THE LADDER OF LIFE

 Our Torah is not always a Sefer of peace and serenity. It is a book that holds up a mirror to life, reflecting its pains, its passions and very often family conflicts. One such family conflict took place between, Yaakov and Esau, resulting in the need for Yaakov to leave his Mother and Father behind and to flee to a foreign country. 

  Conflicts are abounding in our very society. There is so much pain as a result of the hatred and jealousy, that exists between people, bringing about much suffering, and anguish.  "What a strange and dangerous time we live in!"

  We are so fragmented and dualistic, vacillating between extremes and severely shaken by the ongoing conflicts, here in America, and very costly conflicts in our State of Israel. 

  I remember reading about a teenager who asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe, "Why did G-D create us in such a complicated fashion?"  

   The Rebbe, in turn, asked the teenager, "Did you ever consider the difference between a photograph and a painting?"

  The Rebbe continued to elucidate, "A photo captures any given scene far more accurately than a painting can ever hope to do. Yet while a photo will cost a few dollars, the inaccurate painting of the identical scene may sometimes go for millions of dollars. Why?" The Rebbe went on to explain, "Most photographs are inanimate items, lacking the input of a human soul. A painting, on the other hand, contains the richness of the human imagination, the depth of human emotion, and the esthetics of human creativity. That is what gives a painting its tremendous value." The Rebbe's analogy was right on target.  "Angels are G-D's photos, while human beings are G-d's pieces of art."

  This idea made me think of the problems that Yaakov experienced and the problems which we are, painfully, experiencing, as well. The fluctuating drama of human upheaval, and our search for some meaning to it all, is a recognition that our life is really a piece of art that enjoins everyone to paint with greater goodness and spirituality that needs to emerge from this human struggle. 

 These are times when we need to bestow upon humanity a dignity and splendor that the highest of angels can never attain. 

  Yes, we read of Yaakov's dream, of סולם מוצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה "A ladder set up on the ground, and it's top reached to Heaven", which means; If we are going to clean up the debasing life on earth, we need to bring heaven, and G-Dliness, down to our earthly existence. 

   There is no doubt that Yaakov was experiencing much fear as the night began to overpower him, and it was this Ladder Dream that gave him the great sense of serenity, security and peace.  In the same vein, we are to use our Ladder of Life, a Spiritual Ladder that will bring us, the same great sense of serenity, security and peace, bringing the G-Dly influence into our world. 

   Remember, "To live an idea means to treat the seemingly impossible as though it were possible."

   Equally, let us remember, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." 

   Few of us are ever asked to do great things, but we are always given the opportunity to do little things in a great way. 

  The great French writer, Edmund Fleg, came from a totally assimilated family and knew little aboutJudaism until one day he was at the trial of Alfred Dreyfus, the Jew who was charged with treason. That traumatic experience brought about a turn in the life of Fleg and he began to search his religion. 

  Fleg than wrote the following essay and as I share it with you, hopefully, it will put things into a better perspective. 

  "I am a Jew because wherever there is suffering, the Jew weeps.”

  “I am a Jew because whenever there is despair, the Jew hopes.” 

  “I am a Jew because the message of our faith is the oldest and the newest."

 

  I would add, "Be a Jew and consequently you will achieve the highest form of Humanity."