By Rabbi Alex Chapper, Senior Rabbi, Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue

It was a heartwarming moment at this summer’s Olympics.

Diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix managed to win a bronze for the women's synchronised 10m platform, but the 19-year-old failed to get a medal in the individual 10m event. 

Cameras capture Andrea in tears being consoled by her father, as he gently tells her, "It's sport. Some days you win, some days you lose. And yesterday you did brilliant."

She nods in agreement as he reads out some of the text's he's received from his friends including one which said, 'Let Andrea know that the whole country is proud of her. My daughter now wants to try diving because of her. She's a superhero!'" 

As he gives her a much-needed hug, he says, “You did your best, it just wasn’t mean to be today, but that’s ok.”

Since the sweet moment has been shared online, the video has been viewed over a million times as it shows so beautifully that, sometimes it really isn't about the winning, but how a parent’s embrace and encouragement can make all the difference at times of disappointment.

When we’re in pain or distress, we often intone the words of Psalms (121) “I raise my eyes to the mountains, from where will my help come? My help will come from G-d, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.”  Just as Andrea looked at her father’s face for reassurance and comfort, so too we turn to G-d - Our Father in Heaven - in faith and trust, hoping that the coming year will be a better one than the last.

On Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) we have a beautiful custom of eating some apple that’s been dipped in honey whilst wishing each other a sweet new year.  This simple act is deeply symbolic because it reveals an important aspect of the human condition.  As Maimonides taught, our actions influence our character and the more we repeat the same behaviour, whether positive or negative, the more it becomes ingrained in our personality.  For example, someone who donates, even a small amount, to charity on a regular basis, is far more likely to become a charitable person by nature than if they were to give a one-off large donation. 

At the outset of a new year, we’re filled with hope and expectation, and as everything tends to follow the beginning, we want to start off in a way that we’d like to see continue.  With the taste of the sweet apple and honey in our mouths we offer a prayer that we should be renewed in the coming year with goodness and sweetness.  At the same time, we take responsibility for ensuring that our actions are directed to bringing these blessings into reality, making a commitment to try our best to improve ourselves and the world around us.  We also reminded that this will require consistency on our part, an ongoing effort and repetition of positive actions that will transform us into better people.

To paraphrase the words of Andrea’s father, sometimes we’ll win and some days we’ll lose but the most important thing is to always try our best because then we can be certain that our Father will be proud of us.

May we all enjoy a happy, healthy and sweet New Year and may G-d bless us all with peace.