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Parshat Vayeira, this week's parsha, is filled with a plethora of stories, each accompanied by a wide variety of interpretations. The story I'd like to focus on is that of Yitzchak's birth, or, really, Sarah's response to his upcoming birth, and Rav Sampson Raphael Hirsch's interpretation of it. His interpretation is regularly found in the context of Rosh Hashana, but it was also discussed in our weekly night seder ("Understanding Iyov") class, which is going quite well, I must add Sarah's response was that of laughter, and for that very reason Yitzchak is named so, from the root meaning of his name, laughter.

Rav Hirsch explains that sometimes, as we pray to G-d, we are overwhelmed by His divinity, a factor which may cause us to hold back, think of ourselves as too insignificant to be answered, and may even laugh at the idea of G-d listening to our prayers. Rav Hirsch explains that this is exactly what Sarah did, and Yitzchak's name is both testimony to that fact, but also to the truth that G-d DID listen. Sarah laughed, for she didn't believe that she could have a child at 90, although she prayed for years and years. However, G-d did listen, and presented her with a child, an idea that, quite frankly, may seem unbelievable at her age. The Rav encourages us to take this lesson, and believe in the power of our prayers, and in their capacity to be answered. For this very reason this portion of our Parsha is presented in our Rosh Hashana prayers, a day we stand before G-d and beseech Him.

In spirit of our parsha, a shabbat well beyond our period of high-holidays and well embedded in the month of Mar Cheshvan (a month notorious for its seeming lack of rejoicing), I encourage you to bring this thought with you for all days of the year.
Shabbat Shalom.

Shifra