In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Vayetzei, Yaakov makes his way to Haran to find a wife. In the middle of his journey, he lies down on a rock and dreams of a stairway of angels going up and down between earth and heaven. Then Hashem appears to him and reaffirms Avraham’s brit, describing how the Jews will be as numerous as the dust of the earth.
How we read the pesukim describing Yaakov’s encounter can shape our understanding of the spiritual relationship between him and Hashem. Pasuk 28:13 reads “וְהִנֵּה ה’ נִצָּב עָלָיו,” which, based on the meaning of עָלָיו, can reveal two different types of connections between Hashem and Yaakov. Rashi, based on the Midrash, says that Hashem stood above Yaakov in order to guard him, reflective of a father-son, protective connection. However, some translations of the pasuk interpret עָלָיו to mean “standing beside” instead of “standing over,” presenting the dialogue as a one-on-one conversation rather than a father-son relationship.
The personal and intimate connection between Hashem and Yaakov is reinforced by an interpretation of pasuk 28:11, which describes Yaakov coming to the place where he went to sleep. The verse reads “וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם.” While the pshat of the text indicates that Yaakov merely came upon one specific place, a deeper look can offer a powerful interpretation. We can read וַיִּפְגַּע as the more colloquial “and he met,” and the nonspecific “בַּמָּקוֹם” as, rather than a place, a name of G-d. This reading shifts our attention from a detail of the storyline to the relationship, connection, and conversation between Yaakov and Hashem.
Furthermore, the intentionality of the encounter is highlighted by a comment of Rashi on the second part of this pasuk: “וַיָּ֤לֶן שָׁם֙ כִּי־בָ֣א הַשֶּׁ֔מֶש.” Rashi says these words imply that by the power of Hashem, the sun set unexpectedly — not at its proper time — so that Yaakov would settle down in the specific place where Hashem had concentrated Himself. Hashem must have planned for this specific place and specific dream so that Yaakov would have this spiritual conversation.
While Hashem conversed more openly and more often with Avraham, this moment, in the middle of a long journey, indicates that Hashem had special feelings for, and deep conversations with, Yaakov. As we will read next week in Vayishlach, Yaakov will soon become our people’s namesake. While it lies outside the channel of prophecy, the intentional, personal, and intimate communication that G-d has with Yaakov reminds us that, as members of Bnei Yisrael, we are able to continue accessing our special connection with Hashem. |