by R. Yitzchak Blau
What should our attitude be towards playing and watching sports? R. Shalom Carmy provides insightful analysis in this editor’s note from the Summer 2009 issue. On the one hand, we could easily describe following sporting events as bittul zman, a non – productive use of time. On the other hand, sports offers the opportunity for an innocent leisure activity. Furthermore, enjoying skilled athletic grace and perseverance encourages an attitude of appreciation and admiration rather than one of jealousy and embitterment. Finally, the yeshiva fellow who frequently criticizes others for their fandom may be cultivating an ethic of derision and disparagement. My brief summary does not do justice to this rich essay.
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