This Shabbos is the yahrtzeit of the Holy Gaon and Tzadik Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap ztz"l so I thought it worthwhile to taste some of his irresistibly sweet and uplifting Torah [as I understand it].
1] The Torah relates that Yaakov came to the "place". ויפגע במקום. He then had his prophetic dream. The use of the word מקום is significant. Everybody needs to find their "place" in the world. So many people are unhappy because they feel lost. When a person finds his place, s/he can reach great spiritual heights. Even Hashem, kiviyachol, is blessed from His place. ברוך כבוד השם ממקומו. Chazal tell us that Hashem is the place of the world and the world is not His place. But even His blessings emanate from His "place".
2] The gemara says that Yaakov passed by Yerushalayim and didn't daven and then when he arrived at Charan he said "How could I not daven where my forefathers davened?" He desired to return and, as Rashi teaches, Har Habayis jumped to where he was. The Avos paved the way for all of the generations. It doesn't matter in what physical geographic location you find yourself. If you DESIRE and PINE for a holy place, it will come to you. In fact, every time one davens, the halacha says that his/her heart must be in Yerushalayim opposite the holy of holies. It is all about desire. Go to Israel and skip customs [including disrobing and taking your computer out of the case...], the loooonggg trip and the pricey flight!!!
3] The Torah tells us that Yaakov dreamed that the angels of Hashem were going up and down the ladder which connected heaven and earth. We think that going "down" is of no spiritual value. Most people only enjoy going up. Here the Torah is teaching us that even when one is descending, it is still part of his spiritual journey. The מלאכי אלקים , the angels of Hashem also went DOWN. It is OK to go down. With one condition: That the ladder you descend connects heaven and earth.... Remember that each step of your journey is connected to the highest places. Wow-eeee!:-)
4] Yaakov has a dream. He sees angels. He wakes up. Now what would YOU say after such a dream?
I would gather my wife and children and describe to them in vivid detail what I saw. What did Yaakov say? Well, first of all he doesn't go looking for someone to tell! Good things should be kept at "home". Next he exclaimed "Hashem is in this place". HASHEM? Angels!!!
Lesson: It is lovely to be able to see angels. It is also a great, elevating experience to meet Holy Tzaddikim. But never forget the most important One. Sometimes, maybe due to His transcendence, we lose sight of this and focus on more earthly beings while forgetting about Him. We must remember that every creature draws its holiness from the Divine. Never forget the Source!
5] Yaakov sees Rochel and he kisses her. NEGIYAHHHHHHH!!!!!! What is going on? Rashi says that he cried because he saw with Ruach Hakodesh that they would not be buried together. What a HOLY kiss!! Yaakov was experiencing ETERNITY! He was shaken because he realized that their union would not continue after death. He was thinking about his יום המיתה. What a HOLY ZEIDE we all have:-)!
6] How holy was Yaakov? He was with his Kallah for a whole night and only in the morning he found out the she was the wrong kallah. ויהי בבוקר והנה לאה - It was morning and it was Leah. It doesn't say that he SAW Leah but that it WAS Leah. A farfrumpte Chasidishe Bachur!
A blissful-holy-shmiras-einayim-
Love and blessings!
