SHEMINI ATZERET 5784 Our Own VAR abbi Andrew Shaw R Chief Executive, Mizrachi UK
Two weeks ago, I wrote a piece which offended some people. I spoke about Arsenal, which offended Spurs supporters, who requested that I should write about their team one week. The problem is, I only wrote about Arsenal for the inspiring ideas I got from the experiences at their ground. How could Spurs ever provide us with something to learn from and inspire us? However, would you believe it, last weekend they indirectly did, and it links so perfectly with Hoshana Rabba, contemporary Jewish life and Halacha! Let me explain. While we were celebrating the 1st day of Succot, a huge controversy was developing in North London in the match between Spurs and Liverpool. Liverpool scored a goal but the linesman flag was raised, which meant the goal was disallowed as a Liverpool player was in an offside position. In the olden days, that would be that, no goal and a free kick to Spurs. However, nowadays we have VAR, Video Assistant Referee. This allows the offside to be checked to see if it actually was offside, or to see if the linesman made an error. So last week, it was checked. It was seen pretty quickly on the images sent to the TV broadcasters, that Liverpool were clearly on side, and the goal would therefore be given. However, incredulously VAR did not overturn the decision and there was no goal for Liverpool. Cue the outrage from Liverpool and basically everyone in football. How could such an error have been made? How could they get it so wrong? Eventually they released the audio of the discussion that demonstrated how the mistake happened. No one heard this discussion initially, except the four people dealing with the case, not even the referee. So, what happened and what can we learn from it? Basically, the VAR – Darren England, didn’t realise that the decision by the referee
was no goal, for some bizarre reason he thought that the goal had been given, so he says, ‘check complete’, thinking that he has checked for off side, there is none, so no problems. He tells the referee, who presumes that England knew it was a disallowed goal initially, and therefore when he hears ‘check complete’ that must mean that VAR checked the goal and agreed with the on-field linesman that the goal was offside. The referee then restarts the game, and no goal for Liverpool. As the truth dawns on Darren England that he has made a clear and obvious error he is requested several times by the Replay operator to tell the referee to stop the game and give the goal. Yet he simply says ‘They have restarted the game, I can’t do anything.’ There are three lessons we can learn from the VAR debacle with our own VAR. 1. Values, 2. Application, 3. Repentance 1. Values One of the main reasons for the mistake was the inability of anyone else to know what was happening. In cricket, for example, when there is a need to use VAR, the whole ground sees the umpire’s decision. It is put on the big screen and the rational for the decision is shown. On TV we can also all hear the thinking of the umpire and therefore such a mistake as happened in the football could have been avoided with everyone seeing what was only seen by the select few. In Judaism, knowledge is for all. It is one of our most importantvalues – education for all. The whole nation is commanded to teach our children. While in the ancient world, only the elites knew how to read and write, in the Jewish community there was almost universal literacy. ‘Let my people know’ is just as central to our psyche as ‘let my people go’. From the moment our children can walk and talk, we start the commitment to lifelong learning. We encourage our young people to learn, to go to yeshiva and sem. Never should Torah be confined to the few, it is Morasha Kehillat Yaacov – an inheritance for the entire Jewish people. One of the greatest achievements for an educator is when students are able to ask a brilliant penetrative question that demonstrates a complete grasp of the material being taught. 2. Application Darren England’s reason for not telling the referee the truth was that he said he could not do anything, the laws of the game do not allow him to intervene once the match has restarted. The criticism he received was that may be the ‘letter of the law’, but he should have realised that he needed to apply the ‘spirit of the law’, to overturn such an obvious error, that would generate huge controversy. I have written about this before, In Bava Metzia 30b it states: Rav Yochanan said: “Jerusalem was destroyed only because the judges ruled in accordance with the strict letter of the law, as opposed to ruling beyond the letter of the law.” One of the many things I learnt from the Torah Giants that have taught me, is that halacha is sensitive, dependant on multiple factors. Our piskei halacha must have heart as well as mind, being maikil (lenient) is not something to be ashamed about. We have to judge each case individually and apply the halacha appropriately. Connecting to Tishrei, the Rabbis teach us that if we behave towards others with lifnim mishurat hadin, with generosity and kindness beyond what is strictly required, then we might hope that Hashem will act lifnim mishurat hadin with us, and forgo the harshness that rigorous application of justice would require.
3. Repentance The final lesson, is the most poignant one for this time of year. Darren England thought it was too late to make the change. At this time of year, we must internalise and realise that it is never too late to make the change. Hoshana Rabba is the finale of the Teshuva period. There are various minhagim linking Hoshana Rabba to Yom Kippur and Teshuva. The Chazan wears a kittel, the tefillah has additions that we say during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva . Hashem is saying to us, there is still time to return. Even beyond Hoshana Rabba, we know that Teshuva is always possible. Yes, we learn that during this time of year, Hashem is closer, but the concept of Teshuva 365 is still a reality. We can never say: ‘I can’t do anything’. The door is always open for us to return to Hashem. So, the VAR controversy rumbles on, with even a request to replay the match! However, for us, as we approach Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, we must marvel at our system of VAR that has shaped and fuelled our mesorah for thousands of years. As we celebrate the finishing of another year of Kriat HaTorah let us be grateful that the Ultimate Referee has given us the laws to make sure we live our lives infused with meaning and purpose. Which should spur us onto 5784 with greater commitment and connection to Hashem and Torah. (See, I mentioned it!) Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach
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