* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
In last week’s parasha, our patriarch Yaakov leaves his parents’ home. He is alone, bereft of family and possessions, when he has his famous dream about a ladder, later known as “Jacob’s ladder.”In his dream, Yaakov receives amazing promises about his future and the future of the Jewish people. He wakes up and continues on his way, uplifted by these good tidings. As the Torah states: “Now Jacob lifted his feet and he went…”
Notice the choice of words here: Yaakov “lifted his feet.” Our Sages explain: “As soon as he received the good tidings that he was assured of God’s protection his heart lifted up his feet and he walked swiftly”. In other words, it wasn’t his legs that carried him forward but his heart that lifted him after receiving the assurances and promises of God.
Several verses later, we see again how much the soul can influence the body. When Yaakov sees Rachel for the first time he manages to single-handedly remove the heavy stone from the mouth of the well, a task that usually required the combined efforts of several shepherds.
And later, when Yaakov works for Lavan for seven years in order to marry Rachel, he finds that the days fly by, as the verse states: “And they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her.”
The Torah is reminding us how our connection to God and also to powerful role models or a lofty goal can result in a physical transformation.
As the new week begins, I invite you to think about the people and values that give you strength and lift you up.
Shavua Tov!
