February 28, 2008
Fans will go to desperate measures to ensure their favorite team’s victory, be it a group of professionals or a school squad. Sports lovers have fabricated superstitions and curses, both plausible and implausible, to give their team that extra advantage. As Jews, we know that all superstitions are empty gestures or beliefs in the face of Hashem. The only way to possibly get what we want is through prayer.
There is a concept of inserting our own requests into our prayers, as referenced in Gemara Avoda Zara 8a and Berachot 34a, but would Hashem listen to personal prayers on behalf of sports teams? Does He consider fulfilling our requests for something so insignificant? Danielle, age 15, says, “You cannot just make a deal with Hashem to win.”
According to Rav Yehuda Halevi’s statement in Sefer Ha’Kuzari, prayer is our way to escape the materialistic world, a gateway into a more spiritual world. Can you think of a more materialistic component of our modern world than sports? Inflated salaries and greedy athletes are only a small part of the organization that just keeps inhaling more and more money.
Prayer is supposed to spur happiness. If Hashem, for whatever reason, chooses not to lead the team we pray for to victory, anything but happiness will result. Depression, frustration, and other negative emotions would be displayed as a result of unanswered prayers. One who davens and expects Hashem to answer his prayer, regardless of the request, might invest so much confidence and hope in the matter being prayed for that lack of fulfillment may bring disastrous results to his belief and trust in Hashem.
This returns us to our original question: Will Hashem actually listen to these types of prayers? Esti, 15, believes Hashem always listens to what we say. Whether or not He chooses to answer is up to him. Danielle, also 15, contends that “He gives us what we deserve.” So it is not a question of listening; it is a question of deserving it.
While considering whether or not we deserve for our sports-centered prayers to be answered, we must also ponder whether or not to “waste” prayers on something so insignificant. Are there not more important things to worry about and pray for, such as health, safety, and peace? Sports can play a major role in teenagers’ lives and can yield positive results for both athletes and spectators, but they should not dominate one’s values and priorities.
Aviva, 15, says, “Hashem is not really going to answer your prayers for sports and the like because it is not a main priority. But people will still pray because they feel that if their team loses, it is because they didn’t daven. And if their team wins, they feel it’s because Hashem listened to them.” So despite all our conclusions that it is not worthwhile to pray for something as trivial as sports, people still feel their prayers make a difference. Is that right?
As human beings, we cannot determine Hashem’s reasons for doing what He does; not everything needs to be rationalized and logical. If Hashem chooses to make the top-ranked team in any league lose to an underdog, so be it. We cannot give explanations for Hashem’s mysterious ways. So the next time you are davening Sh’mona Esrei on the day of a big game, think before opening your mouth to Hashem. If you plan on asking Him to guide your team to victory, recognize what you are doing. Prayer can be so powerful, but with great power comes great responsibility to use our prayers for noble reasons. In the scheme of things, is a football game really all that important? Will a baseball win make or break your life? Do you value that game-winning, three-point shot at the buzzer over your health?
When davening, realize that Hashem is ultimately in control. Hashem has a reason that a number one seed may lose to a number 16 seed. We should let Hashem run the world as He wants and refrain from interfering, especially when it comes to something as inconsequential as sports. By davening for something so insignificant, you cannot win in Hashem’s eyes.
Adina Erdfarb, 18, of Highland Park, graduated from Bruriah High School for Girls in Elizabeth last year and is now studying in Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim.