lehavdil

the superbowl is on television right now.
at least i think it is, because my friend who is in washington heights just heard screaming in the background at the same time that i, in brooklyn, did.

we may be miles apart, but the superbowl is everywhere.
just like the shechina.

indeed, the superbowl is the yom kippur of sports, as i once heard a clearly psychotic yet seemingly wise man say.

and there's a lot to that comparison:

-people bathe (or don't bathe) ritualistically in preparation for the event.

-not unlike yom kippur, the superbowl has dietary restrictions--against anything that hasn't been deep fried, contain high fructose corn syrup, fake cheese powder or come in a can.

-people reflect over the past season, hoping to grow in their understanding and appreciation for both what has transpired and what is yet to come.

-the people who haven't reflected over the past season show up at the temple (read: sports bar) anyway to go through the motions anyway, feel like part of the herd and hope some good comes of it.

-people wear special garments to identify themselves with the messengers of their deity, be it angels of the lord, or the new york giants...

-the congregation that is the united states of america gathers together, opening their hearts to the sermons of bill belichick and the gospel of budweiser.

i really think there is something to it.

so as i sit here at 10 pm on suberbowl sunday, sober in a quiet apartment, showered and blowdried for tomorrow's promotional video shoot, having enjoyed a fine (Kosher!) dinner at an israeli reastaurant with my father... i can't help but feel a little sacrilegious. like, the american version of if i had snuck a bagel and shmear intended for break fast, as a midnight snack after kol nidre.