When I was in seminary (rabbi school), our homiletics teacher, Rabbi Bernard Melman, encouraged us to begin our sermons with humor. “For once people laugh,” he said, “they are more open to hear, and to receive, the message that you hope to convey.”
This is not a new practice, but one that our tradition brings down through The Rebbe Nachman, who taught that “humor is built into creation. God wants us to be happy, and for us to laugh!”[i]
My problem is, as much as a I wish otherwise, I am not great on being (intentionally) funny on command. I wish that I were.
But this Friday night, instead of me giving a sermon, you will get to hear from (speaker, advocate, and comedian) Pam Schuller. Pam is wonderful, and inspiring, and very, very funny. She also happens to have a disability…which she talks about in order to make the subject more approachable, and to raise awareness about disabilities. Learn more about our event HERE. Learn more about Pam Schuller HERE.
This evening is sponsored by our Temple Emanu-El’s Inclusion Awareness committee, known as Koleinu.
So…we will have a very short service, which will include Mourner’s Kaddish (for those who are observing); hear from Koleinu and Pam Schuller, and then finish our evening with Kiddush and Hamotzi.
Sound like a plan? Bring your kids, your neighbors, your friends, your grandkids.
Everyone, as always, is welcome!
[i] Citing Sichot HaRan, 20; The Humble King; Zohar, Part 2, p 107, Tehillim 126:2
