The Shaliach Volume 33 Issue 4 F ROM THE R ABBI ’ S S TUDY God’s Laughter June 2019 - Sivan 5779 News and Views from the Young Israel of Plainview The Shaliach INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Rabbi’s Study 1 Committee Directory 2 President’s Pen 3 YIP Celebrates Yom Haatzmaut 4 Memorial Day Pa- rade 5 MALI 6 Sisterhood 7 Life Cycle Announcements 8 Kiddush/Shul Calendar 9 “Man plans and God laughs” goes the old Yiddishism, a response to the ironies and tragedies of Jewish life and history. But is it true? A verse in the book of Psalms declares יושב בשמים ישחקGod, as it were, sits upon His throne and laughs. R. Yitzchak (Avoda Zara 3b) insists that this moment of laughter will occur only once in history. On “that day”, meaning the day of revelation and redemption, God will laugh at those who failed to recognize His existence and serve Him before that day. Otherwise, the Lord despite His unfathomable knowledge does not laugh. Interestingly, the Talmud refuses to accept R. Yitzchak’s statement at face val- ue. It quotes Midrashic lore that speaks of God celebrating for a third of each day. Is the Holy One not laughing? R. Nachman answers that עם בריותיו משחק ועל בריותיו אינו משחק אלא אותו יום בלבד.God laughs with His creations each day, but he laughs at His creations only at the end of days. The Talmud continues, noting that even God’s celebration with His people is tempered in the wake of the destruction of the Temple. The colloquialism “Man plans and God laughs” reflects two aspects of the hu- man experience. The first is man’s impotence, his inability to control the multi- tude of forces. The created human being is ultimately subject to the winds of fate which are far more powerful than he. Second, the Yiddish ditty imagines a powerful being, playing games with the lives of the weak. The first of these as- sumptions is true. Daily, in our prayers, we express our frustrations with our own human limitations, especially when compared with the unbridled power of God. The second assumption, however, is a fallacy. God, our tradition insists, cares deeply for His creations. To live as a human being means to confront our own limitations, but we should not feel as if God plays willy-nilly with our lives. It’s true, we cannot comprehend God’s plan, but we should not view our suffering as an object for God’s amusement. For all its philosophical challenge, we be- lieve that God joins us in our challenges; He is there, with us in our pain. So, perhaps it might be more correctly stated that “Man plans and God feels.”
Transcript
Page The Shaliach Volume 33 Issue 4
FROM THE RABBI ’S STUDY
God’s Laughter
June 2019 - Sivan 5779
N e w s a n d V i e w s f r o m t h e Y o u n g I s r a e l o f P l a i n v i e w
The Shaliach
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Rabbi’s Study 1
Committee Directory 2
President’s Pen 3
YIP Celebrates
Yom Haatzmaut 4
Memorial Day Pa-
rade 5
MALI 6
Sisterhood 7
Life Cycle
Announcements 8
Kiddush/Shul
Calendar 9
“Man plans and God laughs” goes the old Yiddishism, a response to the ironies
and tragedies of Jewish life and history. But is it true? A verse in the book of
Psalms declares
יושב בשמים ישחק
God, as it were, sits upon His throne and laughs. R. Yitzchak (Avoda Zara 3b)
insists that this moment of laughter will occur only once in history. On “that
day”, meaning the day of revelation and redemption, God will laugh at those
who failed to recognize His existence and serve Him before that day. Otherwise,
the Lord despite His unfathomable knowledge does not laugh.
Interestingly, the Talmud refuses to accept R. Yitzchak’s statement at face val-
ue. It quotes Midrashic lore that speaks of God celebrating for a third of each
day. Is the Holy One not laughing? R. Nachman answers that
עם בריותיו משחק ועל בריותיו אינו משחק אלא אותו יום בלבד.
God laughs with His creations each day, but he laughs at His creations only at
the end of days. The Talmud continues, noting that even God’s celebration with
His people is tempered in the wake of the destruction of the Temple.
The colloquialism “Man plans and God laughs” reflects two aspects of the hu-
man experience. The first is man’s impotence, his inability to control the multi-
tude of forces. The created human being is ultimately subject to the winds of
fate which are far more powerful than he. Second, the Yiddish ditty imagines a
powerful being, playing games with the lives of the weak. The first of these as-
sumptions is true. Daily, in our prayers, we express our frustrations with our
own human limitations, especially when compared with the unbridled power of
God.
