VAYETZE 1980

In this Torah portion we learn how Jacob leaves his family to go to Mesopotamia.  He is bereft of all possessions.  The Torah says Vayefga Bamokom which means that at that night he alighted at a place.  It can also mean that he arrived wounded.  He took one of the stones from the place and put it under his head.  Stone or rock is the symbol in Judaism for the hard things in life.  He knew now that life was difficult.  He, the innocent scholar, had managed to trick his father, to cheat and arouse his brother, and how he was forced to leave even his mother.  We also use the expression Vayeeshkav and he laid down which can also mean he was sick.  Life which seemed so simple now was extremely difficult.  He dreamt that night and behold a ladder was ascending to heaven.  Its base was standing on the ground but its head reached up to heaven.  G-d promised Jacob that He would watch over him.  It then says Vayeekatz Yaakov Meeshnoso and Jacob woke up from his sleep.  According t Yochanan this means and Jacob woke up from his learning.  Jacob had learnt that theoretical constructions are not what counts.  We must base what we do on reality. Life is hard and difficult but if we have worthy goals, if our head reaches up to heaven and our feet are on the ground we have a chance. Jacob then goes to Mesopotamia where he once again encounters a rock. This time the rock is covering a well.  The shepherds are gathering around the well.  They, though, had to wait until they were all assembled before they could roll that rock away from the mouth of the well.  Jacob, though, is told that his cousin, Rachel, is approaching with a flock. When he sees her he immediately finds the strength to roll away the rock.  Because of his love for Rachel and because of their love for each other they are able to overcome all the hard places in life. It is not easy but they know that they are not living just for themselves. Alone they could not accomplish this.  Together they could.  Today as we celebrate the wedding anniversaries we, too, have in our midst Jacob and Rachels who have been able to overcome life's problems because they
 
have based their relationship on reality.  So many young couples today divorce because they have an unreal idea of what marriage is all about. They also do not realize that in order for a marriage to be successful you have to work, you have to work for something more than yourselves. If you do then you can reach up to heaven.  Your ladder will ascend from earth to heaven and you will not only make yourselves happy but others as well.  The story about the Sunday school teacher who asked her pupils how many of you want to go to heaven.  Everyone raised his hand except for one little boy.  The teacher asked again how many of you want to go to hell.  Nobody raised his hand.  Then the teacher turned to the little boy and said, "Don't you want to go anywhere?"  The boy said, "I like it here fine".