Vayetzei and Thanksgiving
Written on November 23, 2009 from the desk of Rabbi David Komerofskyאָכֵן יֵשׁ יְהוָה בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה; וְאָנֹכִי, לֹא יָדָעְתִּי
Surely G-d is in this place and I did not know it. (Genesis 28:16b)
So realizes Jacob as he awakens from his dream of a ladder from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. Midrashic writers have understood the ladder as an historical allegory of the Jewish people’s suffering under the rule of tyrants… the empires rise and fall but we remain. Other interpreters note that the angels go up and down (in that order), meaning that the angels begin on earth and accompany us through important moments in our lives. Angels and messengers are everywhere around us if we’ll stop and notice.
This week the parasha coincides with Thanksgiving, a holiday during which we, like Jacob, can get a new perspective on life if we stop to remember that no matter where we are, G-d is in this place. Thanksgiving is not specifically a religious holiday but it has some of the trappings of a Jewish holiday… particularly the focus on food and family. It is the story of our American culture’s founding on religious freedom and that is a principle that has been very good for America’s Jews. Here we have been free to practice Judaism as we choose, to celebrate our traditions openly in our own ways even as we share cultural practices with others.
On Thanksgiving I hope that you will be able to pause amidst the tumult and turkey not only to give thanks, but also to remember that the special people in your life can be angels on your own ladder. They can support you when you fall and celebrate with you when you triumph. G-d is always in this place, no matter where we might be, and you need look no farther than those who enrich your life every day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
On a personal note, I am very proud of my sister and aunt for the culinary gifts that they have given our family over the years. They are experts in kosher cuisine in Columbus, Ohio and you can find some of their terrific recipes online to make your Thanksgiving delicious!