I recently read about the Israeli bobsled team competing in the Winter Olympics.
It’s the first time Israel has such a team — spearheaded by an observant kippah wearing captain and comprised of a diverse group including another first — a Druze sportsman representing Israel.
At first I thought it was someone’s humor. After all, snow is hardly common in Israel and what chances are there that in the Winter Olympics there’s a bobsled called “Shul Runnings”?
Yet I kid you not. It’s a real team and it’s already achieved great things just by qualifying and standing tall and proud. Yet it doesn’t stop there.
A passage from Genesis is displayed on the side of their bobsled quoting the passage where our Forefather Jacob had a revelation in a dream — upon a waking he says, “behold there is Gd in this place”.. A reference to the prevalence of Hashem in all settings and places.
One of the greatest misconceptions regarding Judaism is that there are times and places designated for Jewish experience. The truth is, anywhere and anytime one can bring the higher level of Gd consciousness and connection to the Divine into this world via the Torah and Mitzvot.
In fact, specifically in the mundane one elevates Holiness. One needn’t go to synagogue to experience Judaism. Rather, Judaism should be found in our homes, our workplace even in the bobsled.
Blessings to the bobsled team and yes, continue to bring more Gdliness into this world in every which way!!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor