DREAMERS ARE WE

  There are times that daydreaming overwhelms us. This often occurs when we are in the midst of studying or even merely, watching a football game. For some unexplained reason I had this feeling last week while watching a Patriots football game. Why it happened to me watching the Patriots  game you may ask? Let me to explain.  Last year during a Patriot game the management, led by Robert Kraft, insisted that the game be played in memory of Ezra Schwartz. Ezra was a young Bostonian from Sharon, Massachusetts who travelled to Israel to study for a year. Eric Fromm's words describe Ezra "Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives of himself , he is truly rich." This is a profound statement of life - a life that was cut short by the mercilessly murder of this young man by terrorists in the land he loved. Unfortunately, his life will be remembered  for the horrible hatred and antisemitism that is sweeping our nation today and especially the anti Israel and anti Jewish cancer that is engulfing our colleges in the most malicious and vile way.  NLet those with hatred in their hearts and anger in their words look with respect to our Ezra and learn and appreciate what the State of Israel means to the Jewish People and the world  and the pride that comes with being a proud Jew. Let those who speak ill of others first begin to define who they really are.

   It is with this in mind that we study this week's Torah reading and remind ourselves of that glorious dream of Yaakov. The Torah describes this remarkable dream: ויחלום והנה סולם מוצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה, "Jacob dreamed of a ladder standing on the earth with its top reaching into heaven."

 As I reread and study this amazing dream I recognize a remarkable thing. We are told that Yaakov saw angels ascending and descending on the ladder. Rashi noticed the unusual order of the verbs ascending and descending and since we are of the belief that angels are thought to be in Heaven to begin with, therefore the text should have read that the Angels first came down and then went up. 

  I sense that Yaakov visualized a Judaism that elevates people like a ladder. A person may reach the top of the ladder by climbing to the top by following the dictates and the lofty Mitzvos of the Torah. The climb, when done, with great loyalty and sincerity, can bring a person to an angelic state. People start a climb to a more meaningful life by starting the climb where they are and to where they want to be. 

 Out of divine commandments and deeds we build our ladders of eternity. We are for ever grateful for our dreams and our hopes which constantly imbue us with the shared spirit of our rich heritage. 

   סולם in Gematriah equals 136

   ממון in Gematriah equals 136

   The Sulam helps raise up the Mamon, the Gashmiut of life, from the corporeal realm to the transcendent, to the Ruchaniut. This is the perpetual work of Bnai Yaakov represented in Yaakovs dream. 

   Together let us climb the ladder of Yaakov and behold the Glory of  Hashem and may Ezra Schwartz's memory be an inspiration to everyone encouraging all of us to continue to climb our ladder of spirituality reaching all the way to the כסא הכבוד. 

       שבת שלום