By Rachel Lee Garofolo, Office Manager and Marketing Specialist at Jewish Federation of Delaware
You’d be surprised by how many Jewish values are found in athletic activities. In competitive swimming, for example, one might think that it is simply one team member in the water at a time, concentrating on strokes and counting breaths, pushing the body to its limits for a hopeful victory. We’re wrong—it’s more than that. How does one person integrate multiple values during one event? Could sports be Jewish mitzvahs wrapped up in a sweaty, heart-pounding bow?
What about the fans in the stand, shouting encouragement and sending prayers of triumph to the participant. Athletics and physical endeavors bring people together, providing a sense of belonging and promoting inclusion. That’s kehillah, or community. After a race, coaches and teammates circle the athlete offering congratulations, or encouragement for a better outcome next time. Who knows better than Jews about overcoming challenges? Another Jewish principle is kiddush hashem; conducting oneself that befits the Jewish people and values positively in both wins and losses; treating teammates and opponents with chesed (compassion) and kavod (respect).
Physical well-being is deemed a mitzvah because it allows us to be healthy enough to live a life of spiritual and earthly purpose. Shmirat haguf, guarding the body, comes from the Torah, Deuteronomy 4:9, “Take utmost care for yourself and guard yourself scrupulously.” Jews have an obligation to maintain physical health because the body is considered G-d’s property. We rent our bodies; G-d loans them to us to be returned in relatively good condition when we die.
“Throughout your entire life, it’s important to move your body. As an adult, I’ve learned that it’s easier to do with a community behind you. Whether that’s powerlifting with a personal trainer, going on walks with a friend, or joining a local pickup sports league is up to you,” JCC Aquatics Coordinator Shannon Morken explains. She says she tries to foster a sense of community with Siegel JCC swimmers, especially on swim team. Shannon started personal training with Siegel JCC trainer AJ Greenetz (whom she calls fantastic!), who encouraged her to pick up powerlifting because she found potential in her. After a few years of training, Shannon started to see the joy in working hard, getting better, and heavy lifting. Recently, Shannon signed up for the USA Powerlifting Strong(HER) Competition. Nervous at first as self-doubt swirled in her mind, she hit her second lift and got the squat. “Seeing all the diversity (in age, race, size, and strength) and supportive women powerlifters at my competition was a reminder that health and wellness are for everybody, and we’re stronger together,” Shannon remarks. Shannon exemplifies striving for middot, character traits that befit discipline, diligence, and striving for excellence.
“A man should aim to maintain physical health and vigor in order that his soul may be upright, in a condition to know God . . . Whoever throughout his life follows this course will be continually serving God . . . because his purpose in all that he does will be to satisfy his needs so as to have a sound body with which to serve God.” —Maimonides
Whether it’s swimming or powerlifting, walking, or playing a team sport, Jews should take pride in the physical activities in which we participate, it’s our Judaic responsibility to embrace a fitness regimen for wellbeing. Keeping our bodies healthy will help us accomplish our purpose in life—to maintain our Jewish culture, identity, and heritage.
