The harsh reality is that the odds of winning the $640 Mega Millions jackpot are slim. How slim 1 in 175,711,536 slim to be exact!
This of course won’t put a damper on millions of us going out and purchasing at least one ticket, and there is nothing inherently wrong in dreaming big is there. We, of course, will only find out that we purchased the winning ticket many hours later, due to the timing of the draw on a Shabbos evening, but never mind, let’s not get a head of ourselves now.
I will not pretend to be disinterested in this mania, and, I do have a confession to make: I too, purchased a ticket -- (and, yes, the new shul will be ready by the high holidays, of course).
It was only the allure of over half a billion dollars that perked up my personal interest in getting a piece of the pie. The greater the payout, I figure, all the more reason to buy a ticket.
Of course this is flawed reasoning. It is a matter of statistical fact, of course, that the more participants there are n this game, the greater the odds are of not winning anything. But such is human nature. We are instinctively pulled in by the magnetism of an ever greater -- (and possibly elusive) -- prize.
There is also the question of what is more important, quantity or quality. In other words, does the fact that less people are participants in the game enhance the “quality” of the individual, by increasing the odds –albeit really low, regardless – of a win? or, is it the “quantity” that triumphs, with the promise of a bigger prize to the winner?
Life itself is a mirror of this tension regarding what is more important, the quantity or quality. Conventional wisdom attaches a greater importance to quality over quantity. Every so often, however, an event occurs that reminds us to not ignore the quality of quantity (pun intended) as well.
From a Torah perspective, the quantity and the quality are both equally as important. Which is why you will find that while there is a tremendous focus on the individual's performance and service of G-d (quality), at the same time there is also a major focus on the community's performance (quantity).
I cannot divine the winning numbers for this particular game. But I can state with certainty, that the synthesis of quality and quantity, will ultimately prove to be the real winner. Oh, and of course, please play responsibly.