Parshat Vayeitzei 5780
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha (Chapter 28, Pasuk 11), Vayifga Bamakom Vayalen Sham Ki Va Ha'Shemesh. Yaakov arrived at the place and he stayed over there because the sun had set. The Torah doesn't tell us where Yaakov arrived, it just mentions that he arrived at the place. Rashi teaches that this suggests it's a place we're familiar with, and he explains it’s a reference to Har Hamoriah, the place of the future Beis Hamikdash. This is also the place of Akeidat Yitzchak, and there as well the Torah refers to Har Hamoriah as the place, as the pasuk says (Chapter 22, Pasuk 4), Vayar es Hamakom Merachok.
The Maharal asks in his commentary on Rashi, Gur Aryeh, how does Rashi know it is a reference to Har Hamoriah? Perhaps it is a reference to Chevron, also a significant place and more recently mentioned in the Torah as well.
Rashi also teaches on the words Vayifga Bamakom that we derive from here that Yaakov Tiken Tefillas Arvis, Yaakov established the evening prayer. The pasuk continues and states, Vayikach Me'Avnei Hamakom Vayasem Me'Rashosav; he took from the stones of the place and placed them around his head. What is the significance between Yaakov davening Ma'ariv and then arranging the stones around his head in order to sleep?
The Sfas Emes teaches in the name of the Chidushei HaRim that the stones represent the letters of the Torah. Everywhere in the world, there are impressions of the Torah, but they are not easily decipherable. Only unique individuals like Yaakov Avinu can reveal such matters, and Yaakov placing and arranging the stones around his head represents the notion of finding the holiness and being able to present and arrange the holiness in a way that can be appreciated and utilized by others.
The Mishnah in Avos teaches (Chapter 5, Mishnah 1), B'Asarah Ma'amaros Nivra Ha'Olam, the world was created by Hashem in ten "speakings", referring to ten times a variation of the word Amar is mentioned. It is through this process that the letters of the Torah are found dispersed in the world. The Mishnah continues and states Liten Schar La'Tzadikim She'Mekaymin es Ha'Olam She'Nivra B'Asarah Ma'amaros. The Tzadikim receive reward by "fulfilling" the world which was created in ten speakings. What does it mean that the Tzadikim fulfill the world?
The Sfas Emes teaches that the word Mekaymin is to be understood in the same manner as the term Kiyum Ha'Shtar. When witnesses "fulfill" a document, they are testifying about the veracity of the signatures. They state they recognize the signatures of the witnesses on the document, thereby attested to its legitimacy. Similarly, the Tzadik attests to the imprints and the "signature" of Hashem in the world. They recognize the letters and give it order and meaning, so that all can see that Hashem created the world.
The Maharal answers his own question by stating that the word Makom mentioned in the pasuk of Vayifga Bamakom references a place where the Shechinah is found. And this is why Yaakov stopped here and davened. Chevron is a place of great significance and great holiness, but the special place where the Shechinah is found is Har Hamoriah. Yaakov was searching for the imprints and letters of the Torah found in the world, and there is no greater expression of this than in Har Hamoriah in Yerushalayim. And the word Makom comes from the word Kiyum. Yaakov Avinu was testifying about Hashem's letters of the Torah and Divine impressions in the world; he was being "Mekayem" the world. And where was he doing this? Bamakom, the place of Hashrayas HaShechinah.
As we mentioned, Rashi brings that Chazal learn from the words Vayifga Bamakom that Yaakov Avinu established Tefillas Arvis. When one davens, he is constantly repeating the same words of Shemoneh Esreih, as established by the Anshei Kenesses HaGedolah. When we daven, we need to emulate the Tzadik Yaakov Avinu. We need to arrange the words and present them in an organized manner, just as Yaakov did when it says Vayikach Me'Avnei Hamakom. We need to daven in a way that acknowledges and testifies that Hashem created the world, and it is to Him that we turn for our needs. This is what we learn from Yaakov Avinu; our task is to find the holiness of the world and present it in an organized fashion to those around us. And by doing this we testify that Hashem is the Creator of the world.
Good Shabbos
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