The 30th June 1998, the St Etienne Stadium in France, England and Argentina playing in the world cup, with this thrilling match being tied at two a piece, England surged forward looking to take the lead, as David Beckham ran forward , the Argentine midfielder Diego Simeone ruthlessly tackled Beckham as he crashed on the floor, with Beckham lying down in agony, seeing Simeone grinning over him, he petulantly kicked Simeone down, however Simeone collapsed as if he was knocked out by Mike Tyson- the referee falling for Simeone's theatrics immediately sent Beckham off. England went on to lose the match on penalties however the country needed a scapegoat and the British press chose Beckham, he instantly became a very unpopular figure, being named the 'most unpopular man in Britain by the end of 1998 (according to 'people' magazine), even 'Sports Illustrated' quoted Tony Blair as saying that Beckham 'would have to learn from this.' For much of the following season he was booed heavily by many of the supporters, screaming 'who are you??!! Who are you??!! David Beckham was absolutely humiliated, he didn't deserve this, a total underdog - but he knew he had to pick up the pieces!
Interesting enough, we see in the Torah many situations of people in hopeless situations - we learn in Sefer Bereishit that Yosef (Joseph) was sold by his brothers into servitude and whilst working as a slave, he was falsely accused for crimes he certainly didn't commit and in result was forced in to Prison in Egypt - however Josef by no means let this seemingly disastrous situation let him down - he had every reason to think his life was over - but during his stay he quickly became the most popular man in Jail – greeting/speaking to all other in mates, constables - acting smartly while at the same he kept a very cheeky chappy personality in the lowliest of places- the Torah testifies to his incredible attitude in this seeming dire situation - fellow in mates came to him for advice, including on dream interpretations - he gave over the brilliant interpretations and the King of Egypt, Pharaoh instantly came to Yosef for dream interpretations - Yosef gave the correct interpretations to the dreams and quickly rose to political greatness becoming the viceroy of Egypt - eventually he was the man to save Egypt from many years of famine - he never gave up hope - realizing that he had to make the best of a hopeless situation - he made the best of a humiliating situation - despite being the Underdog! This attitude would later start the long winding steps to receiving the Torah hundreds of years later!
The Hebrew People during Egyptian exile, urged in the "iron crucible" of Egypt, this People was taught in their bodies the debased and powerless feelings of the slave, the classic "underdog." The People of Israel was required to become the champion among the nations of the "underdog" in all of his manifestations, they never gave up hope, deep down inside they knew they had to move on and the great Jewish woman gave all the Jews hope in the desert, that they could potentially come out of slavery, preserved as a unit of people in many ways. Due to the greatness of many of the ladies, rescuing many of their husbands and babies - they were eventually taken out of slavery - including the help of G-d showering ten plagues over the Egyptians - and even as the Jews were coming out of Egypt - they were chased by hundreds of Egyptian chariots as we learn in the book of Shemot and they still survived as the tide of the waves crashed over the Egyptians as the sea was split for the Jews - free for them to receive the precious Torah weeks later! Who would have thought the totally persecuted underdog - would be given the most prized asset months later, the Torah!
Moshe (Moses), was appointed by G-d to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt- despite suffering from a speech impediment - he courageously became the leader of the Jewish people, leading the Jews out of Egypt, into the desert as they received the Torah and guided the Jewish nation throughout the years in the desert - becoming one of the great leaders of Biblical history. Despite all his difficulty he worked at it and led and also rescued the nation on countless occasions.
Here in Shul, we read the story of Channa during Rosh Hashanah, who sought for children for many many years, never gave up hope, and cried so much, praying very much for children, Hashem answered her on this day - Rosh Hashanah - at a time she thought it was totally impossible! Not just that according to the Talmud in the tractate of Rosh Hashanah, it was also decreed on this day that Sara and Rachel – 2 of the four famous Jewish bothers – who were barren – would bear children!
