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October 29, 2021 (23 Chesvan 5782) Take me Out to the Ball Game! Dear Friends, I hope this correspondence finds you well and in good cheer. We look forward to having you join us this Shabbat morning for our hybrid services and Kiddush, which will be held in the sanctuary and over Zoom. Growing up in Canada, not shockingly, the passion of the populace revolved around ice hockey (although, as a little-known fact, the official national sport of the country is lacrosse). Everyone looked forward to the nationally televised broadcasts of Hockey Night in Canada. After moving to the States, religiously involved Jewish friends would often ask, “What did you do when you went out on Saturday nights after Shabbat and Havdalah?” To everyone’s surprise, my response was, “Nothing.” I would explain that people didn’t really go out on Saturday nights, as we were all huddled around the TV set cheering on our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. The world changed somewhat on April 7, 1977, however, when the expansion Toronto Blue Jays hosted the Chicago White Sox for the team’s inaugural game. Centimeters of snow steadily fell throughout the day, leading the team to have to rent a Zamboni to clear the field. Eventually, Toronto won 9-5, buoyed by Doug Ault’s two home runs. Suddenly, we were also baseball fans! For those of you who are sports enthusiasts, you may have heard that this year’s World Series is being referred to as the Jewish World Series. No, this is not a reference to the religious affiliation of the team owners! Rather, it is a reference to three starting, dynamic Jewish players. Atlanta Braves pitcher, Max Fried, reported recently to the Atlanta Jewish Times, that he grew up in L.A. and was greatly influenced by fellow Jewish left-hander Sandy Koufax and the history of Koufax’s superlative career. Fried, who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in 2007 and finished as a top-five Cy Young Award finalist in 2020, said, "It didn’t hurt that he (Koufax) was left-handed, Jewish, and also one of the best pitchers of all time.” Joc Pederson, an outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, is an affiliated Jew, who played for Team Israel in the qualifying rounds of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Alex Bregman, third baseman and shortstop for the Houston Astros, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah in 2007, and is a consensus superstar, who has twice been a top-five MVP finalist. In his career, Bregman has a .271 batting average and has hit 117 home runs. This Wednesday night, for the first time in the 117-year history of the World Series, a Jewish pitcher, Fried, faced a Jewish batter, Bregman! (Alex Bregman hit a sacrifice fly, which helped Houston to beat Atlanta.) With no pun intended, I realize that this information is not “game-changing” in our lives, however, as a minority population and a sacred community in this country, we have a religious obligation to take pride and Naches in the amazing achievements of all our brothers and sisters. When we do this, we fulfill the teaching the Talmud (Shevuot 39a), Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, all of Israel are responsible for each other. So, regardless of which team wins the World Series, we, as Jews, will come out winners. May Shabbat and the week ahead bring us continued opportunities to bask in the accomplishments and joy of our friends, our families, and our community! Shabbat Shalom and Play Ball!, Rabbi Eric L. Wasser, EdD
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