Parshat Vayeitzei
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha in the beginning of the parsha (Chapter 28, Pasuk 11), Vayifga Bamakom Vayalen Sham Ki Vah Hashemesh.Yaakov reached the place and he stayed overnight for the sun had set. Rashi quotes Chazal who learn from here that Yaakov established the evening prayer. The word which seems to indicate that Yaakov prayed, Vayifga is not a word typically used to describe prayer. Rashi explains that the reason the more typical word Yayispalel isn't used is Lelamedcha She'kaftzah Lo Ha'Aretz to teach us that the place of Har Hamoriah "jumped" to meet Yaakov. The word Vayifga indicates that Yaakov unexpectedly happened upon the place.
The Sfas Emes asks, while this explanation for the usage of the word Vayifga is clear, what does it have to do with prayer? What is the relevance of the "Kefitzas Ha'Aretz" to Yaakov Avinu establishing prayer?
The Sfas Emes answers that Yaakov established Tefillas Arvis, prayer during the night. The reason it was specifically Yaakov who establishedArvis is because he was the forefather who spent many years toiling in the darkness of galus in Chutz L'Aretz, and on his way out he established the nighttime prayer. And it is very difficult for anyone to find light and meaning in the middle of darkness. The way to do this is through an intense desire and will to find meaning even in the darkest of places. Yaakov Avinu longed so much for the holiness of the future place of the Beis Hamikdash that he experienced a "Kefitzas Ha'Aretz", it jumped to him and he experienced the light of the Mikdash.
When Rashi says Lelamedcha She'kaftzah Ha'Aretz, he means to tell us there is an important limud here; an important lesson is being taught. When one sorely desires for connection to Hashem he can have a "Kefitzas Ha'Aretz". He can bring any place of Kedushah to himself and experience the light of that holiness. And this is why Rashi gives this explanation on the word Vayifga; this lesson of "Kefitzas Ha'Aretz" is teaching us something fundamental about the Tefillah which Yaakov established. The evening prayer requires great effort and its goal is to find the light when one is surrounded by darkness. It is the quest of bringing places physically far away spiritually close.
Yaakov's dominion over place is something which is emphasized a few times in the beginning of our parsha. The pasuk states (Chapter 28, Pasuk 13), Ha'Aretz Asher Atah Shocheiv Aleiha Lecha Etnenah U'l'Zarecha. The land upon which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants. Rashi comments, Kipel Hakadosh Baruch Hu Kal Eretz Yisrael Tachtav. Hashem "folded" all of Eretz Yisrael and placed it underneath him. All of Eretz Yisrael was Yaakov's place regardless of where he was. Yaakov was a man who was "Makir es Mekomo", he knew where his place was. Wherever Eretz Yisrael was, wherever there was Kedushah, that was the place of Yaakov Avinu. And when Yaakov Avinu was Tiken Tefillas Arvis he challenged us to find our place in the dark. Each of us needs to be Makir es Mekomo. As Chazal teach in the sixth perek of Avos, one of the forty eight ways of acquiring Torah is one who is Makir es Mekomo. The one who knows where he is holding and what he needs to do to move forward, he is Makir es Mekomo. He can move forward in Torah and find a place of light and holiness anywhere.
Ultimately the place of Yaakov Avinu is best described by the words (Chapter 28, Pasuk 14), U'Faratzta Yamah V'Keidmah Tzafonah V'Negbah.You shall burst out in all directions. Chazal derive from here that Yaakov's portion was a Nachalah Bli Metzarim, a portion without borders. This teaching is the best illustration of Yaakov's ability to make any place his own and to find holiness and meaning everywhere. All of Eretz Yisrael can be folded up underneath him and even the place of the Beis Hamikdash can jump over to meet him. This power of Yaakov is what we need every day when we daven Ma'ariv. Though it's dark, we are fully focused on the light and can connect anywhere with Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
Good Shabbos
