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December 5, 2003/Kislev 10 5764, Vol. 56, No.11
Welcome God into everyday life
Torah study
RABBI ARTHUR LAVINSKY
Vayetze/Genesis 28:9-32:3
Of our three patriarchs, there is none described in greater detail than Jacob. The Torah recognizes that Jacob is so compelling a character because like many of us, he's got more than his share of tsoris (problems). From his youth, he has difficulty communicating with his father, he's constantly competing with his brother, he is challenged with marital woes. Jacob is constantly on the move, struggling to survive, while at the same time he is trying to find a spiritual niche for himself.
This week's Torah portion, Vayetze, begins with Jacob's famous dream in which he sees a ladder set upon the ground that rises to the heavens. On that ladder he beholds God's angels ascending and descending. During this vision, God reveals himself to Jacob and promises him and his offspring the land of Israel along with divine protection. God also assures Jacob that his descendants will transform into a great nation that will prove to be a source of immense blessing to all of humankind.
When Jacob awakens from his dream, he is keenly aware of the importance of this vision. He declares, "Surely the Lord is present in this place, and I did not know it! ... How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven." (Genesis 28:16-17)
The words of Jacob should resound within each of us as we recognize that wherever we are that "the Lord is present in this place." That is because wherever we happen to find ourselves, God is with us so long as we recognize and welcome Him. One can be at home or at work, at school or at play. Wherever we allow God to enter our hearts, He is present.
It is not in the synagogue alone that God manifests His existence. Any venue can be imbued with a measure of holiness if we as God's creatures act in a God-like way and are mindful of our charge to be a blessing to all the nations on earth.
Most people mistakenly believe that holiness is limited to ritual acts. For Jews, this might encompass laws relating to kashrut, Shabbat, or the study of Torah. And while these are indeed hallmarks of Jewish observance, God is no less concerned with the way that we treat other people than with the way we relate to Him. We must act honorably and truthfully in all of our undertakings. We must be at least as careful about what comes out of our mouths as what we put into them. Every human being has the potential of taking the most mundane daily experiences and transforming them into holy acts. To do so, we must act with impeccable integrity and honesty. By so doing, we guarantee that God feels welcome wherever we are. The Holy One can appear to us, at least in spirit, when we govern ourselves in our daily lives by His teachings.
The question that we ought to ask ourselves before undertaking any significant action in our lives is "Would God want us to do this?" That is because God watches over us much the same way as He did our patriarchs and matriarchs. An awareness of God's presence should not be perceived of as paranoia but rather as a means of gauging the relative worthiness or unworthiness of our deeds.
If only we were to include God in our plans, not only would we most certainly be ascending our own ladders to heaven, we would also fulfill God's promise to Jacob that his descendants would be a blessing to "all the families of the earth."
Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky is the spiritual leader of Beth El Congregation in Phoenix.
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