A Modern Chanukah Story Of Self-Sacrifice
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Akiva Finkelstein
Hannah and her seven sons; Judith and the Greek commander she beheaded; the outnumbered but fearless Maccabees; the Jews who refused to give in to the decrees of the wicked Antiochus – Chanukah is a time for recounting historic deeds of self-sacrifice in the name of the God of Israel. The most recent one occurred in Israel on Dec. 1, a Shabbat.
Eighteen-year-old year-old Akiva Finkelstein of Beit El did not have to put his life on the line, but his test required heroism just the same. He was challenged to safeguard the sanctity of the Sabbath – the same Sabbath that King Antiochus attempted to take from the Jewish people some twenty-two centuries ago – and he did it even though it cost him eight years and a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream.
“Our Sages say there are people who acquire their World to Come b’sha’ah achat, in one fell swoop,” said his father, Rabbi Baruch Finkelstein, “and that’s what Akiva did that Shabbos.”
It happened before a panel of judges at the AIBA (International Amateur Boxing Association) Youth World Boxing Championships in Armenia who demanded that Akiva desecrate the Sabbath in order to participate.
The story began when Akiva was ten years old. Following in his older siblings’ footsteps, he began combining intense sports training and competition with his Torah and general studies. His sister had chosen swimming and won first place in an Israeli national competition. Akiva, like his older brother, who also had no problem keeping Shabbat while competing, chose boxing.
“Is that a sport for a nice Jewish boy?” his father was asked. Apparently not interested in the narrow scope of the question, Rabbi Finkelstein preferred to explain the advantages of engaging in competitive sports in general: “People who watch from the outside think that sports is just a way of being pointlessly wild, or of wasting time. They don’t realize that sport is just the framework; it’s really about doing your best, about proving to yourself that you can reach the goals you set for yourself.”
“Being in sports is actually a very humbling experience in two ways,” Rabbi Finkelstein added.
“For one thing, you can lose so easily, even after working so hard. Secondly, the fact is that you have to work very, very hard. It does not come easy to anyone.”
Akiva trained long and hard, frequently jogging the quiet streets of Beit El or jabbing at a punching bag in his room. The work paid off, and within a relatively short time he was Israel’s champion in his weight class.
“Yes, it was a nice achievement,” Akiva said, “but it doesn’t really mean that much. The main goal in Israeli boxing is to go on to the world competitions.”
And so he continued to train. Meanwhile, he also attended the yeshiva/science high school in Maaleh Adumim, where he received top grades in both Torah studies and science. He even began studying for the International Bible Quiz, but that proved to be too much and so he concentrated on his Torah/science/boxing aspirations.
He didn’t take part in last year’s world championships because of the many hours he had to invest in studying for his high school matriculation exams. This year, however, with high school behind him – he is now learning in the prestigious Shavei Hevron yeshiva – he was ready.
“The competition in which Akiva was to box was scheduled for Saturday night, well after Shabbat,” Rabbi Finkelstein recounted, “and we were also told that the daily weigh-in would not be held on Shabbat.Everything looked to be working out fine.”
Akiva in the ring.
But looks were deceiving. Shabbat morning arrived and Akiva was summarily informed, “Get on the scales for your daily weighing.” Alarm bells went off for both father and son – for it is a clearly articulated rabbinic law: “One may not weigh himself on the Sabbath, unless for the purpose of a mitzvah.” Not only that, but the scales were electronic, adding an extra element of forbidden Sabbath activity.
A very nervous Akiva then began doing some tense “weighing” of his own. On one dramatic side of the scales: Eight years of training, the chance at a world championship, and the fulfillment of his dream. On the other side: The holy Shabbos, the precious gift given by God to Israel even before Mt. Sinai. Which one would have to give way?
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One Response to “A Modern Chanukah Story Of Self-Sacrifice”
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The Maccabees were not B’ne Tzaddok. They had no right to usurp the High Priesthood. It was not their due for cleansing the Temple and going up against that Greeks. To make matters worse, they then crowned themselves kings. Their end was horrific. Let’s keep things in perspective at Channukah time.