I was taught that the message of the Jewish People to mankind was morality, holiness, purity, modesty, kindness, justice, wisdom and light. Some passages as examples:
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם כִּי הִוא חָכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְעוּן אֵת כָּל הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה וְאָמְרוּ רַק עַם חָכָם וְנָבוֹן הַגּוֹי הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה.
אֲנִי ה' קְרָאתִיךָ בְצֶדֶק וְאַחְזֵק בְּיָדֶךָ וְאֶצָּרְךָ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ לִבְרִית עָם לְאוֹר גּוֹיִם.
(א) קוּמִי אוֹרִי כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ וּכְבוֹד ה' עָלַיִךְ זָרָח. (ב) כִּי-הִנֵּה הַחֹשֶׁךְ יְכַסֶּה-אֶרֶץ וַעֲרָפֶל לְאֻמִּים וְעָלַיִךְ יִזְרַח ה' וּכְבוֹדוֹ עָלַיִךְ יֵרָאֶה. (ג) וְהָלְכוּ גוֹיִם לְאוֹרֵךְ וּמְלָכִים לְנֹגַהּ זַרְחֵךְ. (ד) שְׂאִי-סָבִיב עֵינַיִךְ וּרְאִי כֻּלָּם נִקְבְּצוּ בָאוּ-לָךְ בָּנַיִךְ מֵרָחוֹק יָבֹאוּ וּבְנוֹתַיִךְ עַל-צַד תֵּאָמַנָה. (ה) אָז תִּרְאִי וְנָהַרְתְּ וּפָחַד וְרָחַב לְבָבֵךְ כִּי-יֵהָפֵךְ עָלַיִךְ הֲמוֹן יָם חֵיל גּוֹיִם יָבֹאוּ לָךְ.
הִגִּ֥יד לְךָ֛ אָדָ֖ם מַה־טּ֑וֹב וּמָֽה־יְהֹוָ֞ה דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ מִמְּךָ֗ כִּ֣י אִם־עֲשׂ֤וֹת מִשְׁפָּט֙ וְאַ֣הֲבַת חֶ֔סֶד וְהַצְנֵ֥עַ לֶ֖כֶת עִם־אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ.
On the other hand, we are told time and again by the prophets to SEPARATE ourselves from the surrounding Gentile culture. We are ABOVE that.
So what is this unbridled joy at a Jew being singled out by the Goyim b/c he can throw a ball fast? What moral achievement is there in this? All the best to him but why is this significant for US??? Why do people care so much, even people who have never met him??!! Why do the Jewish people stand proud b/c of this? If anything - it is the diametrical OPPOSITE of what we teach our children. לא בגבורת הסוס יחפץ לא בשוקי האיש ירצה. Hashem doesn't CARE about how fast a person can run - or how fast his fastball is [or his curveball curves or his knuckleball knuckles]. רוצה השם את יראיו את המיחלים לחסדו. Hashem desires people who are aware of Him and await His kindness. Don't we say this EVERY DAY??? Aren't all of the high school graduates who are going to study Torah in Israel next year MUCH MUCH MUCH bigger heroes??? Can one even compare??
As far as Hashem is concerned, sports achievement has ZERO importance. Like - zero. [Kids should play sports b/c they are kids. Adults should play sports b/c even adults need to play and they certainly need to exercise. I am talking about achievement and excellence having no value].
If he makes a Kiddush Hashem with his behavior that would be great. But this outpouring of support and excitement really confuses me. Learning ONE MISHNA is much much much more significant than striking out 27 hitters straight, all on three pitches.
Isn't it?
Sorry to poop the party with some spiritual sensibility. I just find it STRANGE that the same people who sit on the floor and fast, mourning the Beis Hamikdash and spend another day fasting, davening and pounding their chests to repent for aveiros - also care about such frivolous nonsense.
And this is being written, mind you, by a person who used to be compared to Michael Jordan. People would see me play and say "Man, he is NOOOOOO Jordan. Not even close!!"
