They say that laughter really is the best medicine. There is medical evidence to back that claim. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456
Last night we talked about breast cancer and once again, we thank the EPD for bringing the Breast Cancer Awareness Squad Car. It made us all smile.
Breast cancer is a Jewish issue. Continuing with our science theme and our pekuach nefesh emphasis, the idea of saving a life, I want to remind you that getting your mammogram and being tested for BRCA is an important part of taking care of your health. https://www.juf.org/cjg/Get-Screened.aspx?gclid=CjwKCAjwzt6LBhBeEiwAbPGOgT-W00ReY-kyQJn2Z5-VikLTX8Q652cRQ_qlhALXsK1LOtfuCDO5ThoC8hEQAvD_BwE
As our president, Robin Coyne reminded you, early detection is key. She is a two time breast cancer survivor of different types. So go do it. Go get your mammogram!
Earlier this year I talked about it being permissible, even encouraged to be angry with G-d. Perhaps we see hints of this with Abraham arguing with G-d to save Sodom and Gemorah. Mayyim Hayyim, th communality mikveh and education center in Boston complied a great book for women with cancer: Blessings for the Journey: A Jewish Healing Guide for Women with Cancer. It has lots of helpful material and the best chapter I know anywhere for dealing with anger with G-d.
Today, however, I want to talk about laughing with G-d.
Our text tells us, “And Sarah laughed.” Why did she laugh? She was , go ahead, fill in the blank: surprised, delighted, shocked, that she heard she would have a baby. She even questioned it.
And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Now that I am withered, am I to have enjoyment—with my husband so old?”
Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I in truth bear a child, old as I am?’ (Notice the little white lie here. G-d doesn’t repeat that Abraham is so old.!)
G-d continues to reassure Sarah, “Is anything too wondrous for the LORD? I will return to you at the same season next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”
In fact, G-d does pakad et Sarah, whatever that means, took note, remember, visited, and she does have a child. She names that child Isaac, meaning laughter.
Now Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh withaLit. “for.” me.” And she added,
“Who would have said to Abraham
That Sarah would suckle children!
Yet I have borne a son in his old age.”
This is a bookend moment, echoing her early laughter. Are people laughing with her, at her, for her? Is it crazy to want a baby at 90? Are you relieved that you don’t have to raise this child at 90? Are you happy for Sarah that she finally got the child of her heart’s desire?
“Their noblewomen would come and kiss the ground at Sarah’s feet, and they said to her: “Do a good deed and nurse our children.” Abraham told Sarah: “Sarah, this is not the time for modesty. Sanctify God’s name. Sit down in the marketplace and nurse their children” (Pesikta de-Rav Kahana loc. cit.).” Sarah stood and revealed herself, and her two breasts spouted milk like two spouts of water. The nations of the world brought their children to Sarah for her to nurse. (Pesikta Rabbati [ed. Friedmann (Ish-Shalom)], para. 43)
Breasts are important in Judaism. G-d is actually referred to as a nursing mother.
The Hebrew word “shad‘ means “breast.” (Or mountain—think the Bubbles in Acadia or the Tetons!) “Shaddai” (the name of God written on mezuzot on tefillin, and in many Jewish texts) evokes the image of God with breasts or God nursing, and is literally translatable not as “Lord, Our God,” or “God, My Salvation,” but “God of Breasts” or “God Who Nurses.”
In Isaiah we learn, God: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
“Be Joyful with .Jerusalem, all you who love her all you who mourn over her that you may nurse and he satisfied with her comforting breasts, that you may suck deeply and he delighted with her bountiful breast! For this is what the Lord says: ‘Behold. I extend peace to her like a river; and the glory of nations like an overflowing stream. You will be suckled and carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.’” (Isaiah 66:10-13)
Throughout the book of Genesis, the name Shaddai is also connected with blessings of fertility. When Jacob blesses his son Joseph, for example (Genesis 49:25), he says. “Shaddai will bless you with blessings of the heavens above, of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb.” [Genesis 49:25.]
