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When Joseph P. Babcock exported Mahjong to the US in 1917, he likely did not foresee the hit it would quickly become. With a fresh update to this centuries old Chinese game, Mahjong was quickly picked up by different communities, yet a consensus could not be reached regarding the right way to play it. Finally, twenty years later, five Jewish women came together and formed the National Mahjong League, introducing their own way of play. And thus, history was made.
While many players can attest to the mild addictiveness of the game, Mahjong can cause serious addiction for around 3-5% of players, especially in China. Because whilst it is a game of skill, it also heavily depends on the tiles you are initially dealt with, and it is speculated that this intoxicating mix of luck and skill involved is what causes people to keep playing over and over again.
We welcome the month of Shevat as the days gradually lengthen and the earth slowly begins to awaken. On the 15th of the month, we celebrate Tu Bishvat – the birthday of the trees. From this date onwards, the water taken up from the roots and the sap that circulates in the trees will result in the produce of the new year. From then on, we look towards the fruits of next year’s harvest, which reflect the livelihood we will reap in the coming year.
In Astrological lore, Shevat is the month of the d’li – the water bucket. Back when we all lived off the land, rain symbolized livelihood, as bountiful rain in the right time was one of the main factors resulting in a good produce.
Yet whilst Shevat may be the month of livelihood, not all of us have an equal share of the wealth. In Tractate Moed of the Talmud, Rava says, ‘Life, children, and sustenance are not given in return for merit, but depend on fate,’ - even though these are the three most significant elements in life.
The Gemara continues to bring a proof for this. It explains how Rav Chisda and Rava were both great Sages who prayed for rain, and both were worthy enough to be answered. Yet Rav Chisda lived 92 years and Rava lived only 40 years. In Rav Chisda's home there were 60 wedding feasts and in Rava's, there were 60 misfortunes. In Rav Chisda's home, there was bread made from fine flour even for the dogs, while in Rava's home there was not even enough black bread to feed his family.
The world for the most part runs on reward and punishments, allowing us to craft our future though our merits and accomplishments. However, some elements, even the prophets could not understand. Each of us is dealt a different pack of cards when we enter the world: our family, our wealth, our looks, our health - and these are the cards we hold. After that, the game is up to us.
Whilst we must always pray for our livelihood, much of it is predetermined. G-d gave us the cards we need in order to win, and instead of worrying about which cards we hold, it is our job to play the game correctly.
There is a concept called Tikun Olam, which many discuss on Tu Bishvat. The origin of this concept is kabbalistic and explains how when G-d created the world, He left areas of it imperfect. The purpose of creation is for us to elevate these imperfect areas by bringing G-d into our life, through choosing kindness, good deeds, keeping the Torah and performing G-d’s commandments. For that, He gave each of us our own unique attributes, and through using them correctly, each and every one of us has the ability to perfect the world. For while we all have different cards, it is how we choose to play our hand that really counts.