Vayetze- Bitachon
For this year of Parsha Lesson, I will be focusing on one area of character growth, to think about in the week ahead and the benefits that a person would have from becoming better in that area.
Background
Yakov left Eretz Canaan (Eretz Yisroel or Israel) at the end of last week’s parsha. This week’s parsha opens up with Yakov’s journey to the house Lavan in Charan. On the way, Yakov came to Har Hamoriyah, the place where Avraham brought Yitzchak as an offering to Hashem (Akeidas Yitzchak) and the place where, eventually, the Beis Hamikdash would be built.
Yakov stopped there to daven, as it was a special place- the place where Avraham and Yitzchak had come to serve Hashem. After davening, Yakov fell asleep there and proceeded to have his famous dream where he saw the angels going up the ladder and coming down the ladder, and, most importantly, Hashem spoke to him.
Hashem, in that dream, designated Yakov to be the one to carry on the legacy of Avraham, through him and his family. Yakov, in this dream, was blessed by Hashem that his children would be very numerous and be the source of blessing for the whole world. It was also in this dream that Hashem guaranteed him protection and that he would never forsake him.
Upon arising in the morning, Yakov expressed regret that he had fallen asleep there. Yakov exclaimed- 'if only I had known that this was such a holy place, that Hashem is here!' Rashi explains that Yakov was expressing that he would not have slept here if he had known just how holy this site was.
Question
How could Yakov have regret about this? This was one of the most important dreams and most consequential prophecies for all of humanity, needless to say- for Yakov personally along with his family! If he would not have fallen asleep there, then he would not have had this dream! The Seforno points out, that such a dream may ONLY have been able to take place exactly where it did.
To put the question somewhat differently- if Yakov had known from the beginning everything that would transpire, if appears that he would not have fallen asleep there. Why would he not? His falling asleep there is what was the catalyst for such a monumental development in the world’s history, and of course- Yakov and his family’s as well! How could Yakov pass up on such an amazing opportunity that would not happen anywhere else!?
Answer
Yakov, upon awakening, realized just how holy a place that Har Hamoriyah was. Therefore, it would not be derech eretz, proper conduct, for him to fall asleep there. If it is not proper conduct, therefore, it is not the right thing for him to do and he would not have done so.
Hashem wanted Yakov to fall asleep there in order to orchestrate such a prophecy and event, and therefore Hashem did so. But for Yakov to go and fall asleep in such a place would be improper. Even though, he realized, that such an event could not have happened anywhere else! It does not matter. Yakov realized that it is not his job to accomplish great things, rather it was his job to behave properly.
Lesson
What an important lesson- one of the most foundational ideas of Judaism: Hashem, G-d, runs the world. He expects us to behave in the way which is proper and correct- in accordance with the Torah. Not anything more than that.
We might have all sorts of calculations as to why a certain course of behavior will be beneficial and good in the long run- if the Torah says not to, then it is not proper to do so. Even if we think that this course of behavior will be beneficial and good in the long run specifically for our development as Jews! Hashem runs the world, we are only to do that which the Torah says we should do.
Benefits of this…
When one realizes that Hashem is in charge and that it is upon them to follow the Torah and keep halacha as best as one can... When one realizes Hashem is in charge and that the future of the world, the future of one’s family, the future of the Jewish people, is in His hands... That is when this person will be able to follow the Torah without preconditions. That is when one can have clarity as to what is their job in this world and how they must behave.
When one realizes that Hashem is in charge, that is when they can submit their will and smarts and calculations to the creator of the world who is, was and always will be; who created, oversees and directs; who puts people into this world with a job- and that job is NOT to do His job.
Have a wonderful Shabbos!
Rabbi Eli Meir Kramer
