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This week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, contains the mysterious story of Jacob’s ladder. Appearing to Jacob in a dream, the ladder connects the earth to the heavens and angels travel up and down between the two realms. Amid this fantastic vision, God declares the following: “I, the Eternal, am the God of your father Abraham and God of Isaac: the land on which you are lying, I will give to you and to your descendants. And your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out to the west and the east and the north and the south. Through you and your descendants all the families of the earth shall find blessing. And here I am, with you: I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this soil. I will not let go of you as long as I have yet to do what I promised you.”

 Like Jacob’s ladder, life is a series of ups and downs. There are moments that feel heavenly, others that feel very grounding, and others where that ladder seems to extend downward into a metaphorical hell. At those deepest, darkest moments, can we count on a Divine promise to watch over us? Do we, in the thick of despair, bring blessing to all the families of the earth? And do we believe in the promise that, even as we spread out to the four corners of the earth, we will be watched over by the Eternal? Can we trust the promise that God will bring us back home when the time is right?

 Interpreting dreams has never been my forte, and mining Biblical texts for real world promises can be a dangerous and even foolhardy game, but this text nonetheless resonates with me on many levels. I like the idea of Divine protection as I venture around the world. I like the idea that God makes and keeps promises, that we can always come home at the end of our journeys. And I love the idea that we will spread blessings wherever we go, leaving happiness and love in our wake.

 This Shabbat, as we are recovering perhaps from a turkey hangover or from family dinners with, um, interesting relatives, perhaps we can look ahead to Hannukah with God’s blessing to Jacob in mind. Whether or not we believe that all will be well with us, no matter what, there is no denying that we are all gifted with the innate ability to bless others, and that the holidays give us a good opportunity to do just that. Perhaps we will bless someone simply by smiling at them. Perhaps we will donate food, clothing, gifts, or our time. Perhaps we will remind people that, even when they don’t feel seen, we see them.

 And, just as God promised Jacob’s descendants a safe return to the land given to them, I wish you all safe travels in the weeks ahead as you visit with family and friends and share the light with those you love.

 Shabbat Shalom!

 Rebecca Abbate