Miller's Musings Parshas Vayeitzei: Dont Look....Up!

בס''ד

Perhaps the most well-known dream in history, the vision Yaakov had of the Angels ascending and descending the celestial ladder is one that equally inspires and perplexes.  The meaning behind what Yaakov witnessed is the topic of much discussion and conjecture, but I would like to focus here in particular on why a ladder was chosen as the means by which these divine beings rose heavenwards.

The genetic makeup and unique attributes of our nation, each find their genesis in those acts and qualities that our forefathers exhibited, which established them as the foundation of all their future generations.  Whether it be Avrohom’s self-sacrifice for G-d, or Yitzchok’s total submission to Hashem’s will, these became part of our nation’s DNA.  Yaakov is described as the Pillar of Torah, imbuing us with an innate bond with the Torah and connection to its ultimate truth.  It is difficult though to grasp how someone who worked for twenty years with Lovon and who, according to the Medrash, was only able to say Tehillim in that time, could still be accorded the moniker of the Pillar of Torah.  Surely this is not a befitting title for someone who had time only to say a few Tehillim each day!  The answer, explains Reb Elyashiv zt’l, is that Yaakov’s distinction in this area was not judged by the hours that he spent learning, but by whether he used that time that was available for Torah.  He could well have said “What worth is there to such a miniscule amount of learning!”, just as one may look up a ladder and say “There is no point in climbing the first rung when there is such a distance to the summit!”  This was the message the ladder conveyed.  Our job is not to concern ourselves with reaching the top, our job is to take one rung at a time and appreciate the value of every single step upwards that we take.

Aspiring to greatness is the first component needed to achieve it.  But along the way there is a great danger of becoming daunted and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the job that lies ahead.  It is at those moments that we must remind ourselves where are focus must be; on the next rung above us, and no higher than that.  Instead of trying to instantaneously achieve impossible levels, far above our current status, we must look for where our next small, manageable step could be taken and then fix ourselves solely on its attainment.  Accomplishing it may not be as glamorous as an overnight transformation, but it is the only way to ensure that the peak of our potential will ultimately be reached.

*May this Shabbos lift us one step closer towards our goals*

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם 

לעילוי נשמת שרה יעל בת גרשון