FOR VAYAKHEL-P'KUDEI
WHEN NOT LOSING IS WINNING
A video clip has been making the rounds, leaving behind a very warm feeling. In the clip, one sees a high school basketball head coach talking to his assembled team in the locker room. At some point, the “team manager” (which is a term unfamiliar to the game of basketball) is featured. This “manager” is mentally disabled. The head coach had appointed this fellow to a position where he runs errands and cheers on the team.
For the final game of the season, it was decided that this “manager” was going to actually play for a few minutes. He would be given a chance to shoot the ball into the basket. The coach acknowledged that the team was determined to give this guy a chance, even if it meant his team would lose the game over this. What turns out is extremely moving. The teammates pass him the ball over and over again. He misses the shot each time. In the final seconds, he deflects the passed ball out of bounds, turning it over to the other team. As a member of the opposing team is about to throw the ball onto the court, he calls out the name of this fellow, and passes him the ball.
He shoots and he scores. This leads to pandemonium. Every person is celebrating.
No, he did not win the game for his team. His team actually lost the game by fifteen points. But in this game, every one of the players of both teams was a winner. The clip can be seen here:
http://www.brocouncil.com/News/mentally-challenged-player-gets-pass-from-other-team
In a different sports story, a baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, “Armando Gallaraga,” retired 26 batters in a row during a 2010 baseball game. One more retired man would have placed this pitcher in “baseball immortality”, for he would have accomplished one of the rarest feats in sports called a “perfect game.” The last batter grounded the ball to a fielder who threw perfectly to first base. The fielder with the ball beat the batter to the base. The batter should have been out. The umpire, Jim Joyce, missed the call. He called the batter safe.
Gallaraga simply accepted the ruling, retiring the next batter. He did not go crazy and lose it. Later, he told the media that “Nobody’s perfect.” The umpire admitted to his error and, in tears, related how much pain he felt for the pitcher.
Gallaraga will now be remembered not as one of a handful of players who achieved an incredibly rare feat, but an even rarer feat; in a league of his own. He transcended his personal situation. He preferred to identify with the other person, showing what winning should really be all about, and what a champion he is.
These moving, “feel good” stories do not appear too often. They display the triumph of the human spirit. They highlight those who find it within themselves to go far and beyond expectations. They are moving enough to create an impact and an example for all people.
These stories do not go unnoticed in the Torah either, as evidenced from an episode related in the first of this week’s two portions, “Vayakhel-P’kudei.” For the construction of the “Mishkan,” the traveling sanctuary in the desert, a call for contributions of funds and skills had been made of the Jewish people. The Torah recounts: “The men came next to the women.” (Sh’mos (Exodus) 35:22.) The translated word “next to” is the Hebrew word “Al,” normally translated as “Upon.” It was as though the women were carrying the men, enthusiastically encouraging them to donate.
In the previous portion, as the shameful story of the Golden Calf unfolds, Aaron, in a stalling tactic, requests the men to bring him the “golden earrings that were off their ears of your wives, your sons and your daughters.” (32:2.) The following verse, though, reads how “all the men stripped themselves of the golden earrings that were on their own ears.” In this case the women refused to participate. When it came to building a Divine home, however, their enthusiasm was stronger than the men’s.
As the narrative of the sanctuary’s construction continues, the women’s enthusiasm becomes even stronger: “All the women whose hearts inspired them with wisdom spun the goats.” (35:26.) The commentaries clarify that the hair of the goats was spun while still attached to the goat. In this way, the hair would be fresh, soft, and shiny. This action demanded exceptional skill, patience and craftsmanship.
As amazingly talented this is, there was no call for this considerably inconvenient exercise. The women chose to go far beyond the normal expectation. With their contribution in the manner, their contribution included the superior advantage of a live animal, together with the advantage of the freshest and best style of hair.
These women are singled out by the Torah because of the way they went beyond the call of duty. Their action was a marvel, a true example, a paradigm of commitment and enthusiasm. Their commitment inspired the rest of the people, the men, to a seriousness and a diligence in the focus and contribution to this building fund. Indeed, it did not take long until they had contributed too much! (36:5-6.)
It is unexpected for a person to go beyond the call of duty. When people do, their actions are remembered and recorded. It is expected, though, for people to utilize their talents and resources to their fullest. And especially in creating an abode for the Divine by making this world a better and more holy place. If a person is blessed with a talent, or with means and funds, contributions to worthy causes must be made.
In all areas of life, winners come out on top and are recorded as such. The rarest, and the most appreciated, are those winners whose superiority in the game gives way to the superiority of a higher cause.
SUMMARY: Winning is not merely about being better than the other one, but about being the best one can be.