A person can ascend or descend on a ladder just as we see with the malachim in the ladder in Yaakov’s dream. The word סולם, ladder, has a gematria of 136. This is the same sum as ממון, money, and עוני, poverty. This alludes to the following idea. While some use poverty as an excuse for distancing themselves from Hashem, it is really one’s choice. There are those who are impoverished and still earn and excel in their Avodas Hashem. Similarly, the wealthy might claim they have an excuse as their wealth distracts them from excelling in their spiritual pursuits, whether through the demands of business or other preoccupations.
However, we see examples of people in both circumstances: there are wealthy individuals who remain distant from Hashem and others whose wealth becomes a vehicle for drawing closer to Him. A wealthy person can use his resources for tremendous good—supporting the poor, funding Torah institutions, establishing gemachim among others. On the other hand, poverty, while challenging, can also inspire profound tefillah and reliance on Hashem. Wealth and poverty are like a ladder: they can elevate or bring one down. The key is to always strive to ascend, using whatever Hashem has granted you as a tool for growth in your Avodas Hashem.
