והנה, והנה... – “SURPRISE”
ויחלם והנה סלם מצב ארצה וראשו מגיע השמימה, והנה מלאכי אלקים עלים וירדים בו. והנה ד' נצב עליו..
“And he dreamt, and behold, a ladder was set Earthward, and its top reached heavenward; and behold, angels of Hashem were ascending and descending on it.” “And behold, Hashem was standing over him...” Yaakov Avinu had a dream (a vision, a nevuah) where he saw a ladder that was מצב, set Earthward, and its top reached the heavens. The next pasuk says that Hashem was נצב, standing over him. מצב and נצב have the same shoresh. What is the difference between these two forms of the word? Why does the Torah keep using the word והנה, and behold, in these pesukim?
The ladder is a metaphor for man himself. Man is formed from the ground and is set Earthward. Nevertheless, he is blessed with a G-dly neshamah. The neshamah is represented by the head, which reaches the heavens. When man allows his physical needs and existence to dominate him, they drag him down and he is “set Earthward.” However, if one infuses himself with kedushah through the Torah, the ladder can reach great heights, reaching all the way up to the heavens. (ישמח משה)
“מצב” means placed there by others. “נצב” means placed there by Hashem Himself. (רשב"ם)
“סלם” – The ladder represents the connection between heaven and Earth. One must strive to raise his level in ruchniyos step by step as he climbs the ladder of ruchniyos. “והנה סלם מצב ארצה” – While climbing the ladder of ruchniyos, one must always remember to “set Earthward.” One must always remain humble. The only way to truly climb the ladder of ruchniyos is by remaining humble. (מהר"י שטייף)
Nedarim 38a “אין הנבואה שורה אלא על חכם גבור עשיר ועניו” – Nevuah only rests on one who is wise, mighty, wealthy, and humble. There is only one true qualification necessary, and that is to be humble. If one were poor, weak, or not smart, yet was humble, it would not necessarily demonstrate that he is truly humble. This person has no reason to be haughty. One who is wise, mighty, and wealthy, yet is still humble, that demonstrates that he is truly humble. (בן יהוידע)
“מצב” means placed there by others. The Ribbono Shel Olam places every person on the ground. It is only with the help of the Ribbono Shel Olam that one can accomplish anything in this world. The Ribbono Shel Olam gave us the Torah Hakdoshah. Through the Torah Hakdoshah, the Ribbono Shel Olam gave us the capabilities to raise our level in ruchniyos. The key words are “the Ribbono Shel Olam gave us.” “והנה”, and behold, is a lashon of surprise. One must not assume that it is coming to him and live with those expectations. Rather, one must strive to climb the ladder of ruchniyos, bearing in mind that he is truly unworthy. It is only because of the great chessed of the Ribbono Shel Olam and His help that we can achieve a higher level than the Malachei Hashareis. It says a lashon of “נצב” in reference to the Ribbono Shel Olam, because He stands by Himself.
May we be zoche to bring the Shechina down to this world and raise ourselves above the Malachei Hashareis.
RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
