“Bar Kapra taught: There is no dream that does not have an interpretation.” (Bereshit Rabbah 68:16)

Celebrating Together

In this weeks Torah portion, we read about the famous dream Yaakov had on his way up to Haran, where he would meet Rachel and Leah.

וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם וַיָּלֶן שָׁם כִּי־בָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וַיִּקַּח מֵאַבְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וַיָּשֶׂם מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו וַיִּשְׁכַּב בַּמָּקוֹם הַהוּא׃ וַיַּחֲלֹם וְהִנֵּה סֻלָּם מֻצָּב אַרְצָה וְרֹאשׁוֹ מַגִּיעַ הַשָּׁמָיְמָה וְהִנֵּה מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים עֹלִים וְיֹרְדִים בּוֹ׃

“He slept there a night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to the heaven; with angels of God ascending and descending on it.” (Bereshit 28:11-12)

This short piece has been the source of multiple interpretations over thousands of years in Jewish history. Why did he take a stone? Is heaven really a place we can reach with a ladder? Are angels real? If angels live in heaven, what were they doing here that they first go up and then down?

Rashi teaches that the angels were going up and down because some were here, and some were in heaven. Just as Yaakov was done for the day, the angels that were accompanying him were ready to go home (heaven) and new angels came down to protect him over night.

Whether you believe in angels or not, whether you think we are being protected by angels in our daily lives or not, whether you believe angels are supernatural creatures or not, we are never completely alone. Even if distant, we have people thinking about us, loving us. I really don’t know what exactly happened to Yaakov on that night, but I know that he did not feel alone.

I had the challenge to move here a year ago by myself. By myself, although not alone. I had with me all the people who helped me get to this moment of my life: family, friends, teachers, mentors. The minute I arrive I realized that in my new home I wasn’t alone either, but a wonderful community was there by my side.

This weekend we will celebrate this partnership. We will celebrate together that we are not alone. I’m here with you. And I know that you are here with me.

Join us this weekend in all the events we are creating to celebrate this moment and all the incredible things we will do together in years to come. We could not have arrived at this moment without you and our shared future will be more special with your active participation. Don’t forget to check out in our website all the new tunes we are bringing in this Shabbat and to RSVP for all the event you will attend.

Looking forward to a memorable weekend with you!