The Soccer Match That Taught a Powerful Torah Lesson

Rabbi Shalom Schwadron z"l, known affectionately throughout Jerusalem as "R' Sholem," was one of the most beloved maggidei mussar of his generation. Renowned for his ability to teach profound Torah lessons through simple stories, he had a unique gift for reaching people's hearts.

One Shabbat afternoon, Rabbi Schwadron noticed that one of the young men who regularly attended his Gemara class had been absent for several weeks. Concerned, he decided to pay him a visit.

When the rabbi arrived at the young man's home, the student was surprised and somewhat embarrassed by the unexpected visit. Nevertheless, he warmly invited the rabbi inside.

An Unexpected Explanation

"I was worried that perhaps you weren't feeling well," Rabbi Schwadron said. "But thank Hashem, you look perfectly healthy."

"I am healthy, Rabbi," the young man replied.

"In that case," the rabbi continued, "why haven't we seen you in class lately?"

The young man hesitated before answering honestly.

"Rabbi, I'd be happy to attend the class at almost any other time."

The rabbi looked puzzled.

"What's wrong with the current time?"

The young man smiled sheepishly.

"The class takes place during an important soccer match that I simply can't miss. But don't worry. As soon as the season is over, I'll come back to the classes."

"What Exactly Is Soccer?"

Rather than rebuking him, Rabbi Schwadron responded with curiosity.

"To be honest, I don't know much about soccer. Could you explain it to me?"

The young man's face lit up. Finally, he thought, there was something he could teach the rabbi.

"It's simple," he explained. "Two teams compete on a field, and each side tries to get the ball into the other team's goal."

"And this goal," the rabbi asked, "is it very small?"

"No," the young man laughed. "It's quite large."

"Then why is it difficult to score?"

"Because there's a goalkeeper standing there whose entire job is to stop the ball from going in."

Rabbi Schwadron nodded thoughtfully.

The Rabbi's Brilliant Suggestion

After a moment, the rabbi asked another question.

"Tell me, is the goalkeeper standing there now, in the middle of the night?"

"Of course not," the young man replied. "There's nobody on the field now."

The rabbi's eyes brightened.

"In that case, I have a wonderful idea! Let's go to the field right now, and I'll show you how I can score goal after goal."

The young man burst out laughing.

"Rabbi, that's not the point at all!"

"Why not?" asked the rabbi.

"Because scoring isn't impressive when nobody is trying to stop you. The whole challenge is succeeding when there's an obstacle in your way. That's when skill matters. That's when strength matters. Anyone can score when the goal is completely open."

The Lesson

This was exactly the response Rabbi Schwadron had been waiting for.

He stood up and gently said:

"Young man, listen carefully to your own words."

The room fell silent.

"You say there is no achievement in scoring when nothing stands in your way. The real accomplishment comes when you overcome an obstacle."

The rabbi paused before continuing.

"The same is true with Torah and mitzvot. Is there any great accomplishment in coming to class once the soccer season is over? At that point, nothing is standing in your way. The real achievement is coming precisely now, when something is pulling you elsewhere."

He looked at the young man warmly.

"True strength is overcoming the obstacle. True wisdom is choosing Torah even when it requires effort. That is where the greatest reward is found."

According to the Effort Is the Reward

Rabbi Schwadron then quoted the famous teaching of Ben Hei Hei in Pirkei Avot:

"Lefum tza'ara agra" — "According to the effort is the reward."

The greater the struggle, the greater the reward.

When a person fulfills a mitzvah despite distractions, challenges, and competing desires, that mitzvah becomes infinitely more precious.

Anyone can do what is easy.

Spiritual growth happens when we choose what is right even when it is difficult.

The Goal That Truly Matters

The following week, the young man arrived at the Gemara class on time.

He had understood the message.

This time, he had scored the goal when the goalkeeper was standing in front of him.

Rabbi Schwadron greeted him warmly and with great admiration. He understood that the young man had accomplished something far greater than simply attending a class. He had overcome himself.

That is why our sages teach that a mitzvah performed with effort and struggle is worth far more than one performed without challenge.

For it is precisely in moments of difficulty that a person's true greatness is revealed.