R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Vinny Testaverde is the quarterback for the New York Jets. Bill Parcells is the coach of the New York Jets. Testaverde throws the football, and once in a while runs with it. Parcells writes plays on a greaseboard and sometimes throws tantrums and headsets. Both try to win football games.

Yet Parcells needs Vinny to win, and Testaverde needs Bill to succeed. The quarterback cannot scripts plays and co-ordinate defenses, while the coach cannot toss the pigskin downfield (although the thought of the Big Tuna huffing his big-boned chassis into the end zone is appealing.) Both need to respect each other's capabilities and differing positions in order to get to where they wish to be.

The relationship between the two illustrates a fundamental concept in human interaction. The river of what we call life takes us to many different ports introducing us to diverse individuals. These individuals embody different character traits and have unique abilities. A rabbi of mine once told me, "A person can be a doctor, a lawyer or even an Indian chief but he/she should be the best in whatever he does."

Not everyone is meant to be a professional; G-d created some people with a gift of craftsmanship. Just because a fellow Jew is a plumber, electrician, or artist, doesn't mean that they are less successful they their wealthy neighbors. Financial success is not indicative of success in life nor is a sign of intelligence. It merely means that Hashem has deemed him to acquire wealth.

An individual who chooses to be a man of trade capitalizes on a special ability that G-d has given him and should be treated with utmost respect. I have heard people turn down possible marriage partners because the father of the girl or guy was not wealthy. This is totally preposterous. The main concern of any potential in-laws is that they should be mentchen, decent human beings. Dollar signs are always a benevolent asset to any marriage, but it should in no way be a deciding factor in dating.

It is very easy for a person to be judgmental and jump to his own incorrect conclusions in virtually any matter of significance. Human nature tends lead to unfounded and false criticism about people and actions. We are not the only ones who can be guilty of this trait, our rabbis can also err.

Like in the partnership between the quarterback and the coach, we must respect one another and value each others judgement. Hashem has created different people to accomplish different tasks in life. The best biblical example that comes to mind is that of Yissachar and Zevulun, one works to support the other's Torah learning. However, both equally share in the rewards - Zevulun in the financial profits earned by Yissachar, while Yissachar benefits from the spiritual wealth of Zevulun.