Tag Archives: shepherd

Ladder of Angels   by Laya Crust

VaYetzei is the story of Yaakov’s (Jacob’s)  journey from his parents’ home to his uncle’s tribe in Padan-aram. Rivka sent him to her brother Lavan to find a wife and avoid Esau’s anger.

 On the first night, Yaakov lay down to sleep and dreamt of a ladder reaching up to heaven. Angels ascended and descended the ladder, and God stood above it. God told Yaakov, “I will give you and your descendants the land on which you lie. And your seed will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south…And I am with you and will keep you in all the places you go and will bring you back to this land: for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised…” (Bereshit/ Genesis 28: 13 – 15)

Yaakov continued his journey to Padan-aram and was tricked into marrying two sisters, his cousins Rachel and Leah. The story continues with his life trajectory over a 20-year period. We read about the birth of eleven sons and one daughter and working for his father-in-law Lavan. Under Yaakov’s management, Lavan’s flocks and wealth increased. Lavan and his sons became suspicious and jealous of his son-in-law. Reading the signals and listening to God’s words, Yaakov realized it was time to go home- to Israel. He returned to the land of his birth.

When he left Lavan’s territory “…angels of God encountered him. When he saw them Jacob said, ‘This is God’s camp’ and named the place Mahanaim.” (Bereshit/ Genesis 32: 2,3)

This parsha is a template for the history of the Jews.

First, there was a struggle causing Jacob to leave to leave his place of birth- just as has happened so many times in our history. God told him that his descendants would spread abroad to the west, the east, the north and the south. And it is so. Jews live in virtually every country and corner of the world.

When Yaakov went to Lavan he was invited to stay and work. Lavan encouraged his son-in-law to stay when he recognized Yaakov’s business acumen. Yaakov’s wealth increased Lavan became suspicious and angry so Yaakov fled with his family. How many times has that happened throughout history? Jews were welcomed to Egypt, Spain, France,  Holland, Germany, England, Poland, Lithuania, and more, where they practised medicine, were traders, and improved the mercantile system. When the population either became jealous of their success or ran into financial difficulty, Jews became scapegoats and were victimized. And the Jews have had to escape unprovoked persecution time and time again.

Yaakov and his wives had thirteen children- each of them unique. Today, we are a people of many unique traditions and interpretations.

It is significant that angels begin and end the narrative. As Yaakov leaves his homeland, he is greeted by angels and God. When God warns him to leave Lavan, the angels meet Yaakov again.

This is a horrifying time. These tragedies can only be attributed to שׂינאת חנם, baseless hatred.  Even in these terrible times, lives in Israel are miraculously protected every day. In these times of terror and upside-down morality, we are accompanied by angels. Many of the angels are our fellow Jews and the people who believe in Israel and Humanity. They bring comfort and healing and help in many different ways. Through donations, cooking, prayer, personal bravery, words and hugs of comfort. Yaakov’s descendants, the Children of Israel, are accompanied by angels of God, but we must keep our hearts and ears open to hear them.

Have a Shabbat Shalom. with love and prayers for peace, Laya

Here are two videos. One from the UN about the silence of women’s rights activists:

And another – Kuloolam singing “Like a Prayer” for our Hostages.

art by Laya Crust

VaYeitze: Bereshit/ Genesis 27:10 – 32: 3

Haftarah: Hosea 11: 17 – 14 : 10

VaYetzei is the story of Yaakov’s (Jacob’s)  journey away from his parents’ home in Be’er Sheva  to his uncle’s tribe in Padan-aram. He was sent by Rivka to avoid Esau’s anger and to find a wife from her extended family.

 At the end of  Yaakov’s first day of travelling he lay down to sleep and dreamt that a ladder reached up to heaven. Angels ascended and descended the ladder and Gd stood above it. Gd told Yaakov “I will give you  and your descendants the land on which you lie. And your seed will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south…And I am with you and will keep you in all the places you go and will bring you back to this land: for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised…” (Bereshit/ Genesis 28: 13 – 15)

Yaakov continued his journey to Padan-aram and married, but didn’t return to Be’er Sheva immediately.His father-in-law invited him to stay and manage his flocks, recognizing that Yaakov was a clever shepherd and shrewd businessman. The story continues with the trajectory his life takes, following him for 20 years. We read about his marriage to two sisters, his cousins Rachel and Leah; the birth of eleven sons and one daughter; and the shepherding for his father-in-law Lavan. Under Yaakov’s management Lavan’s flocks and wealth increased. It all seemed like a positive arrangement until Lavan noticed how much wealth Yaakov was also accruing.  He and his sons became suspicious and possibly jealous of his son-in-law. Reading the signals, and listening to Gd’s words, Yaakov realized it was time to go home- to Israel. He returned to the land of his birth.

When he left Lavan’s territory ” …angels of Gd encountered him. When he saw them Jacob said, ‘This is Gd’s camp’ and named the place Mahanaim.” (Bereshit/ Genesis 32: 2,3)

This parsha can be seen as a template for the history of the Jews.

First, there was a struggle  causing Jacob to leave to leave his place of birth- just as has happened so many times in our history. Gd told him  that his descendants would spread abroad to the west, the east, the north and the south. And it is so. Jews live in virtually every country, and in every corner of the world.

When Yaakov went to Lavan he was invited to stay and work. When Lavan recognized Yaakov’s business acumen he encouraged his son-in-law to stay. But when Yaakov’s wealth increased Lavan became suspicious and angry so Yaakov fled with his family and his own wealth. How many times has that happened throughout history? Jews were welcomed to Egypt, Spain, France,  Holland, Germany, England, Poland, Lithuania, and more where they practised medicine, were traders, and improved the mercantile system. When the population either became jealous of their success or ran into financial difficulty Jews became scapegoats and were victimized. And the Jews have had to escape unprovoked persecution time and time again.

And of course Yaakov and his wives had twelve children- each of them unique. We, today, are a people of many unique traditions and interpretations.

It is significant that angels begin and end the narrative. As Yaakov leaves his homeland he is greeted by angels and Gd. At the end of the narrative Gd warns him to leave Lavan and the angels meet him again.

Yaakov’s descendants, B’nei Yisrael, are accompanied by angels of Gd. It may not seem like it but miracles happen every day. There are horrible tragedies that can only be attributed to סינאת חנם , baseless hatred. Even so, lives in Israel are miraculously protected every day. In these times of terror and upside down morality we are accompanied by angels- but we have to keep our hearts and ears open in order to hear them.

Have a Shabbat Shalom, and keep the faith! For a wonderful look at a ladder to heaven watch this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZguOD4hmcw

 Laya