Acquiring a Powerball Perspective (Temple Beth Or)
Pirkei Avot, a well-known collection of rabbinic sayings, teaches us: “Who is rich? He who is happy with what he has.” Why then—I wonder—did I feel compelled to buy a Powerball ticket when the jackpot reached a tantalizing 1.5 billion dollars? By doing so, was I suggesting that I was not satisfied with what was mine? Was I, in buying a lottery ticket, showing that I am truly at odds with the ethos of Judaism?
Well—ethical questions notwithstanding—I must inform everyone (should it not already be obvious) that I did not win the jackpot. Perhaps, in light of this turn of events, I should feel disappointed. Or maybe, instead, I should lament all the things that could have come with such a windfall. However, there is a Jewish teaching that is similar to the above quote from Pirkei Avot that seems to suggest that—no—I should not be so dismayed by my “setback.” This teaching, from the Talmud, says that in response to all things—both good and bad—we should utter a simple prayer “All that God has done, God has done it for good.” Along with this teaching, the Talmud tells a short tale: Rabbi Akiva was once traveling and had with him a donkey, a rooster, and a lantern. When night fell, he found himself in a town where no one would provide him with a place to sleep- he was forced to go and sleep in a field outside of the town. In response to this, he said: “All that God has done, God has done it for good.” During the night, three things happened to Rabbi Akiva: A gust of wind came and blew out his lantern, a cat came and ate his rooster, and a lion came and ate the donkey. In response to these events, Rabbi Akiva said: “All that God has done, God has done it for good.” That same night, an army came and carried off all the people who were in the town. Thus again, Rabbi Akiva said: “Did I not say, all that which God does, God has done it for good?”
On the one hand, this little tale is attractive. It is comforting to believe that everything in the world is for the best, and that God controls the minutiae of our lives for the sake of a grand plan. However, I personally have trouble subscribing to this belief: I worry that it deprives me of both the free will which I believe gives my actions meaning, and also the responsibility that comes from knowing that my actions have real consequences. I think it also takes away something that the Powerball lottery can remind us: Our lives are filled with randomness and chance. While this may sometimes be for the better and sometimes for the worse, I believe that it is this randomness—coupled with our human free will—which makes our lives truly special.
Some might worry that this perspective leaves one with a less empowered sense of faith. I prefer to see it differently: I feel that a “Powerball perspective”—open to the combining the best of free will and chance—can give an infinitely stronger place in life for another of our Jewish values, hope. In this vein, there is another conception of prayer (this from the Mishnah) which I think better suites me and my losing Powerball ticket. It teaches: One should give blessings for the good regardless of the bad, and one should give blessings for the bad regardless of the good.
As I say farewell to the prospect of instant billions, I give thanks to God for all the chances I have, each day, to make the world a better place. I give thanks for every student I have the opportunity to teach. And more: I even give thanks for the Powerball—yes, the Powerball!—for reminding me how important hope is in our lives.