Rabbi Asher Vaknin
Parashat Vayetze is a Torah portion of departure, transition, and inner movement. Jacob leaves his parents’ home and sets out on a long and challenging journey, yet precisely through this transition the greatest revelations are born. Five central themes in the parsha teach us about stepping into a new chapter, about inner strength, and about turning challenges into growth.
Seeing Height Even When You Feel Low
Jacob lies on the ground, alone, exhausted, without possessions and without certainty. It is precisely then that one of the greatest visions in the Torah is revealed to him: a ladder standing on the earth with its top reaching the heavens. The message is deep: even when a person feels “placed on the earth,” feet stuck in the mud, surrounded by difficulty, he must remember that “its top reaches heaven”—the heights he can reach.
A short but powerful story: A young student once came to the Kotzker Rebbe and said he felt inferior, small, incapable of achieving anything great. The Rebbe looked at him and said, “Your problem is not that you are small, but that you keep looking at the floor. Lift your head—and you’ll see how high you can truly rise.” He walked out transformed. Like Jacob, we can each discover a ladder; we just have to lift our gaze.
Holiness in the Everyday
Jacob discovers that the simple place where he slept is actually a site of Divine presence. Sometimes a person searches for holiness far away—special inspiration, great spiritual moments—and forgets that God is found exactly where he already stands. The message: Holiness does not wait for us on mountaintops; it lives within the ordinary moments of life.
A story: A simple shoemaker once told his rabbi, “Rabbi, I feel like I have accomplished nothing in my life. I’m just a shoemaker—what have I really done?” The rabbi asked, “How many times a day do you give up a profit to help another? How often do you fix the shoes of a poor man for half the price? How many smiles have you given?” Embarrassed, he quietly admitted, “Many…” The rabbi smiled and said, “If you knew how much holiness lives in your daily acts, you would lift your head much higher.” Like Jacob, we must learn that holiness happens right beneath our feet.
Turning Work into Joy
The Torah tells us that Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, yet “they seemed to him like a few days because of his love for her.” The message: When there is love—whether for a person, a mission, or a purpose—effort no longer feels like a burden but like a privilege.
A story of inspiration: A young chassid took upon himself to wake up every day at three in the morning to study Torah. At first, it was very difficult. One day he approached his Rebbe and asked, “How can I keep going without burning out?” The Rebbe answered, “If you think about the difficulty—it will be hard indeed. But if you think about the light you receive—then the difficulty melts away.” He changed his perspective, and the struggle became joy. That is the power of love: turning burden into brightness.
Staying True to Yourself in a Challenging Environment
Jacob lives 20 years in the house of Laban the deceiver, yet he manages to maintain his honesty, faith, and integrity. The message: Even when surrounded by pressure, negativity, or moral challenge—one must stay loyal to who they truly are.
A story: A Jew who worked in America struggled to keep Shabbat at his job. One Friday, the manager came to him and said, “I don’t understand how you never give in. Everyone else eventually compromised.” The man answered quietly, “You can take my job from me, but you cannot take me from myself.” The manager was so moved that he found him a special position that allowed full Shabbat observance. Whoever holds onto truth—the truth will hold onto him.
Birth of the Tribes – Turning Confusion into Blessing
In a home full of tension between Leah and Rachel, the twelve tribes of Israel are born. Out of emotional complexity and uncertainty emerges an entire nation. The message is clear: Sometimes the greatest blessings are born from moments of pain, confusion, or struggle.
A story: A woman going through a very difficult time sought out a famous artist and asked for a painting that expressed strength. The artist brought her a canvas full of scattered colors and chaotic shapes. The woman was surprised: “It looks messy.” The artist said, “Give me time.” Weeks later, a stunning painting emerged. The artist explained, “You see? From the greatest chaos can come the greatest beauty.” So too with the Jewish people—out of tension and sorrow emerged a foundation of holiness.
Parashat Vayetze teaches that no situation is final, no person is small, no day is ordinary, and no struggle is just a struggle. Everything can become a ladder, a sanctuary, a source of joy, a blessing. When a person steps forward with confidence, faith, and joy, he discovers that God says to him exactly what He said to Jacob: “Behold, I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go.”