TZRAH PORTION 1 rI WHY NOT CLOTHING MEN - WOMEN Jacob Finds A Quiet Faith In His Dream RABBI RICHARD C. HERTZ Special to The Jewish News T his week's sidrah de- scribes one of the most beautiful dreams in all of literature. The symbolism, the wondrous imagery, bring the message to people of all ages that the earth is full of the glory of God. Jacob's dream shows how every spot on earth can become the gate of heaven. Dreams have always been a source of fascination. Indeed, the Bible often speaks about dreams and dreamers, holding that dreams convey a divine revelation. Even in our era, Sigmund 0. Freud, the pioneer in psycho- Shabbat Vayetze: Genesis 28:10-32:3, ib Hosea 12:13-14:10 ob- • analysis, explained that dreams are the way the sleep- ing mind fulfills the dreamer's unexpressed wishes and desires. Other psychologists explain dreams as attempts at problem solving. The story of Jacob's dream is magical. Jacob had gone forth from his home, not knowing what fate was in store for him. He had sacrific- ed everything for his selfish ambition. As he wandered on his journey, he must have thought of his beloved grand- father, Abraham, who years before had traveled the same road, though in an opposite direction. Unlike Abraham, Jacob was alone. He felt that God had forsaken him because of the way he had treated his brother Esau. At last, darkness came upon Jacob. He took a rock for a pillow and, exhausted, lay down and fell asleep. Even in his sleep his fears were troubling him. And then a glorious vision came to him in a dream. He saw a ladder stretching up to heaven from the very spot where he lay sleeping, with angels ascending and de- scending, and God Himself at the top of the ladder. He heard God's word addressed Dr. Hertz is rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth El. to him: "The ground on which you lay I will give to you and your offspring. You shall spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south. All the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you and . your descendants. "Remember, I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done • what I promised you?' When Jacob awoke, the dream was still with him. He couldn't get it out of his mind. For him to know that God would not forsake him, despite what he, Jacob, had done to Esau and to their father, Isaac, left him shaken and awestruck. Jacob said, "Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not?' He realized that God dwelt in that place, indeed, in every place. The whole universe is filled with God's presence. This is the lesson of Jacob's dream. Jacob promises that if God will be his protector, he will worship God and build a shrine to Him. This vow is a conditional one, a bargain with God: If God performs properly, then Jacob will ac- cept Him as his God. Jacob the dreamer has negotiated his impossible dream. Jacob is an astonishing per- sonality. Scripture does not explain away Jacob's faults. Rather, it outlines Jacob as a human character with hu- man qualities. In a way, Jacob is a pro- totype of the Jewish people. We have learned through bit- ter experience that we had to leave our homes like Jacob did. Down through the cen- turies we have wandered across a strange world. Always we carried our por- table religion. Indeed, since Auschwitz, we have wondered whether God was with us at all or whether we live in a world forsaken by God and man. But the faith returns, stronger than the doubt of the moment. God lives. God is in this place and every place, although we may not know it. God is with us even as He was with Jacob. In this quiet trust in the God of our fathers we find the faith of Judaism. Enemies may rage and dan- gers may threaten; we still go on and on. CLOTHES —FOR— CONTEMPORARY LIVING • EMIL RUTENBURG • PERRY ELLIS • WILLI WEAR • CARBONELL • KYMIO • PEPE •- DUAL CONTROL ON SELECT ITEMS . . . 20-50 0 /0 OFF IF YOU'RE GONNA SHOP .. . WHY NOT SHOP AT WHY NOT SUNSET STRIP NORTHWESTERN HWY. 356-2929 M-W 10-6 T-S 10-8 WRAP UP CHANUKAH EARLY His and Her White Terry Robes with embroidered monograms at no charge. ea. s 5 1 • 5 0 complete FOR DIAMONDS, ESTATES AND PRECIOUS GEMS... Sidney Krandall &Sons is internationally known and respected throughout the estate and jewelry industries for conducting transactions in an equit- able and discreet manner. Immediate cash for all diamonds and precious gems. Appraisers available by appointment for estates of all sizes. Inquiries from individuals and estate attorneys welcome. skkk,z..