The Funniest Joke in History
How Man Plans and God Laughs
"AND CUT!" The voice came from an empty director chair. A stage-play featuring a severe drama had been suddenly severed at the climax of its scene. The Yishba loved laughing. For him, it was an aspired state of being. It was breathing. And whenever he’d enter this palace of humor, we found ourselves munching on popped corn, and cold carrots listening to old stories reframed into mystical jokes.
It was late at night when the Director called to Avraham. “ACTION!” The script shows Avraham taking his son to slaughter. The Angels edge their seats as he ascends the altar. Then, as the knife comes down to slice his child’s neck, the director shouts. "AND CUT!" But not him! No! Cut reality.
For this divine command of love was a different type of cut. Not one that kills us, but one that saves us. The scene is over. What was once so horrific, is now something to smile over at lunch.
Yitchak lives. Yitzchak laughs. That’s why his mother called him her “little laugh.” (צחק = Laugh).
And now… presenting another matter regarding the cutting quality of Laughter, a story from the Yishba:
Long ago, along the Yishba’s adventures, he found himself in service as a king’s right hand rabbi. One day, A large group of many violinists came forth before the royal throne. They scraped their strings strong and proud. Waves of enchanting sound warmed the cold stone palace walls. A jester called ‘Laugh’ appeared dressed in silly colors holding a long golden flute. He played from the middle, but when his flute’s ‘Ouuuughh’ felt too buried, he jumped from side to side in search of a better spot to fit.
Loneliness lined his face. For in a world full of violins, what room was there for a foolish feeble flute. Then came the brilliance of the Jester called ‘Laugh’. “AND CUT!” Laugh shrieked. Every one of the violinists, in a most uncomfortable cultish manner, raised their instruments to the sky and smashed them down into a million musical pieces. The king jumped in surprise and half his goblet spilled to his lap. The violinists kneeled towards the center where Laugh now stood alone and when he blew into the mouthpiece, the sound of all the violins returned, only somehow through the one tiny hole at the end of his flute.
All along, what appeared to be the lonely flute had been the source of all the sound. Major applause filled the room and a beautiful laughter lingered in the air as Laugh bowed and bowed for the performance of a lifetime.
