Dear Friends,
This week’s Torah portion begins with Jacob fleeing his home. Esau, enraged after Jacob tricked him out of the birthright, the special status and inheritance the eldest son received in Biblical times, vowed revenge. Consequently, Jacob found himself alone in the wilderness.
The Torah recounts Jacob’s journey:
Jacob departed Beer-sheba and headed towards Haran. As the sun set, he stopped at a particular location for the night. He picked up one of the stones there and placed it under his head before lying down.
Jacob had a dream: a staircase was set on the ground, reaching up to the sky. Messengers of God ascended and descended the staircase.
Standing beside him was Adonai, who spoke, “I am Adonai, the God of your father Abraham’s house and the God of Isaac’s house… Remember, I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I fulfill my promises.”
Jacob awoke from his sleep and exclaimed, “Certainly, Adonai is present in this place, and I, I had no idea!” Overwhelmed, he said, “How awe-inspiring is this place! It is none other than the dwelling of God, and it serves as the gateway to heaven.”
One of the early Chasidic rabbis observed the redundant use of the word “I” in the sentence, “Surely Adonai is present in this place, and I, I did not know it.” He suggested that the additional use of the first-person pronoun provides insight into Jacob’s emotional and mental state when Jacob arrived at “the place” he intended to spend the night. However, he was overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, and possibly a hint of regret, which clouded his perception. He saw nothing but sand and rocks. His “I,” as identified by the Kotzker Rebbe as ego and self-concern, was so strong that it prevented him from seeing clearly.
Only after his dream did Jacob’s anxiety subside, allowing him to calm himself and perceive the world as it truly was. It was then that he realized God’s presence had been there all along.
As my teacher Rabbi Larry Kuschner taught, “God was here all along, and the reason I didn’t know it is because I was too preoccupied with myself.”
As I reflect on this profound teaching, one of my favorites from Jewish tradition, I can’t help but draw parallels to the present moment.
There are some members of our community who focus solely on the beauty, joy, and simple spiritual message of Judaism. They remain oblivious or indifferent to the mounting challenges our community is grappling with. Their inability to recognize the fragility of this moment prevents them from recognizing the ways in which they can personally contribute to building and strengthening our community.
On the other hand, there are others in our community who are so overwhelmed by the challenges we face that they perceive nothing but them. The surge in antisemitism and the growing attempts to marginalize our community (as evidenced by ADL’s report, “Jewish and Israeli Americans Face Discrimination in the Job Market“) prevent them from finding joy in our beautiful and sacred tradition. Their genuine concern and anxiety, while understandable, hinder them from appreciating and actively participating in the beauty and richness of our tradition.
Both approaches are valid, but neither is sufficient. If we, like Jacob, truly open our eyes, we will perceive both the beauty of our tradition and the challenging era we have entered, as well as our responsibility to address it. By doing so, we will gain a deeper understanding of our role in building and celebrating our community, and our commitment to combating the ugliness that often permeates our world. Only then will we, like Jacob, be able to exclaim, “How incredible is this place! This is none other than the dwelling of God, and that is the gateway to heaven.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Daniel Cohen