The second assumption, however, is a fallacy. God, our tradition insists, cares
deeply for His creations. To live as a human being means to confront our own
limitations, but we should not feel as if God plays willy-nilly with our lives. It’s
true, we cannot comprehend God’s plan, but we should not view our suffering
as an object for God’s amusement. For all its philosophical challenge, we be-
lieve that God joins us in our challenges; He is there, with us in our pain. So,
perhaps it might be more correctly stated that “Man plans and God feels.”
er Family, Shlomo Yosef & Tee Simpser Family, Asael & Michelle Meir Family, Eyal & Wendy Ofer Family
David & Sarah Gross Family
Volunteers: Michal Rosenthal, Alvin Smilow, Ethan Brandler, Benny Edelstain, Ben Marzouk
Thank you to our Kiddush Sponsors Special Occasion Kiddush March:
Happy Birthday to Frank, Deb and Ariela Haftel
Sponsored by Leibel Sternbach in honor of Shmuela's Graduation - To the most amazing wife and mother on her graduation with a
masters in midwifery and passing her boards! We are so proud!
Sponsored by Jenn Sneag - Happy 4th birthday Gabey! We love you!!
Sponsored by the Goldberg family in honor of Francie's birthday
Sponsored by Kenny Gerber in honor of Chana Penini's birthday
Happy Birthday Vicki Kurlander!
Sponsored by Chana & Ira Glasser - Happy 5th Birthday Jason!
Sponsored by Dan & Atara Marzouk in honor of Gabe's birthday
Sponsored by Brian & Esther Linder in honor of Erin's birthday - Happy first birthday to our beautiful baby girl! Love Mommy and
Daddy
A special thank you to the Haftel Family for sponsoring our extended meat Kiddush!
(Continued on page 9)
Page 5 The Shaliach
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Shavuot brings celebration and recognition of our connection to Hashem and the Torah, and it al-
so marks the YIP tradition of recognizing its new officers and board members. On behalf of our
MALI Board of Directors, we express our gratitude to the outgoing YIP board and wish Hatzlacha
Rabba to all of the new members.
We have recently renovated our Keilim Mikveh. Come by and take a look! Donations to fund this
exciting project are welcome . We hope that this newly designed space will enhance the mitzvah of
tevilat keilim.
Please check our website at www.limikveh.org, where you will find everything you need to know
about our Mikveh including the latest news, upcoming events, and donation opportunities. We also
send out e-mails periodically; please send a message to us at [email protected] if you
would like to be included.
Ruth Lorbert and Janet Akhavan
and the MALI Board of Directors
CEMETERY PLOTS AT WELL-
WOOD CEMETERY ARE STILL
AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE
THROUGH THE YOUNG ISRAEL OF
PLAINVIEW FOR YOUNG ISRAEL
OF PLAINVIEW MEMBERS.
CALL SHERRI MALC FOR DE-
TAILS AT 933-2768.
THANK YOU,
SHERRI MALC, ALVIN SMILOW,
BARRY ZWEIGBAUM
THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE
YUNG ISRAEL
OF PLAINVIEW
Page 7 The Shaliach
The Sisterhood has finished out the year with some fun and exciting programs! First we’d like to thank Jennifer Sneag and Chana
Penini for the awesome Game Show Night, which provided a ton of laughs and great videos. As always, the Pesach Wine Sale, orga-
nized by Atara Marzouk, was a successful event that raised funds for Sisterhood, while providing the community with a diverse selec-
tion of kosher wines. We also cannot forget the beautiful Mishloach Manot this Purim. Thank you to Ahuva Sclair and Suri Gotowner
for all your hard work and to the entire community and for being so helpful at picking up all bags before everyone left Shul! What an
amazing community we are all a part of. Recently, in our Yoetzet Halacha Initiative Program we have screened the documentary 93QUEEN with much success! Those who
attended enjoyed watching the movie about the creation of an all women's EMS group in Brooklyn. The movie sparked many heated
conversations amongst the viewers. Additionally, shortly before Pesach we hosted for a second year in a row the Annual Yesh Tikvah
Infertility Awareness Shabbat. This year former Rabbinic Intern couple Rabbi Willie and Estee Balk shared with us their emotional jour-
ney through infertility. They engaged the audience of about seventy, and bravely answered any questions that were posed to them. All in
attendance were greatly moved by their presentation. In addition, Avital gives a weekly shiur on Sefer Bereishit on Wednesday nights.
We look forward to many more interesting and meaningful programs from our Yoetzet Halacha. (For topic suggestions or ideas, please