When we talk about Gomel Hasadim Tovim, that G-d bestows lovingkindness on us, that G-d, like a camel, a gamal, fills us up and sustains us, that is like a nursing mother.
So if you are a breast cancer survivor, and have survived this life threatning disease stand with me and recite this prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude:
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, ha-gomel l’chayavim tovot she-g’malani kol tov.
Blessed are You, Lord our God,Rruler of the world, who fills and bestows goodness on the undeserving t, and who has rewarded me with goodness.
After the recitation of this blessing, the congregation responds:
Mi she-g’malcha kol tov, hu yi-g’malcha kol tov selah.
May G-d who rewarded you with all goodness reward you with all goodness for ever. Selah.
You may be seated.
According to the Talmud, when Hannah prays to G-d it includes this:
Ruler of the World, among the things that you created in women, you have not made one without a purpose: eyes to see, ears to hear a mouth to speak, legs to walk with. These breasts that you put on my heart, are they not for nursing? Give me a son. then, so that I can use them! [Berakhot 3IB]
Back to our story…
It seems, according to the midrash, that Sarah nursed Isaac. And lots of other children.
The child grew up and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
Next week we will read Chayeii Sarah, the Life of Sarah. Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years. 127 years. And then Sarah died. It is said that Abraham came to Kiryat Shmona, Hebron and eulogized her. Using words that are from Eishet Chayyil, a Woman of Valor.
One of the things Eishet Chayil says is “and she laughs at the time to come.” We are back to laughter.
It is said that “Man plans and G-d laughs.” We have certainly seen that in discussing the pandemic. As one example:
“Soon enough we will be back to planning. Attempting to do so in this moment is an illusion – an attempt to assuage our anxiety. Let’s focus on addressing critical needs in our communities, making sure we take care of the ill and unemployed, and protecting those who are healthy. Let’s take walks, plant flowers, embrace our homes, our neighborhoods, our families and take time to just be – and count each day to again receive the Torah.” https://jewishatlanta.org/man-plans-g-d-laughs/
Laughter is desired. Laughter heals.
Psalms 126:2 states, “Then our mouths will fill with laughter (s’chok).” The same word that is used to describe Isaac.
Psalm 30: “Weeping may linger for the night but joy comes in the mourning. but at dawn there are shouts of joy. Are those shouts of joy really laughter? Have you ever laughed so hard you’ve cried? Dare I say it, peed your pants? That’s healing. Really.
Even teachers are advised to start a lesson with humor as part of their induction set.
In the midst of a conversation about whether or not one should approach Torah study from a place of joy, the Talmud relates the practice of the sage Rabbah, who before beginning to teach matters of Jewish law, “would say something humorous so that the Sages might be cheered” before beginning the daunting and awe-some task before him. (BT Shabbat 30b) Incredibly, Rabbah determines that the best way to prepare his students for complex Torah study is to tell a joke.
By inviting them to laugh together, their nerves are put at ease, and their hearts and minds are opened to possibility. They embark on their journey having felt the power of sharing a moment of joy. As such, laughter becomes part of the sacred act, a prerequisite for engaging collectively with that which is deep and profound.
“Numerous commentaries and midrashim tell of Isaac’s birth sparking a wave of babies born to previously barren women, illnesses healed, and goodness restored, so that others could share in the joy and laughter of this moment. Yet there seems to be another message here as well, if we understand Sarah’s two encounters with laughter to be part of the same story: laughter is a communal connective tissue. It is an act of faith, rather than doubt, an act of defiance and triumph rather than acquiescence. While Sarah might not have been able to control her reaction before, now her laughter is deliberate, and forever bound up in the name of her child.” https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/the-gravity-of-laughter/
Sometimes we approach Judaism as an obligation—something we have to do. It isn’t much fun. It is something to just be gotten through. Now I am telling you, it is something to have fun with, to laugh about. To savor. To enjoy. Come laugh with me. The best is yet to be.
What is your favorite Jewish joke? Clean and appropriate please.