Jacob, with his parents’ blessings and encouragement, leaves Be’er Sheva to travel, alone, to reside with his uncle, Laban, and his family. Welcome to Parshat VaYetze.
Try to imagine his state of mind and spirit, alone, on the mountainous trails to Haran (south western Turkey today). It is in his aloneness or loneliness that he realizes who he is, experiences his relationship with the All-Oneness of the universe and contemplates the meaning of his past, present and future. He has a profound dream where he sees angels ascending and descending on a ladder. The ladder is planted in the ground. He hears the voice of the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac. God is mentioned twice because each of Jacob's ancestors had their own understanding of God, Now he hears the call, the promise of his future and the future of his descendants.
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