As regular readers of this blog are aware, the Monday post was usually devoted to sports with highlights and analysis of the Max Kellerman show which formerly aired on 1050 ESPN Radio. As Max has resigned from 1050 and has not yet resurfaced on the NY area radio waves, I have decided to continue the tradition of linking sports to Torah which I believe was an undercurrent of the Max Kellerman show.
Last Friday I heard an interesting discussion on the Michael Kay show related to Leon Washington's injury and his attitude during his arduous rehab from a broken leg. As has been well documented, this is the final year of Washington's rookie contract which pays him about $500K for the year. Before the season began Washington was unable to agree with the Jets on a contract extension and his future contract would depend on his stats for this year. Although his season started in promising fashion, Washington sustained a severely broken leg in the Oakland game a few weeks ago and his season is over. The injury was so bad that he was unable to fly back to New York and he needed to have surgery in Oakland.
The segment of the Michael Kay show began with some quotes that Washington gave when he visited the Jets' training facility last week. After the quotes, Michael and Don began to debate whether it was good idea for Washington to have played out his contract this year and Washington's quotes that everything happens for a reason and that he has made his peace with the injury. Michael asked - if everything happens for a purpose, why does anyone need to take any affirmative steps since everything is pre-ordained. Don responded that we still need to act as things do not come if we don't take action. Bonnie Bernstein then added her own view, explaining that she had sustained a severe knee injury and that while she would not wish the injury on anyone, the rehab process had strengthened her and showed her that she could overcome adversity.
The discussions on the Michael Kay obviously have their root in traditional Jewish hashkafa. The gemara in Ta'anis 21 mentions how Nahum Ish Gamzu used to say "gam zu l'tova" - this is also for the good about everything that befell him in life. Once the Jews wanted to send a present to the Caesar and they asked Nachum Ish Gamzu to be the courier. On his way, Nahum stopped at an inn. During the night, the innkeeper emptied the jewels in the chest and filled it with sand. When the chest was offered to the Caesar he opened it and saw the sand. The Caesar was infuriated and wanted to kill all the Jews. Nahum Ish Gamzu said, "Gam zu l'tova" - this is also for the good. Immediately thereafter, Eliyahu Hanavi suggested that maybe this sand was from Avraham who threw sand and it turned into swords. The Caesar's forces tried it in battle and were successful. The Caesar sent Nahum back with with great honors and a chest full of treasures.
While we may not be zocheh to see such an obvious display of how Hashem does everything for the good, we do believe that all that He allows to happen is for the best (or in the words of Rabbi Akiva in gemara Berachos - kol ma'an d'avid Rachmana l'tav avid) and that there is a positive purpose to what happens in this world.
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