They had all these cat symbols hung inside.
I asked the owner what it said, and she told me:
"Lucky Cat"
Why a cat symbolizes luck I don't really know.
But the bigger question is whether there is any such thing as luck in the first place.
We constantly wish people good luck on any and every aspect of their lives: from birth to bar/bat mitzvahs, engagements, weddings, graduations, new jobs, journeys, and basically anything we embark on.
That's what Mazel Tov means--good luck!
But I thought we believe in G-d and not luck?
We strive through prayer, charity, repentance, and all sort of good deeds to try and move the scale of justice in our favor.
With the Jewish high holidays approaching next month--Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur--we do everything to atone for our sins and commit to being better in the future.
We seek G-d's mercy and his blessings.
There is no arbitrary luck or fortune.
Life is what we make out of it.
What about the Massachusetts women who won $758 million in Powerball last week or the person that gets cancer or some other horrible tragedy--did they deserve it?
I suppose it's impossible for us to judge why some people have amazing fortune and others have schlimazel (misfortune).
As it says in Genesis (18:25):
"Shall not the judge of all the Earth do justly?"
Surely, G-d has the bigger picture and the omniscience to know what is good for us and what is not.
How he tests us and tries us and to what ends...that is a matter of faith and conviction--and we believe that it is all ultimately for our best.
The judge of all Earth...please have mercy on us and bestow your blessings on us, your faithful children.
As to the lucky cat--wave us some good vibes--all long as we realize that we all need G-d's grace! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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