The supporters of both sides are already cheering and shouting, who will prevail remains to be seen. We will find out soon...
No, not politics, but the Superbowl...
As the game unfolds and tens of millions of people are watching 22 players from each team do their best to win the game.
The comments will get louder, there will be cheering for the other team, and a fair deal of criticism and compliments to for various players doing different moves.
The players cannot listen to the comments, roaring crowds, TV Sports Commentators or the louder cheering for other teams or players. They have one job to do, to stay completely present and focused on playing and winning the game.
Life may not be a Superbowl, but we are certainly a team playing the game of our lives. We are determined to win, and score another goal, another milestone, another Mitzvah, another life touched or helped and another positive and beautiful Jewish moment.
The noise can be distracting, the criticisms the yelling, the booing, oh and the public commentators.... and the tens of millions of spectators. It can pull us away from the game... we might take our eyes of the ball and the next pass..
But no, we are the players and the next pass is right around the corner, and the next touchdown is about to be scored.
The noise, the antisemitism, the odds that are stacked against us at times... don't let it get to you.... we have a game to win and stay focused on, and win we shall!
This Shabbat marks 75 years since the Lubavitcher Rebbe took over the Chabad movement, and transformed it from a small organization in Brooklyn that was recovering from the trauma of the Holocaust, to a movement that is determined to win the game, and make the world be the beautiful garden it has the potential to be.
One touchdown at a time, one pass at a time, slowly but surely the game is being won... Yes the noise is loud, the negativity that we sometimes face from the outside can be painful and distracting, but we have a game to win. The Rebbe was the ultimate coach, and he sought to inspire whoever he met with to realize that they are a part of the winning team, and have the potential to truly impact and change the world.
Let's be inspired by our coach and play tough and win this game!!
Shabbat Shalom
Yisroel