Vayeitzei
Sometimes tricks are really treats. And sometimes treats are really tricks.
Running from his brother, Jacob stops to rest along the way. Jacob lies down upon a mount and dreams of a ladder bridging heaven and earth, upon which angels descend and ascend in a celestial ballet. The Creator appears and promises Jacob that the land upon which he lies will be the land of his descendents. Jacob pledges in return to turn this place into a home for the Divine. Jacob arrives in Laban’s house, where he falls in love with Rachel. Jacob works for seven years to win her hand. Under the wedding canopy, Laban switches Rachel for her older sister Leah. Jacob works another seven years to marry Rachel as well. Eleven of the twelve tribes are born.
Jacob’s Ladder: A Lesson on the Ups and Downs of Life
In this week’s Torah Portion, Vayeitzei, Jacob dreamed of a ladder standing on the ground. A ladder by definition goes two days: up and down. If we risk going up, we may fall down, but if we never attempt that first step – we will never rise.
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