Once again, how great is not losing hope, in the Chanukah story and the Purim story, the total underdog won, in the Chanukah era, who would have predicted that a few Maccabees could overcome the mighty Greek army? The total underdogs could more than hold their own! So too in the Purim era, as Haman sought to exterminate us, the Jewish people, everything seemed bleak and hopeless, however once again we did not lose hope, led by Queen Esther into a 72 hours fast - hoping to gain as a unit salvation from G-d, saw the decree against the Jews shortly after overturned and actually being placed on the enemy - they never gave up hope and salvation came!!
Just look at recent history, the 1967 Six Day War, The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) consisted of 275,000 troops, compared to the 456,000 soldiers of the combined Iraqi, Syrian, Jordanian and Egyptian armies. The united Arab forces also had a decided edge with regards to weaponry and military equipment: they boasted more than double the amount of tanks, and close to four times the amount of combat aircraft. The three-week period preceding the Six-Day War was one of dread, shock and fright for the residents of the Holy Land, a situation that looked totally impossible - So pessimistic was the outlook - However despite being the Underdog's - in a matter of six short days, a nation managed to utterly rout not one, but four powerful enemies! History books speak of the “Hundred Years’ War,” the “Thirty Years’ War,” and many other long-fought battles. Here, who would have predicted it to be victorious after 6 days?
In life we could always see ourselves stuck in a situation where we feel we have come out short, feel things may be beyond repair, but in any situation we can always strive for the best, do the best we can, make the impossible possible, in fact even if we feel we have hit rock bottom in whatever it maybe, it could bring on a surge of excelling in that field, an incredible motivation! As we are in Rosh Hashanah, here we are again making the same promises we've made year in year out, we could really excel this year in whatever new years resolutions we may have. With our physical exertion and an extra spiritual boost we could strive to be the people we want to be!
Just look back on Beckham, a total hate figure in 1998, after giving it more than his all over the next couple of seasons, outstanding on and off the field, total effort, he was installed the national captain of England, married a big celebrity and four years later in the 2002 world cup - was considered arguably one of the Worlds best players, who would have predicted that in June 2003 (only 5 years after the 1998 world cup incident) he would receive the OBE for services to football? Who would have predicted he would sign for arguably the best football club in the world - Real Madrid for 35 Million Euros? Who would have predicted he would be capped 117 times representing England? - He became a world sporting great also involved in a multi million pound move to Los Angeles, also having a major role in the 2012 Olympics. The Chief executive at LA Galaxy, Tim Leiweke, said in July 2012 that Beckham's fame was so strong that even the then-next Chinese president Xi Jinping's security guards lost focus when the footballer walked into the room at a meeting in February 2012. Not surprisingly, shortly after in March 2013, Beckham was named as the first global ambassador for Chinese football, who would have predicted that? In fact, funnily enough just as his footballing/ personal career hit rock bottom in France - it was in France where he retired from the game only few months ago - not just a sporting great on the field but also off the field - in a role model like marriage with four children he donated his salary from the French football club - reported of around 4 Million Euros to French Children Charities! I am sure if the incident in 1998 would not have happen – if he would not have hit a low and been the Underdog he was - he may not have been of the stature he is today.
We are in the High Holidays, we can take the inspirations from the downs we may have had, we don't just need to say what resolutions we have as the Jewish new year passes us - we have the key to more than implement it, we may feel relationships could be beyond our repair - whether it be with our partners - but use that as inspiration to if you like sweep your partner of his/her feet! We could strive to be the heads of our companies, being the best possible parents to our children, achieving the best results we can in schools and universities, be the prince charming husband we could be to our wives and the best wife possible – true Eishet Chayil to our husbands, be upstanding moral citizen and in society and very likeable personalities! We could excel in all areas of life - through determination, motivation, but also with happiness – however despite we should use all our determination – we must truly recognize also that everything is done from the spiritual bounty of G-d! May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Shana Tova U'Metuka - a Happy and Healthy Sweet New Year!