Our portion begins by telling us that our forefather Yaacov was traveling, and as nightfall was quickly approaching, he set up camp. He went to sleep and had a prophetic dream. In the dream he saw a ladder extending from Israel to the heavens with angels going up and down the ladder. G-d spoke to Yaacov and told him that He is the G-d of Avraham and Yitzchok, and promised him that his numerous descendants will inherit the land of Israel, and they will be a source of blessing to all. G-d told Yaacov He will be with him and protect him from harm in his travels outside of Israel and assured him that he will return to the land of Israel.
When Yaacov awoke, he realized that unbeknownst to him, he slept in a holy place. The place was actually Mount Moriah – the Temple mount where his father Yitzchok was placed on an altar ready to be offered by his father Avraham. It is also where eventually, the Temples in Jerusalem would stand, and it is the place where all prayers travel to and then ascend to Heaven. Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin o.b.m explains that the angels that were going up and down the ladder are the angels that deliver our prayers up to the Heavens!
Our Sages explain that it was through Divine intervention that Yaacov slept in this holy place. Miraculously, the Mount moved over to where Yaacov was, and the sun set early that day, prompting Yaacov to go to sleep. Based on this, Rashi explains Yaacov’s comment, “Behold this is a holy place, and I did not know.” It means, “If I would have known about its holiness before, I never would have slept here, for it would have been disrespectful.”
The Seforno understands Yaacov’s comment of, “Behold it is a holy place, and I didn’t know,” to mean that had Yaacov known about it before, he would have put in more spiritual preparation before going to sleep.
Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch o.b.m. explains that when Yaacov expressed “I did not know,” he meant he was unaware, until after his dream, that G-d’s Omnipresence resides in this earthly world and among people as well.
One of the commentators focuses on Yaacov’s humility. Even after having a prophetic revelation from G-d, Yaacov emphasized that he merited a direct communication from G-d because of the holy place where he slept rather than his own heightened spiritual level.
Each of our three forefathers, when they encountered Mount Moriah, had a unique description of the area. Avraham called it a Har – mountain. Commentators explain that Avraham was expressing his feelings of the ‘uphill’ battle he had trying to introduce monotheism in a world that was steeped in idolatry. To reach the spiritual center of the world, was like climbing a mountain.
When Yitzchok had a personal encounter with prayer at Mount Moriah, he called it a Sadeh – field. A field is a flat and open area. Yitzchok was reflecting that his father Avraham’s spiritual influence and message had a serious impact upon society. Spirituality became a familiar option, achievable and open like a field.
During Yaacov’s prophetic experience at Mount Moriah, he called the area Bais – a house. Mind you, there was no building in existence there at the time. So, what did Yaacov mean by calling it a house?
One approach is Yaacov already envisioned the future Temple structure on the site.
Another insight why Yaacov called the area a house, is that Yaacov, after G-d personally communicated to him and spelled out the spiritual mission of his future family, realized that the next stage in building on what Avraham and Yitzchok instituted was to focus on building the Jewish home.
The Torah refers to Yaacov’s family – he and the seventy descendants that came to join Yosef in Egypt ― as Bais Yaacov – the house of Yaacov.
One’s house is where there is a familiarity among the members. It is where there is privacy and an intimate bond, connection, and a common purpose.
Yaacov called this new level of connectivity with G-d a house, as G-d would now become a household name to support and sustain the mission of the 12 tribes who established – the family of Israel.
After Yaacov’s surprise spiritual encounter, he said, ‘I was not aware of the spiritual essence of the place.’ Yet, he didn’t let the intensity and uplifted feeling of the moment flee. He immediately promised G-d that he would fulfill His mission and set up a monument in that place. He then set out to find a wife and build his family.
We, the descendants of Yaacov, are also periodically exposed to spiritual insights into G-d’s Torah and opportunities to perform Mitzvos which we were unaware of or appreciated their benefits and connection with G-d and our nation. Yaacov teaches us to let it soak in.
Yaacov called the most spiritual area on earth a Bayis – a home. He knew that just as when one is in the process of building a house it needs to be developed step by step, so too, with developing our spiritual conduct and growth – a gradual approach is the most beneficial, advantageous and structurally sound!
