Parasha VaYetzei begins with Jacob leaving his
parents’ home both to find a wife and to escape the wrath of his brother Esau.
In leaving his home, Jacob has an encounter with G-d in a dream. He dreams of a
ladder that stretches from the earth to heaven and angles are climbing up and
down the ladder.
וַֽיַּחֲלֹ֗ם וְהִנֵּ֤ה סֻלָּם֙ מֻצָּ֣ב אַ֔רְצָה וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ מַגִּ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה וְהִנֵּה֙ מַלְאֲכֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֔ים עֹלִ֥ים וְיֹרְדִ֖ים בּֽוֹ (Genesis 28:12)
G-d appears to Jacob and states that he will be the
beneficiary of the promises made to Abraham and Isaac, that he will be the
father of a great nation and that he will inherit the land of Canaan.
הִנֵּ֨ה יְהוָ֜ה נִצָּ֣ב עָלָיו֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֔יךָ וֵאלֹהֵ֖י יִצְחָ֑ק הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ שֹׁכֵ֣ב עָלֶ֔יהָ לְךָ֥ אֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה וּלְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ (Genesis 28:13)
In the above verse, it reads “God was standing over him and said: I am
G-d, G-d of Abraham your father and the G-d of Isaac. The land on which you are
lying will be given to you and to you children.”
There is an interesting construct here. Although Isaac was Jacob’s
father, the verse intimates more of a relationship with Abraham, his
grandfather, than Isaac, his father. In many ways, in fact, Jacob’s life and
actions mirrored those of Abraham. In his book Amittah Shel Torah, Rabbi
Yitzhak Twersky (Gila’s father for those not in the know) beautifully expounds
on this in his commentary on the Torah Portion. He writes:
In general, the direction of Yaacov’s life seems to mirror the life of
Avraham more than the life of his father Yitzhak. …Yitzhak’s role is to
maintain the tradition of his father…By contrast, Yaakov is creative and
innovative like his grandfather. He is responsible for laying the foundation of
the Jewish people no less than Avraham. (Amittah Shel Torah p 127-128)
Many things differ between Isaac and Jacob. Isaac never left his homeland
for any significant time, whereas Jacob leaves for over 20 years. Isaac’s wife
was chosen for him, while Jacob actively chooses his wives. The riches Isaac
had were predominantly the inheritance from Abraham, while Jacob earned his own
riches, much like his grandfather. Both Abraham (who was originally Avram) and
Jacob (who was renamed Yisrael) were given new names by G-d, but not Isaac. The
description of Isaac’s life in the Torah was generally that of a passive
individual, but both Abraham and Jacob appeared to be men of action.
There is one major area that appears to differ between Jacob and Abraham.
After G-d appears to Jacob in the dream, Jacob awakens and says:
וַיִּיקַ֣ץ יַעֲקֹב֮ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָכֵן֙ יֵ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְאָנֹכִ֖י לֹ֥א יָדָֽעְתִּי
׃ וַיִּירָא֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר מַה־נּוֹרָ֖א הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה אֵ֣ין זֶ֗ה כִּ֚י אִם־בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְזֶ֖ה שַׁ֥עַר הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (Genesis 28: 16, 17)
“Indeed there is G-d in this place and I did not know it!” And he was awestruck and said: How awesome is
this place, it is nothing if not the House of G-d and the Gates of Heaven!”
Here is a departure from the thinking of Abraham. Abraham, father of
monotheism, was inspired and his prophesy began when he was in Haran, not in
Canaan or the Land of Israel. He conceptualized a single G-d in heaven, Master
of the Universe, and clearly proclaimed that He was not tied to any geographic
area or any inanimate object. In contrast, Jacob appears surprised, but pleased
to learn that during his sojourn to the home of his mother’s family he would be
able to maintain his connection with G-d, and that this connection was not
limited to his homeland. This begs the question: why did G-d wait till Jacob
left his parent’s home to convey this message? Why could he not have had this
prophecy earlier, before the journey.
The Akedat Yitzhak, the 15th century Spanish Talmudist and
commentator on the Torah suggests that the revelation of G-d to Jacob was
purposefully done to broaden his spiritual horizon. By saying that he did not
know or realize G-d was in the place where he slept, Jacob was admitting to
feeling the connection between G-d and man was not a personal one; perhaps it
was bound to the holiness of Israel or more particularly, the place that his
father and his grandfather lived. G-d wanted him to know that his relationship
with mankind had no limits or territorial restrictions. Moreover, Jacob was
taught the concept about Hashgahat Pratit, personal Providence, which means
that the relationship between individuals and G-d both transcends boundaries
and is constant.
There is a statement that one only knows the success of an individual
from seeing their grandchildren. In this time of remembering Molly, known as
Nanny or Granny depending on who you were, it is clear that she was successful.
Molly’s major strengths were her commitment to family, her thoughtfulness and
her generosity. Like Abraham influencing Jacob, these traits are seen in all of
Molly’s offspring. It is amazing to think that the influence of a grandparent
can be so far reaching, but, in truth, it is a very special relationship that
exists between grandchildren and their grandparents. May we always be true to
the values and generosity that Molly taught us; this will keep her memory and
her teachings alive in us forever.
May her Memory be a blessing; תהא נשמתה לברכה
