I've been thinking and reading a lot about names recently. I've also been watching a lot of Olympics on television. I get very excited about the Olympics. Yes, I know, it's something sprung of Greek culture. And yes I know that Greek culture was oppressive and the games also might be reminiscent of the Roman games and so there is some sting to the memory of oppression by Rome and Greece in the ancient world, particularly to we Jews and particularly at this season as we have been recalling the destruction of the first and second temples, of our exile for so long from our land, and from the many atrocities perpetrated against us.  However, today, the modern Olympic ideal of bringing young people from around the globe to suspend whatever animosity and political jockeying that may be going on for two solid weeks is a beautiful thing we can all learn from by watching and pondering it. The beauty and pageantry of the ceremonies, the strength and courage of the athletes, and the sportsmanship and grace I've witnessed among competing athletes in these games gives me hope for the future. Really marvelous things happen when youth get together and shine. If we are to be a light to the nations, then this seems like a wonderful stage for that light to shine.

I have been really moved by the story of Israeli swimmer Alon Mendel.   Alon was in Beijing preparing to compete for a medal opportunity. He received the tragic news that his father had died quite unexpectedly. The father, and long-time coach of Alon, Costa Mendel, was actually up on a ladder at the family home in Netanya putting up a banner to honor Alon's Olympic experience. Costa fell from the ladder and suffered fatal head injury.

 There was some religious debate swirling about the family concerning whether Alon should have come straight home to bury the father and begin the 7 day morning period of Shiva in which all usual activities are ceased. The Mendel family decided that it would be better to honor the father's desire for Alon to compete and to also allow Alon to compete, fulfilling his Olympic experience. While not a strictly halachic decision, I honor the Mendel family's choice to have Alon stay in Beijing,  with a sister to cheer him on, while the other sister went home to help prepare for the funeral. In swimming with grief in his heart, Mendel was also swimming for the national pride of Israel and his countrymen and women. It strikes me as rather distracting to the moment for the side debate among many of Alon's more Orthodox countrymen to have raged in controversy concerning whether he should just come home and mourn properly. These guys, are, incidentally often against sending delegations at all because of the oppressiveness of the Greek and Roman cultures so long ago. These are guys who really for the most part don't much care about the medal count or the athletes' achievements- more worried about the kashrut of the Olympic Village, no doubt, than the hopes and dreams and courageous national pride of the athletes (yes, I am a little bitter tonight). While there is a place for the debate, it should not come at the expense of the memory of Costa Mendel, or at the expense of the courage of Alon Mendel. 

So, I watched Alon Mendel swim the 200m butterfly. Alon's name in Hebrew means in English "oak tree" or "strong tree." He was that strong, I think, to really wear his name so well in Beijing. His family must be so proud of him even in their grief. To have raced with a heavy heart, with knowledge that there was some religious controversy going on at home about his decision to swim, to swim imagining his father, and coach, as if alive, watching him in the stands in Beijing, to swim 200m in honor of his father, and to finish the race, out of the medals, but with a new personal best and a new Israeli record...well, folks, I got all choked up about it. 

Alon Mendel is a courageous man and I hope that we will get to see him compete again in World Competition, and maybe the next Olympic games. Meanwhile, may the Mendel family be comforted among all those who mourn in Zion. May you be comforted by the family around you and the return home of your son from Beijing, a real Olympic hero. Blessings to you.