wherever we may tread.

It is undoubtedly true that sometimes the offensive lineman wants to be a running back, but he knows that such a change of roles will hurt his team. Furthermore, instead of being an outstanding lineman he will be a less than average running back. Is the running back more important to the team than the offensive lineman thusly causing the lineman to desire the other's role? Absolutely not! Without both the team cannot succeed. It is true that typically the running back receives more attention. That is because it is easier for the uninitiated to appreciate his talents than those of a lineman. But that does not make him more important to the team nor more talented than the lineman.

The same is true within Judaism. Everyone in his specific role is indispensable to the Jewish people and humanity overall. When Moses addressed the people shortly before his death he spoke to all of them, from the "leaders of the tribes" to the "wood choppers and water carriers."

The Torah lets us know with absolute clarity that every human has a part to play within creation. G-d does not make mistakes, He put every one of us here for a very specific purpose. Torah and Mitzvot is that purpose.

So now there is but one thing left for us to do. Let's score a touchdown! In our terms that means let us all, collectively bring Moshiach now!

Rabbi Eilfort is the director of Chabad at La Costa.