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February 2, 2018 11:04 am
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Does the Bible Predict a Super Bowl Win for the Eagles?

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avatar by Alan Zeitlin

Opinion

Philadelphia Eagles players. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Rabbi Moshe Grussgott is one of many who celebrated the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles will play in the Super Bowl on Sunday. But he may be the only one to realize an interesting sentence that appears in the weekly Torah portion of Yitro, which will be read in synagogues across the country on Saturday — the day before the Eagles try to upset the Patriots.

The fourth sentence of chapter 19 in Exodus says: “And I bore you unto the wings of eagles and I brought you unto me.”

Prophetic? Maybe.

The 36-year-old rabbi, who grew up in Philadelphia and now leads Comgregation Ramath Orah in Manhattan, has his own thoughts.

“The Eagles will edge out a narrow win over New England,” he said. “I want revenge over the Patriots for beating us in 2005. Jews are not supposed to seek revenge, but what can I say? Sports bring out something more primal in me.”

Is it religiously permissible to pray for a win?

“It’s OK to pray for anything that brings you joy,” he said. “But it needs to be put into perspective. You can’t pray for it on the same level that you pray for essential things, like wisdom and well-being.”

Many people will be placing bets on the big game — and most experts are predicting a win for the Patriots. Grussgott suggests not to wager at all — not because he doubts the Eagles, but because he says that betting is contrary to Jewish values and laws.

While this rabbi won’t be gambling on them, he said that he’s expecting to celebrate an Eagles victory.

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