Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayetze
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
Yaacov was leaving Eretz Yisrael. He was going into Galut. Before leaving Israel, he was shown a ladder to symbolize the fate of the Jew in the Diaspora. Throughout the history of our Galut, Jews were welcomed into societies when they needed our talents. When an economy needed building up, when trade and commerce were faltering, the Jew was invited to come and build or repair. However, once the job was done, like the ladder, the Jew was an eyesore to be removed from view.
The angels ascending and descending represent the status of the Jew, initially ascending but, ultimately descending. Yaacov was being cautioned that Galut is always temporary and precarious. Only in our own land can we stop being a ladder to be used and then cast away. Only here can we build for ourselves and our future.
Rabbi Yosef Wolicki made Aliya in 1986 after twenty-five years in the rabbinate in North America. He recently retired after fourteen years as the rabbi of The New Synagogue of Netanya. He lives in Bet Shemesh and lectures at the Israel Center.
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This is a weekly column contributed by Aloh Naaleh an organization devoted to motivating Jews to make Aliya.
Aloh Na'aleh POB 4337, Jerusalem 91042
Tel: 972-2-566-1181 ext. 320 ~ Fax: 972-2-566-1186
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