In this week's parsha, Ya’akov Avinu embarks on a fateful journey away from his home, chased by Eisav and his murderous son Elifaz, to his sly uncle Lavan. There he would not have an easy day for many, long years. On this journey, Ya’akov has his famous dream with the ladder, receives the glorious promise from Hashem, until eventually he sires the shivtey Kah.
Current Times
Chazal tell us that ma’aseh Avos siman l’banim - the acts and experiences of the Avos portend the experiences of their descendants. Of the Avos, Ya’akov’s experiences correspond to the current times - those of ikvesa d’Meshicha.
So many members of Klal Yisrael are currently on difficult journeys. Some have been physically exiled from their homes, towns, and cities, and many others are experiencing difficult emotional, and spiritual journeys. But while many are experiencing vayeitzei, they are also utilizing these difficult times for “vayelech” - not just to escape the dangers, but to travel forward and to reach better and higher places. The following is one of numerous, astounding stories that have occurred in the past several weeks, involving a person called Daniel Avrami.
What Saved His Life!
I, together with twelve of my friends, were due to attend a party and were looking forward to having a blast. However, an hour and a half before Shabbos, I began to feel very guilty. Just several days previously - on Yom Kippur - I had made a kabala, to keep Shabbos until after Simchas Torah. In other words, this was the last Shabbos I had undertaken to keep.
I told myself, “This is it - I must keep to my word and my undertaking”. I told my friends - who are not shomrei Shabbos – about my decision, and begged them to join me for Shabbos, at my cost. Six of my friends agreed.
A quick search online and I found an apartment in Ashkelon. The Ba’al Dira was exceptionally kind and also took care of the food arrangements for us (again, an hour and a half before Shabbos) and we arrived there a mere thirty minutes before shekia.
Why I Was Alive!
On Friday night I had a dream in which Yitzchak ben Yosef (a childhood friend from Yerushalayim who had tragically drowned in the Kineret six years previously) appeared to me and said.
“Daniel. You should know that you made a tremendous upheaval in shamayim. In the zechus of keeping Shabbos you have been saved.”
The next morning I woke up to the sirens, but I did not yet understand the connection to the dream. However, later in the day when we heard what was happening, I understood exactly why I was alive and had not perished along with so many others.
Unfortunately, from the five friends who had not joined us for Shabbos, I attended three levayos, and the other two friends were captured and are being held captive in Gaza.
Daniel concluded his story by saying: “Of course, my six friends and I have been keeping Shabbos ever since, after all, this is what saved us.” This is one example of the many special journeys that are being undertaken at this time. Let us return to the journey of Ya’akov Avinu, explore it further, and examine what it teaches us during these difficult times.
