Parasha Thoughts |
By: Rabbi David Cohen “Abraham called the name of his son… Yitzhak” (Vayeira, 21:3) A doctor meets with the director of a mental institution. The director shows him around. They pass by a padded room and they hear a man yelling, “LEAH, LEAH!” The doctor asks, “What happened to him?” “He was engaged to a girl named Leah and at the last minute Leah decided to call it off. The poor guy never recovered,” was the reply. They pass by another room and again there is a guy screaming “LEAH, LEAH!” The doctor asks, “Leah also left him?“ “No,” the director replies, “This one actually married Leah!” As we know Yitzhak had the attribute of Din (judgment), yet his name means laughter. It must be that he embodied laughter. In fact, throughout his life we see him being associated with laughter. Yishmael was kicked out of the house because he was “מצחק” with Yitzhak. Later, Avimelech discovers that Yitzhak was married to Rebecca because Yitzhak was caught “מצחק” with her. What does laughter have to do with Judgment? What makes a joke funny? When you have one perspective and the punchline comes unexpectedly and gives you another view. A real comedian can see how people normally see the world and introduce them to a new view. In order to be a good Judge you have to be able to see things from every angle. Someone who embodies a healthy sense of humor is able to do that. Yitzhak, whose whole life was extraordinary (he was born to parents of old age, and he was designated to be slaughtered by his father) was able to see things from a different perspective than others would. This gave him both a healthy sense of humor and the ability to be the father of judgment. Shabbat Shalom |
