Shabbat Parashat Vayeitzei - 5784

Shabbat Parashat Vayeitzei - 5784

Rabbi Hal Miller

And he dreamed and behold, a ladder was set earthward and its top reached

heavenward, and behold, angels of God were ascending and descending on

it. [Bereishit 28:12]

Our verse introduces "Jacob's Ladder", the most famous of all ladders. The name

appears in the world of electricity, in shipboard terminology, and in many other places.

But what is the purpose of the dream, and what are the ascending and descending?

Many note that the verse does not describe angels descending to earth and then

ascending after they performed their mission, rather that they ascend first from earth

and are followed by descent. Rashi says this teaches that the angels that escorted

Yaakov in the land were not permitted to go with him outside the land, so they departed

and were replaced by a second set of angels that could go out. The Gemora (Chullin

91b) teaches a Baraita that the angels went up to heaven to look at an image of the Yaakov

above and then descended to look at him on earth in order to ensure they were going

to harm the right man, but the verse after ours has God standing over Yaakov to prevent

that harm. According to the Gemora, it was the same angels ascending and descending.

Rav Soloveitchik agrees with the checking images and reality, but gives a different

purpose, they did not wish to harm Yaakov, rather were amazed at how clearly the earthly

Yaakov resembled the heavenly one in his goodness.

Malbim cites Pirkei Avot (4:13) that every time one does a mitzvah, he creates an angel

that ascends to heaven to advocate on his behalf, then God sends down blessings in

the form of angels to protect the one doing the mitzvah. Thus, they are separate angels.

Ramban says they are the same angels, ones that routinely travel the earth. Before they

are allowed to take any action, they must check in for instructions, then return to act.

Nechama Leibowitz explains, "the dream depicts the rise and fall of nations and cultures in

world history. It does not apply to Yaakov the man, rather to the nation that bears his name."

Midrash Tanchuma understands the reference in our verse to be the arising and later

falling of the princes of the nations that enslave the Jews, Bavel, Medea, Greece and Edom,

and Sforno cites this.

Rav Moshe Feinstein tells that this event began in Charan, not known as a Godly city. Yaakov

recognized that he had passed Mount Moriah where his fathers had prayed, and he

returned to do so as well. Thus our verse teaches that wherever we are in life, we can be

elevated through prayer and mitzvot. The Chafetz Chaim sees the ladder as a metaphor

for life, that a man is either going up or going down, never standing in the same place. It

is our choice.