Man in Motion: VaYetzei 5782

[AND HE DREAMED, AND BEHOLD A LADDER SET UP ON THE EARTH.] 1) Those who say that the ladder seen by Jacob refers to Sinai because it is numerically equivalent to it

2) Rabbi Solomon ibn Gabirol, the Spaniard, says that Jacob’s “ladder” alludes to man’s heavenly soul, and that “the angels of God” signify thoughts of wisdom.

3) Rabbi Joshua explains the dream of the ladder to mean that Jacob’s prayers ascended the Heavens via the ladder and in response to his supplications salvation was sent down to him.

(13) Genesis 28:13 “and in his dream there was a ladder ‎standing toward the earth;” the vision represented human ‎beings who, though standing on earth, focus on the heavens, i.e. ‎וראשו מגיע השמימה‎. Our understanding of the celestial regions ‎and what they stand for is based on our service of Adonai.

The vision reflects ‎the fact that man’s actions propel the movement of these ‎‎“angels,” either heavenwards or earthwards. If we, ‎instead of serving Our Creator, do the opposite, we arealso having ‎a negative impact on these angels in the celestial spheres, causing ‎them to descend spiritually.