#whoknows #thegatewaytoheaven #whoknew #heavenwashereandididnotknowit #parshatvayeitzei #yaakov #jacob #vayeitzei
In Parshat Vayeitzei, Jacob flees from the wrath of his brother. How alone he must have felt as he journeyed back toward his mother's homeland. Was he feeling powerless or powerful?
One can never know, but despite what he felt, during the night he was visited by a dream of angels descending and ascending a staircase and when he woke in the morning he knew that he was in a holy place. What does it mean to be in a holy place and not know it?
Thinking that the many places, perhaps any place we enter might be the gateway to heaven gives us a different perspective on our everyday lives. Perhaps this parsha gives an element of wonder and mystery to each door, each window and each person we meet?
WHO KNOWS?
Who knows?? That person next to you at Whole Foods or Home Depot
or your
office cubicle,
or on a plane,
or plastered
on a Zoom
screen
may be
the messiah,
a Lamed Vavnik*,
or a Malach,
or Elijah the prophet,
or perhaps
just a person
in need
of your smile.
Your smile
opens locked doors
revealing the wonder
on the other side.
So smile
at him,
at her
and be
gracious,
generous
of spirit and be amazed at the potential of others you see.
and
Who knows?? The door, the window, the elevator you next open, might be
the
gateway
to heaven,
to Gan Eden,
to paradise,
to your
elusive dreams.
Who knows?
the celestial court
could be
through
the door
to your local
library
or homeless
shelter?
The radiant angels
could
sing in harmony
on the other side
of the subway door
and
through the scuffed door
of that black Uber
might be the home
of the Shechinah,
so, think
before you enter.
Enter gently.
With humility.
Each and
every space
has the potential
to be holy
so
enter kindly,
thoughtfully,
without malice
and always, always, be amazed at the potential of what lies of the other side of that door.
**************************
“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement. ....get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”
― Abraham Joshua Heschel
* A lamed vavnik is one of the secret 36 people in the world who maintain the world and keep it going. For an article on what the legend of the lamed vavniks, go to:
He came upon a certain place and stopped there for the night, for the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of that place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.
He had a dream; a stairway “ramp”; others “ladder.” was set on the ground and its top reached to the sky, and angels of God were going up and down on it.
Remember, I am with you: I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is present in this place, and I did not know it!”
Shaken, he said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven.”
Genesis 28:11,15-17 Translation from Sefaria
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