Torah Fax
Friday, October 22, 2004 - 7 MarCheshvan, 5765
Torah Reading: Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1 - 17:27)
Candle Lighting time: 5:46 PM
Shabbat ends: 6:45 PM
The Laugh That Lasts
When G‑d informed Abraham that his wife Sarah will bear him a son, He immediately told him that he should name him Yitzchak-Isaac: "Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you shall call him Yitzchak."
Rashi informs us that the name Yitzchak is connected with laughter. The selection of this name was clearly G‑d's way of saying that Isaac's miraculous birth-when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 - would certainly evoke laughter and unparalleled joy. However, the name Yitzchak does not mean laughter or joy, per se. It is written in the future tense and should be translated literally as: "he will laugh."
Two questions arise upon reflection. First, why did G‑d have to tell him a year before the child was born what he should name him? Second, why is the future tense used for his name? He could have been called "tzchok," which means simply, laughter. Third, it is not clear who will laugh. Was it Isaac who would laugh? Or perhaps it refers to everyone who will hear about this miraculous event, as Sarah exclaimed, upon giving birth to Isaac: "whoever shall hear will laugh."
A simple way of answering these questions is that Isaac would laugh at those cynics who declared the Abrahamic cause dead. With no heir to Abraham's legacy of spreading monotheism, justice and righteousness, all of Abraham's contributions would surely disappear. Thus Abraham's very life's work, for which he was willing to sacrifice his life, had a very bleak promise for success, or even survival.
G‑d thus told Abraham, when your wife Sarah will bear you a child, he will be the next link in the chain of your tradition, and he will keep your message alive. So Isaac will laugh at those critics and cynics because he will demonstrate the fallacy of their thinking.
We too are confronted with cynical remarks from our detractors, and frequently we may harbor these sentiments ourselves. Of what avail are our efforts today, when the changing world of tomorrow will no longer accept our Jewish values. The birth of Isaac and his naming was intended not just for that generation but also for all times. Whenever we have a foreboding sense of doom, whenever we become pessimistic about our Jewish future, G‑d says to us in effect: "Yitzchak!" You will yet have the last laugh.You, the Jewish people and your teachings and values that we inherited from our ancestors going all the way back to Abraham, will endure.
There is yet a deeper dimension to all this. Some pessimists might concede that the Jewish people will survive and some version of the original Torah will be preserved. But, whatever will be salvaged will in no way come close to the glory of the past. What we will have is an adulterated and compromised Jewish existence.
To these "moderate" pessimists G‑d declares: Yitzchak! He will laugh. The Jewish people and the Jewish way of life will not degenerate G‑d forbid, it will not be diminished in any way. On the contrary, the greatest joy and excitement is yet to come. As the Psalmist says: "Then our mouths will be filled with laughter." Referring to the future Messianic Age, the Divinely inspired Psalmist assures us that our future will not only guaranteed, but it will be guaranteed to be one of joy and exhilaration.
But G‑d informed Abraham about the birth of his son in conjunction with the commandment to circumcise himself and his children. The connection between the birth of Yitzchak and Abraham's circumcision is to eliminate any notion of complacency. By linking the glorious future of the Jewish people-Yitzchak, he will laugh-to Abraham's circumcision G‑d underscored that Judaism is not a sit-back-and-wait-for-all-the-fun-to-unfold religion.
Judaism demands of us to be active participants in the process of making the future joyous and glorious by removing all the impediments to our true Jewish souls. Furthermore, the fact that circumcision is performed on the procreative organ symbolizes that our involvement is crucial for the future. It also conveys the message that we must impart to our children and their children the same unadulterated Jewish beliefs, feelings and practices, absent all the obstructions that come from the outside. As soon as we water down the Judaism of the past generation, the child is deprived of some of the joy, the Yitzchak of being Jewish.
Moshiach Matters
Four of the blessings to be said when Moshiach comes are: 1) "Blessed are You...Knower of secrets (a blessing pronounced upon seeing 600,000 or more Jews together); 2)"Blessed are You... Who has apportioned of His wisdom to those who fear Him"; 3)"Blessed are You... Who has apportioned of His honor to those who fear Him"; 4)and Shehecheyanu. (L'Chaim)
Moshiach - It’s a Jewish issue. For more info, visit www.moshiach.com
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