Lessons from Lebron
It was the final home-game of the Cavs regular season. The Cavs had already clinched their Central Division title, so it was what I call a "Lame Duck game" but it was a fun opportunity for me to be able to go to the game with my girls, so we went and had a great time together!
Coach Lue promised to allow Lebron to stay in the game for "at least ten points" to continue his double-digit scoring streak. True to his word, Lebron stayed in the game for exactly ten points (and just eleven minutes!) in the first quarter, and then rested on the bench for the rest of the game.
After one particular defensive rebound during those eleven minutes, we watched Lebron dribble down-court, being doubled-teamed by two Knicks players. Pretty typical so far. He was clearly being guarded well by two players, so he dribbled carefully towards the top of the key, waiting for some backup from his teammates. But then something happened that caught my attention: he got fouled by the NY Knicks #11, Frank Ntilikina, and a technical foul no less. I wondered, why didn't Ntilikina just lay low, while they had Lebron double-covered? Why would he foul him and allow Lebron to shoot two free throws? Then it hit me: Frank Ntilikina is a 19-year-old rookie. He is new to the NBA and the USA (born in Belgium to Rawandan refugee parents) and was, plain and simple, scared to have to guard the greatest player in the history of the game (no Michael Jordan or Wilt Chamberlain heat please) even with help from a teammate. That was my theory. He didn't believe in himself and in his game enough.
At our annual JFX men's Steak and Seder event, I talked about the importance of "Believing in your Seder" (credits to Rabbi Judah Mischel - click here to hear his amazing talk on this topic) and that in spite of the fact that we all have unique family dynamics, and diverse Jewish backgrounds, we all must lead (or participate in) our Seders with confidence, and not feel discouraged by anyone else's "perfect" Seder experience, or get rattled by any curve balls that get into our own Seder routine.
This is true not just regarding our Pesach Seders, but also our weekly Shabbos dinner experiences, daily vocations, hobbies, Mitzvah opportunities, or regarding anything we set about to accomplish in life.
Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski is the great contemporary leader who champions this concept. He is a prolific author (one of my all-time favorites!) and wrote over 60 books! I have personally heard him remark that all his books are really echoing one message, just packaged in over 60 different ways. That message is the importance as well as a guide to believing in yourself, and developing a healthy sense of self-worth.
So, whether you're up against Lebron James or any other personal, internal or external force that is holding you back from feeling positive, remember the Modeh Ani prayer that is recited by Jews around the world every single morning. It ends with these two Hebrew words: "Rabbah Emunatechah," which have a dual meaning: 1) Great is our faith in G-d, and 2) Great is His faith in us!
Go Cavs and Go us!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Koval
