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Torah Thoughts

Torah Thoughts

Here are my thoughts:

LINSANITY AND JUDAISM

You might have heard that the New York Knicks have a new point guard named Jeremy Lin. In his first five starts he scored 136 points, an NBA record. On Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings, Lin distributed 13 assists before leaving the game in the third quarter; now that he’s a star, he earned a rest. Thanks in large part to Lin, the team is 15-15 and has won seven straight games.

There are a few Jewish lessons we can learn from ‘Mr. Lincredible’. First, one person can make a difference. The Bible relates stories of determined individuals like Abraham and Moses who had deep faith and changed the world around them. Although Jeremy Lin is not Moses, he does remind us that the right person can transform a struggling team into a winner. And in so doing, one person can remind us all of what’s possible. In this case, Lin gives Knick fans renewed hope.

Second, we do not know who might rise up when life is challenging, or when that will happen. The Psalmist cried out, “I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come?” He went on to answer his own question. “My help comes from God, Maker of Heaven and Earth.” (121:1) With faith we can find an answer we might have missed otherwise. Jeremy Lin was cut by Sacramento and by the Houston Rockets before signing with New York. This evokes another image from the Psalmist, who referred to Israel in this way. “The stone that was rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.” (118:22)

Linsanity is even reminiscent of King David’s story. God told Samuel to anoint a man to replace Saul as the next Israelite king with a son of Jesse of Bethlehem. Saul assumed it would be the eldest, but God replied, “Pay no attention to his appearance or his stature, for I have rejected him. For not as man sees does the Lord see; a man sees only what is visible, but the Lord sees into the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) Jeremy Lin is an unlikely hero, yet those who know ‘his heart’ – his work ethic, intelligence, modesty, and good attitude – are not surprised by his success. Like David, Lin has bested some of the NBA’s bigger than life Goliaths like Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s early to declare Jeremy Lin an elite player in the NBA. Nevertheless, his story has energized the league and inspired millions of fans worldwide. May he and the Knicks go from strength to strength!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT – Read the story of David and Goliath in I Samuel 17. How is Jeremy Lin similar to David? What other individuals throughout history have defied great odds to reach their goals?

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Pont