MM#84--The Maccabees Victories On & Off The Court

Welcome to the theory to action podcast, where we examine the timeless treasures of wisdom from the great books in less time to help you take action immediately, and ultimately to create and lead a flourishing life. Now, here's your host, David Kaiser.


Hello, I'm David and welcome back to another Mojo minute. After some 80 or so, of these Mojo minutes, I have mentioned behind this microphone that our goal is to live a flourishing life, a life built around the virtues. A life fully integrated with faith, hope and charity, in a life practiced, which allows us as human beings to maximize our potential as free creatures in a very flawed world. Well, it's not often you come across. Just a fantastic example of this. And as many of you know, I'm Roman Catholic, but I've always respected and admired the Jewish faith. So please allow me to share this great little story of worldly success, while also emphasizing the eternal reward. So let's begin back on November 9 2018, when the Yeshiva University McCabe's basketball team lost their game. 

Did you know it would be another 50 games with a before they had lost another basketball game? Yes, you got that right. This division three University went on a remarkable 50 game winning streak that surprised most of the basketball world because it's just a little known University. It's well known for producing great Jewish researchers, especially in the robotic text. And it certainly was not on the radar as a basketball team. But after producing victory after victory, it certainly became on the radar. Now, Yeshiva University is located in New York City. It has separate campuses for both men and women. And then doing the research on this university I came across airy Berman, the current university president now might be pronounced Ari Berman. Sorry, Mr. Berman. If I butchered your name. I came across this university's the current University's president. 

He wrote an op ed in the Wall Street Journal where he praises his students and this basketball program. And I thought today we take a little stop from our personal development and reflect on his fantastic op ed. So let's go to it. Quote, when I took this job, I anticipated celebrating students success in a robotics, the law, the humanities, business, tech and science. I never expected the energy and excitement of presiding over a sports powerhouse. For the past few years, I've watched Game after game in which young man young men with great Jewish pride score basket after basket. It's a beautiful and breathtaking it is beautiful and breathtaking to see their graceful play, and teamwork and action. Many have asked me if I think these wins are an act of divine intervention. This is the wrong question as a rabbi and as a Jew. For that matter. I believe that everything in life involves divine intervention coupled with human agency, even losing the right question is How could a small research university produce such a team? yeshiva University's motto and curriculum are based on the integration of the best of Jewish Studies prayer and piety with the best of General Studies, because our graduates are secure in their faith and their particularism. We hope that they will leave here confident in their universalism. Our tradition drives us to become leaders who make significant contributions to the world at large, unquote. 

And they certainly are producing leaders across many, many fields. Some of their notable alumni include, as I research this, the great writer, and Pulitzer Prize winner here Herman Wouk, the author of the Winds of War, and War and Remembrance or remembrance in that classic The Caine Mutiny. Another alumni is David Sampson, the former baseball executive of the Miami Marlins. The now businessman Max Stern, who was also the leader of the university for some 41 years as its president. And Aaron Klein, the author and chief strategist for the former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Let's go back to Mr. Berman's op ed, quote, in that tradition, we are told to ask questions, to be curious to experience wonder and strive for the truth. Let me stop here. But can be nothing better in this world, especially this 21st century world? For everybody to be striving for the truth, the objective truth, there cannot be in this postmodern world, your truth and my truth, but no objective truth. That is a recipe for disaster. And we're seeing it play out day after day. So the fact that Mr. Berman recognizes this to strive for the truth is fantastic. I'm already a huge fan. Let's go back to business Berman's. Op Ed, quote, 

We believe from the first chapter in Genesis in the infinite worth of every human life, and the value of life itself. Our aspiration is to advance a more just immoral society with compassion and kindness. In the spirit of the prophets, we teach our children that faith shapes their character. Let me stop here. Who ya Thank you Mr. Berman. Somebody's finally talking about how faith shapes character. Amen. 

Back to the Op Ed. This helps them endure hardships, and galvanizes them to redeem the world. We try to live up to those ideals, which continue to guide us daily throughout history. The Jewish people have always been small in number. We often are put on the defensive but find the ingenuity and inner strength to view to view setbacks as springboards and we tend to set the bar high to drive future success. That is why this team the McCabe's inspires so many is not only the way they win, but how they win. They play with sportsmanship and selfless selflessness. They rise early in the morning and practice late at night fitting basketball into a daily regime that includes a dual curriculum of academic and Torah studies. Again, seemingly all odds they set as their goal to win the national collegian the National College Athletic Association Championship. And they know that by playing for the Yeshiva University, they represent not only just a school, but a people, unquote. Is that not just an inspiring story of a group of men, young men working together to accomplish something so much bigger than themselves. They should be applauded everywhere. And furthermore, it's a pride in their university and certainly a pride for their people and their culture. And this is all a great example of how to live a flourishing life. 

Now, sadly, on December 30, that 50 game winning streak came to an end against Illinois Wesleyan. But nevertheless, their accomplishment will endure much like the Jewish people continue to endure. And so let's end this Mojo minute on a final quote from the Yeshiva University president and Rabbi Berman. Quote, In Hebrew, the root word for victory is the same as the word for eternity. By playing for eternity, we always walk off the court as champions. Unquote. Amen. Praise be to God.

Thank you for joining us. We hope you enjoyed this theory to action podcast. Be sure to check out our show page at T Mojo academy.com where we have everything we discussed in this podcast as well as other great resources. Until next time, keep getting your mojo on