I would like to share a thought on this week’s parsha that I heard from a student of the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva in Queens, NY, said in the name of the current Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Akiva Grunblatt, who said it in the name of the previous Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Henoch Leibowitz, of blessed memory. The parsha begins with Yaakov having a dream of angels going up and down a ladder. Hashem comes to Yaakov and states, “I am the G-d of Avraham, your father, and the G-d (Elokei) of Yitzchak.”(Bereshis 28:13) Rashi points out that the word “Elokei” is normally only connected with tzadikim who have already passed away, but Yitzchak was still living at this time! So why was the word Elokei used? Rashi answers that since Yitzchak was blind, Hashem considered him already as dead since his evil inclination had no control over him anymore. Let’s fast forward to the end of the parsha when Lavan chased after Yaakov when Yaakov ran away from his father-in-law’s house. Yaakov states, “the G-d of Avraham and the Fear of Yitzchak.”(Bereshis 31:42) Yaakov did not say “Elokei” when mentioning his father. If G-d connected the word “Elokei” with Yitzchak, why didn’t Yaakov?

The Rosh Yeshiva answers Yaakov did not want to say his father was not growing. As long as a person is alive, he has the ability to grow. Even if Yitzchak’s evil inclination had no power over him because he was blind, he was still alive and therefore, could still grow. The lesson for all of us is that we are all alive: are we growing?

At the very beginning of the parsha, Yaakov dreamed of a ladder. The great Sages state this ladder represents life, because a person can only go two directions on a ladder, either up or down; he cannot stand in the one spot forever. The same is with life. Modern day Sages use even a better metaphor nowadays: life is like a slow-moving down escalator. If you try to stand still, you will move to a lower level, but if you put in some effort, you will improve. And just because a person goes up a little, he still needs to continue to work to make sure he does not fall.

Physical growing happens to everyone (unfortunately, as we grow older, the growing seems to be more horizontal than vertical). Spiritual growing is something everyone must do also. Although we should have satisfaction in the place we are in right now, we should always try to get better.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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