October 23, 2010 | 15 Cheshvan 5771 

Periodically someone sees an expression of emotion by another person’s and thinks to himself, “Did she really mean it?”  Emotions, as well as words, may and usually do express feelings. But sometimes they camouflage a person’s true feelings.

“Laughter” (Hebrew root letters – tzadi, chet, kof) plays a prominent role in the events leading up to the birth of Isaac and immediately thereafter.

When the three visitors/divine messengers share news with Abraham that an elderly Sarah will soon conceive a child, “…Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘Now that I am withered, am I to have enjoyment – with my husband so old?’” (Gn. 18:12)  Here the nature of Sarah’s laughter is clear. Hers is a laugh of disbelief, perhaps a mocking laugh.  But the Torah makes it clear that this laugh is not one that others can hear. It represents her private reaction to the news she is hearing.

Nonetheless, Sarah’s silent laugh is “heard.”

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh…Is anything too wondrous for the Lord?  I will return to you at the same season next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was frightened.  But He replied, “You did laugh.” (Gn. 18:13 – 15)

When Sarah gives birth to her son, her laugh of disbelief becomes a different laugh.

Abraham gave his newborn son, whom Sarah had borne him, the name of Isaac…Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me…Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would suckle children!  Yet I have borne a son in his old age.” (Gn. 21:3, 6 –7)

Now laughter, both Sarah’s and of those who will know the story of the birth of this child, will be full–throated… laughter of joy and utter wonder and amazement. Moreover, every time someone calls the child by his name, “Yitzchak” (“he will laugh’), he/she will be reminded of this child’s wondrous birth.

Finally, the Hebrew root that means “laugh” appears in our parasha in a context that makes us question what it really means. 

Sarah saw the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham playing (“metzachek”). (Gn. 21:9)

Was Ishmael playing with Isaac or amusing himself (both possibilities raised in the commentary of Etz Chayim) in a manner that disturbed Sarah so much that she immediately forced Abraham to banish Hagar and her son?  Apparently so, but we don’t know. We just know that the root of the word as translated in our chumash as “playing” was the same root in the words used to express, first, Sarah’s laugh of disbelief and, then, her laugh of amazement.

Laughter may be sincere and express how people truly feel, as it surely does when Sarah laughs after the wondrous moment of Isaac’s birth. But sometimes it may be a nervous response that masks true feelings, as it does when Sarah silently laughs when she first hears that she will conceive.

And sometimes “laughter,” perhaps a diabolical laughter, expresses truly unanticipated nefarious moments that demand an immediate response…

Shabbat Shalom.