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In this week’s parsha, Ki Tavo, the Jews are admonished by Moshe for a second time. According to
Or HaChaim, this second admonition is addressed to the individual sinner rather
than to the broader case of national failing. So perhaps some Jews could feel
they were not being addressed, since they did not fit into these specific categories.
However, Ramban notes a view from the Jerusalem Talmud suggesting that included
in the curse of those who will not uphold the words of the Torah is someone who
is completely observant but doesn’t help others grow spiritually. Furthermore,
the curse of one who causes a blind person to go astray can also be applied to
misleading anyone who doesn’t see how they should act in a particular
situation. So it appears that we are all included in this individual-level
admonishment after all.
There is an easy analogy to the case of a sports team, where each individual is striving to improve his or her own play, but not worried about the progress of teammates. There was a professional basketball player a few years back who disdained practice because he was already an excellent player; however, he was stumped when a reporter asked whether he shouldn’t help his teammates improve by practicing with them. Certainly there are limitations to the relentless focus solely on self-improvement. When the individual faces off against a team who works both on individual improvement and on the improvement of teammates, this difference is sure to result in a win for the group playing as a team. The saying “you are only as strong as your weakest link” clearly applies in this scenario.
Similarly, in school or in a learning group of any kind, an individual can soar, but without those who look out for the “blind” the group itself can never take wing. I have witnessed a group that almost seemed stuck trying so desperately to help a particular individual understand; it was therefore incredibly rewarding when this individual ended up leading the way in learning a concept that everyone else struggled with! This is why it is so critical for us to surround ourselves with those striving for excellence both for themselves and also on behalf of others.
The YA family is invited to join us for our inaugural ‘Lunch and Learn’ program this Monday September 19th at noon in our media center. Participants can bring their own lunch or order it through Elegant Essen by emailing Ethne Freedberg at efreedberg@yeshivaatlanta.org. Please feel encouraged to attend and to bring friends!
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
There is an easy analogy to the case of a sports team, where each individual is striving to improve his or her own play, but not worried about the progress of teammates. There was a professional basketball player a few years back who disdained practice because he was already an excellent player; however, he was stumped when a reporter asked whether he shouldn’t help his teammates improve by practicing with them. Certainly there are limitations to the relentless focus solely on self-improvement. When the individual faces off against a team who works both on individual improvement and on the improvement of teammates, this difference is sure to result in a win for the group playing as a team. The saying “you are only as strong as your weakest link” clearly applies in this scenario.
Similarly, in school or in a learning group of any kind, an individual can soar, but without those who look out for the “blind” the group itself can never take wing. I have witnessed a group that almost seemed stuck trying so desperately to help a particular individual understand; it was therefore incredibly rewarding when this individual ended up leading the way in learning a concept that everyone else struggled with! This is why it is so critical for us to surround ourselves with those striving for excellence both for themselves and also on behalf of others.
The YA family is invited to join us for our inaugural ‘Lunch and Learn’ program this Monday September 19th at noon in our media center. Participants can bring their own lunch or order it through Elegant Essen by emailing Ethne Freedberg at efreedberg@yeshivaatlanta.org. Please feel encouraged to attend and to bring friends!
Shabbat Shalom--
Paul Oberman
