J Scholastic Sports III - The Hockey Fa'hair

One Sunday afternoon, when our younger son was in 8th grade, his elementary school's floor hockey team played a game at the high school gym. (The high school and elementary schools are affiliated but are at different locations). The Menahel of the high school, having just finished his Sunday morning duties, stopped in to watch a few minutes of the first period.

I love the Menahel. While he is a shtark KBY/YU Litvak, he also understands the need to inspire the boys on a more spiritual, emotional level from time to time. He also appreciates the importance of scholastic sports and other extra-curricular activities in creating a certain 'avira' in the school. Furthermore, he likes to win.

As it happened, OYS (who played offense during elementary school) scored a natural three goal hat trick during the ten minutes that the Menahel was watching the game. Coincidentally, the very next day the Menahel was scheduled to go to the elementary school to 'fa'hair' (loosely translated, orally test in Talmud) the 8th grade boys as part of the admission process for the high school.

Immediately after the period ended I approached the Menahel and said, "Rebbe, why bother with the fa'hair of OYS tomorrow. Three goals in one period? You know you're accepting him." He looked at me and smiled.