Finding success after failure - Basketball Comment on the lessons you learn from the stories at By: Jake Shalom Yeshivah of Flatbush My main goal right now is to be a good basketball player. I’m pretty good at basketball, but I can work at many things to make myself that much better. I was once in a basketball league and we went to the finals. We were down by 1 point and it was our ball. I took the ball and took the last shot. I wasn’t even close. My teammates were very angry at the shot I took and I got very embarrassed. When I got home, I thought I was the worst basketball player and I never wanted to play the game again. That is the wrong attitude in life. Just because you missed one shot does not mean you have to quit. Especially at something that you love and that you are very dedicated to. The correct attitude in this situation is to keep working hard and not to let that one shot bother you. In the future, you will be faced with many situations like that, but this time maybe you will actually hit that shot and be a hero. TorahContest.com There is no elevator to success, you need to take the stairs By: Joe Zakaria Hillel Yeshiva Five seconds left in the basketball game, they’re down by one. And he got the ball. The pressure was all on him. But, he drove to the basket and he missed the easy lay up. He was devastated. His teammates were mad at him. He left the court with disappointment. His parents gave him a pat on the back and said, “You’ll get it next time.” But, he was very upset. He was thinking about quitting the team. The next game, his teammates passed him the ball and he shot it and scored. His teammates gave him a pat on the back. He started to feel confident again. Later, there was ten seconds left in the game and they were down by one. Again he got the ball. He was nervous at first but then he said, “I can do it.” After nine seconds, he scored. He was so happy. His teammates all said to him, “Good job! You did it!” After that moment, he never gave up again. By: Lizzy Nasar Hillel Yeshiva There was a girl named Esther. She loved to play basketball. In fact, after homework every day, she would play. One day in school, there was an announcement. “Girls, basketball tryouts are next week in the gym.” Esther thought that she should try out. She asked her friends Rachel and Laya if they were trying out. Rachel and Laya told Esther, “Yes, we’re so excited! Are you trying out?” Esther said, “Yes, I’m excited too!” Esther went home that day and told her mom, “I’m going to try out for the basketball team next week.” Esther’s mom said, “Wow that’s great. You should practice.” Esther went to practice. It was next week, and Esther went to try out with her friends. When they announced who was on the team, they didn’t say Esther’s name. She was so sad. Next year, Esther tried again and she got in. This shows that if you fail, practice and practice. You will definitely succeed. By: Aura Pinhas <strong>Bar</strong>kai Yeshivah There is a boy named Abie. He wanted to be on the school’s football team. He was practicing with his friends and with a crowd watching. He missed a final goal by far. His friends told him, “You’ll never make the team. You can’t even do something as simple as kick a field goal.” After that, Abie walked home thinking to himself, “I can never make it. But, as much effort as it takes, I will never stop trying, no matter how many times I fail. I am not giving up.” The next day, he was even worse. He was playing with an even bigger crowd watching him. But, in the mid run, he dropped the ball right near the end zone. To read the rest of Aura’s story, Log on to TorahContest.com Search: Aura Pinhas 42 <strong>Bar</strong>/Bat <strong>Mitzvah</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> 718-909-6060 View magazine online at BMmagazine.com
In Loving Memory of Harry J. Ashkenazie A”H Who led his life devoted to his family, Torah and Mitzvot. Our memory of his warm smile, generosity, honesty, compassion, and humility will always remain with us. From his wife Cheryl, Children Linda and Joey, Jack and Sylvia, Evelyn and Joey, Jennifer, Isaac, And all his grandchildren.
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