Step up to the plate

Editorial

World Series fever is sweeping the Valley. After 162 regular season and 10 playoff games, the Diamondbacks have made it to the fall classic, facing the legendary New York Yankees.

The secret to the Diamondbacks success is teamwork. Throughout the season and playoffs, we couldn't predict who would step up to the plate and become a hero. Craig Counsell did it in playoff Game 3 and Tony Womack in Game 5 against St. Louis; and Erubiel Durazo in playoff Game 5 against Atlanta. Time and again the D-backs surprised their fans and their opponents.

In the hours before World Series Game 1, with the eyes of the nation and indeed the planet turned to Bank One Ballpark, our hometown Jewish community can look with pride to our home team and be inspired. In many ways, we too are a team, with a roster of more than 140 organizations, institutions and businesses providing a diversity of programming and services. Each plays a vital role in the health of our community.

Our achievement depends upon the quality of our community infrastructure - the congregations, federation, political institutions, youth groups, classes, delis (the right bagel and hot pastrami on rye are essential) - and personal and business connections. Our success links us also with national and international Jewish organizations.

The players in our infrastructure team come from the east side, the west side, central Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Each makes a unique contribution.

Now is our time to step up to the plate. Now is our chance to be heroes, contributing to and enjoying the benefits of our shared aims and achievements. The onus rests on every organization, institution and individual to inspire, illuminate, educate, venerate and celebrate. Let's all be ready to run the bases and cross home plate.

B'chatz l'cha, D-backs, good luck. May you succeed and inspire us to follow your lead.

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