Taking Jacob's Ladder
Taking Jacob's Ladder

On the eternal voyage of the Jewish people there have been moments of great exultation, and multiple moments of great pain and sadness. There have been times when we moved forward with vision and destiny, and there have been times when we have hung our head down low in obeisance and submission to the powers of the nations around us. This is one of those times.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was chosen by the nation because he was going to represent a new path, a

It is truly one of the low points in our journey.

path of determination and principle. Instead, it seems he has capitulated to the powers in the White House by agreeing to a ten-month settlement freeze.

It may very well be true that Benny Begin is correct when he says that the security cabinet did not actually approve a temporary freeze of Israeli construction in the Biblical heartland, but rather have imposed "limitations on new building permits." He further said that "during these 10 months thousands of housing units and public buildings will be built in the West Bank to allow (settlers) to lead normal lives, and once the 10 months are over the government of Israel, just as it has declared, will resume construction in the West Bank in accordance with the policy of past Israeli regimes."

It may also be true, as Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has said, "We have a commitment to Israel's allies, who supported us on the Goldstone Report issue, not to the Palestinian Authority. We also have a commitment to the Jewish settlers in the West Bank, so we must reiterate that construction will be resumed at the conclusion of the 10-month period."

It will even be maintained by some, and with great truth, that Netanyahu is simply trying to play chess and carefully move his pieces between the murderous intentions of Iran, the survivalist pleas of Abu Mazen and the self-righteous demands of President Barack Obama. He is trying to play the game of international realpolitik, while at the same time continuing his connection with the people who voted him in.

All this may come out of true and valid intentions, but that fact is irrelevant. In the Middle East truth is not as important as the perception of that truth. Reality is irrelevant and all that really counts in this region is the way that reality is being narrated and presented. With this understanding, it becomes clear that Netanyahu's moves may have brought great damage to the cause of Israel and its people .His concessions, as with all the concessions that have come before him, will not be seen as a noble attempt at peace making. Rather it will be seen as another sign of Israel finally accepting the solution that the Arab states and most of the world have determined for this state. It is no wonder that the Palestinians have rejected the recent Israeli move .They believe (and are probably correct) that the Israeli government can be pressured yet again and even further.

It is truly one of the low points in our journey.

Jacob, our forefather, was the prototype for our people's voyage. He too had great moments and equally difficult moments in his personal walk into destiny. Jacob was fleeing from his house. He was escaping from a brother who was set to kill him. He was running from a father who may have lost some measure of faith and confidence in his son. He was leaving without knowing when he was to return. And he was leaving into a land of the unknown, and into a future filled with challenges and doubt. He is fatigued and drained and he falls asleep on a rock in the middle of the field.

It is then that G-d reveals to him a powerful image and deeply impacting metaphor: "And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of G-d ascending and descending on it."

This powerful image, as all the images and messages in the Bible, is infinitely layered in meaning and purpose. Yet one of the clear layers is Jacob being told that, in spite of his lowly state and difficult present situation, he will always have before him a ladder that can bring him to the highest of heights. There will never be a place of utter despair.

This helps explain Jacob's next statement: "And Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said: 'Surely HaShem is in this place; and I knew it not.' "

G-d and His ladder would be available in all locations and in all situations.

That is perplexing, because it is clear that he already knew that. Yet, Jacob was saying that now he understood that G-d would be with him even in the times of great despair and loneliness. Jacob had been empowered with the great message that G-d and His ladder would be available in all locations and in all situations. That is the message for us all, in spite of what is seen and more importantly what is being perceived all around us.

We read that after Jacob's encounter, "Then Jacob went on his journey." The words in Hebrew are, Va-yisa Yaakov raglav, which literally means "Jacob carried his legs". That is an unusual phrase, as the legs usually carry the rest of the body. Rabbi Chanan Porat recently pointed out that this can be best understood by looking at Rashi's commentary on the verse. Rashi explains that "his heart carried his legs". His heart, empowered by the message of the ladder, gave him the power to move forward into the unknown and out of the valley of despair.

We must ensure that our hearts, filled with the surety of G-d's plan, will empower us like Jacob - to move always forward.