Every Jew is in the game - perhaps playing a different position, role or level of participation than last year but nonetheless, we Jews are all on the same team. Some of us are in the front office, some are still learning the game as second- or third-string rookies and some are Pro-Bowl veterans. But all of us are unique and indispensable with our own special talents and contribution levels. 

Veingrad during his NFL days

We all have the opportunity to learn the playbook, study and prepare for the game.  As a football player in the NFL, I would often change my game plan throughout the season based on the upcoming opponent, as each player I was up against presented a new style of play and unique challenges.  Each player on the opposing line might have amazing speed, quick moves or tremendous strength - or all three.

During the week, throughout the game and after the games I would get coached. My coach and I would study the successes and the failures together: Did I make the right block? Was I in the right place at the right time? Did I follow the coach's instructions? Did I prepare myself properly? Or did I just miss a play or a block, jump off-sides or get called for holding and cost my team an opportunity to win the game?  Sometimes in life, we blow the chance to do the right thing. We say something we shouldn't, we raise our voice or we're just not on our toes ready for the opportunity to do it right. We have the easy lay-up to help someone out, the chance to score on a meaningful mitzvah or free time to learn our offense better. But we drop the ball, or we miss the block and leave someone vulnerable, or waste time that could have made all the difference. We let our teammates down, the coach down and ourselves down. 

Life is not a game but I have learned a lot from my years in the NFL about what it takes to succeed - especially at being a great Jew. It's funny - the NFL season always starts in the fall, right around Rosh Hashana time. These days, I still feel the fresh opportunity in the air at this time of year, to put the past behind me and embrace a brand new start. But now, it's not about making the coach proud by being the best player I can, it's about making G-d proud, and my family and community proud, by being the best Jew that I can.

One key to success that I took with me from my playing days is always to be "coachable." That means being open and eager to learn new things and make adjustments, to trust someone who knows more than I do and believe in my ability to meet new challenges. When you relish the chance to make the coach proud, you forget about justifying what you've already done - you're accepting the fresh challenge to build on the past and to look ahead. In every sport and every endeavor there are fumbles, errors, misses and failures. There comes a time when we have to face up to our own misplays, to say to the coach, "I blew a big chance to make an impact. I forgot what you told me and it hurt the team. For that I am sorry; will you forgive me coach? I accept responsibility for my shortcomings and I am sorry I let my team down. But this season, I'm ready to start over and be every bit the player you know I can be."

The beauty of our Jewish heritage is that we have the winning playbook. The Torah is all about guiding us to grow and always to be our very best at what really matters. Each and every challenge is direct from our Coach to take the next step and to do it right - to reach higher and higher, never resting on past success or hiding from past mistakes.  The holiday of Rosh Hashanah gets us back in the game - renewed, refreshed and ready to start another season. It's the time to make our adjustments and to let the Coach know that we're there for him with everything we got, that we're going to be coachable this season and better than ever. We're going to learn the playbook like never before. And we're going to make Him proud.

About Alan "Shlomo" Veingrad:

Shlomo is a retired professional football player who spent 5 years with the Green Bay Packers and 2 with the Dallas Cowboys (member of Super Bowl XXVII Championship Team). Today Shlomo is the National Marketing Director with CJA and Associates specialists in the design and marketing of innovative financial planning concepts and employee benefit plans for the small business and estate planning market. Shlomo also speaks to businesses, colleges, universities and religious audiences around the world bringing his inspirational messages of positivism, personal excellence, leadership, team play, and spiritual connection. His presentation style and post-retirement experience in business have made him a much sought after speaker by Fortune 500 companies, professional services firms, and owner-managed businesses whose management seeks to lead their organizations by exemplifying a culture of personal and professional achievement blended with a higher purpose. For more information, please visit www.ShlomoVeingrad.com For Media Inquiries and bookings; please contact Robin Moskow, Moskow Management robinmoskow@comcast.net or (610) 804-6701.