Dear Friends,
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayetzei, Jacob as he sleeps in the wilderness on a pile of stones. He dreams of a ladder with angels climbing up and down, and when Jacob wakes up, he has an epiphany that God is everywhere, even in places that we least expect it.
Through this simple moment in Jacob’s journey, the Torah encourages us to see and understand the world in terms of holiness. Everything we do, everything we create, and everything we experience has the potential to reflect holiness and Godliness, and Jacob’s dream helps us recognize that God’s presence is often revealed in our most challenging moments.
In times illness, in times of loss, in times of fear and uncertainty, it is common to feel alone and, even, abandon. At such times, we can feel as if we are lost in a wilderness that is extremely challenging to navigate. At such times, Jacob’s encounter with God in the wilderness can provide us with a sense of hope and inspiration. It serves to remind us that God is in all of these places too – we just may not know it.
L’Shalom,
Steve