In Honor of Rocky Balboa

This week’s parsha elucidates some of the laws relating to theft and compensation. Yet the Torah has many layers and the later chassidic masters use these laws to derive life lessons from which we can learn and come closer to G-d.

In line with the dictum, “who is wise, s/he who learns from every person” (Ethics of the Fathers 4:1), Rabbi Simchah Bunim of Peshischah shares a lesson we can learn from a thief: that despite hardships, they are not dissuaded. They keep at their craft finding ways to make the next steal.

 

The lesson that he highlights is that we, also, can’t give up in the face of struggles. We fail… we must get up again. That’s one definition of a righteous person- “A Tzaddik [is one] that falls seven times, [and nevertheless], gets up”- Proverbs 24:16. It’s not perfection, it’s perfecting. The Talmud teaches that in utero, we take a vow to be righteous and not to wicked. That’s our potential… that’s our mission as free choosing human beings.

 

It was Rocky Balboa that said:

Let me tell you [my son] something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward.

That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth, but you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that! I’m always gonna love you, no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son and you’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, you ain’t gonna have a life…