Stand-Up Comedians famously lead with one-liners or stories that look like they are headed one way....and then....there's that unexpected twist at the end that startles, takes us by surprise, and makes us laugh.
In his Ted Talk, "The Power of Laughter", comedian Steve Mazan, told of his experience performing for military troops. He described laughter as a "Reset button for the soul".
God obviously thought laughter was a key ingredient for a great story and an amusing way to bring blessings to the world.
This week in our Torah portion we were introduced to our forefather, Isaac, which means "he will laugh".
Almighty God chose to create a nation starting with 100 year-old Abraham and 90 year-old Sarah. Their child's name is a symbol for joy/unexpected/ laughter inherent in the story of the Jewish people.
Isaac is a symbol of laughter because his very being is a surprise, nothing short of ridiculous. His existence and the existence of his descendants (Israel), is in opposition to all natural conditions of cause and effect and in opposition to all the laws of World History.
According to Jewish tradition, the 12 months of the year correspond to the 12 tribes, the 12 constellations, 12 parts of the body and the 12 powers of the soul. Laughter is the power of the soul that corresponds to the month of Adar( February-March). Adar alludes to the greatest possible laughter, the celebration of life snatched from impending death.
Every year in the month of Adar we celebrate Purim, the date slated for our demise which, obviously, since we are still here, didn't happen. Instead, the Jews went from being a hated people to a nation the gentiles wanted to join.
Unfortunately, the notion of killing millions of Jewish men, women and children is still as real today as it was 2,400 years ago in the story of Purim.
We are incredibly saddened to hear of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
This tragedy happened during the week our family collectively read the Torah portion about the birth of our forefather, Isaac.
From the beginning of existence to its end, mankind should grasp the concept of the miraculous existence of the Jewish people. It is also important to understand that the absurdity of evil is only allowed to exist by the free will of Almighty God.
In his article "How Do You Fight Evil", Tzvi Freeman says "Just as those possessed by evil did the wild and unreasonable.... so too, we must do kindness beyond reason."
Tzvi says this is the whole purpose of evil. It brings out our inner strength and a light so bright that "All evil melts in surrender, having fulfilled its purpose of being".
We look forward to the day when The Holy Temple will be rebuilt in the same place where Isaac's life was spared in a sudden twist of events. Through the use of foreshadowing, we can know how our story will end - in joy/unexpected/laughter and blessings for the whole world!
love this -- thank you!
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