Shalom Temple Jeremiah!
I write to you this week riding the coattails of another Kansas City Chiefs victory, sending my hometown team to yet another Superbowl. Knowing that the majority of you reading this do not share the same passion for my hometown team, I will not go too far in detail about how long I have waited for this incredible and unexpected era of the Chiefs creating a dynasty. I will not even embellish how phenomenal Taylor Swift has been for the game and for my team (though I must say I was a fan of the Chiefs and Taylor Swift before they found each other). I could go on forever, but my role, for now, is to talk about this week’s Torah portion, Yitro. There is only one way to make this opening paragraph relate to the Torah, and that is by comparing the relationship of Yitro and Moses to Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
Just as Andy Reid orchestrates the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense, in this week’s portion Yitro also advises Moses on how to delegate his leadership responsibilities. Yitro tells Moses that he should appoint capable leaders to help take pressure off of his plate, just as Coach Reid empowers Mahomes to lead the Chiefs’ explosive offensive.
During the game, Mahomes communicates with his team in the huddle, making strategies for what the next play could bring. Yitro, inspired by God’s insights, suggests that Moses created a system of judges to assist in governing the people. Passing on this leadership, Moses is empowering the people and asking them to step up, just as Mahomes has done throughout the playoffs with his teammates.
In this week’s portion, we also receive the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are a set of laws that we should all live by, showing us how to be our best selves. This is similar to that of Andy Reid’s playbook, which many say brings out the best of his players more than any other coach in the league, perhaps even in the history of the NFL!
While I know this was a bit of a stretch, and while I promise to stick to more serious content in my future Shabbat Shalom messages, seeing the Chiefs go to another Superbowl is something that young Matt Rissien NEVER thought he would see.
In conclusion, as we marvel at Mahomes’ amazing passes and Andy Reid’s strategic genius, we can also reflect on the Torah’s teaching found in the relationship of Yitro and Moses. And who knows…..maybe in the next huddle, Mahomes will draw inspiration from the ultimate playbook – the Torah – to lead the Chiefs to yet another Super Bowl next year!
Shabbat Shalom, and to all of the Bears and Packers fans, L’shanah Habah B’Superbowl!
-Matt Rissien