Tidbits of Torah

Parashat VaYetse

Missing Moments…

November 17, 2018 – 9 Kislev 5779  
Dear Friends,
The older we get, the faster time seems to fly!  This common experience should make us cherish every moment of life.  And yet, we often find ourselves rushing from activity to activity, from task to task, from project to project.  And, in our rush, we may well be missing important moments.  We may not allow ourselves the time to see the significance of our experiences!
It happened to Jacob, our patriarch, as we are told by the Biblical story in Parashat VaYetse!  Jacob had a dream in which he saw angels walking up and down a ladder – a ladder connecting heaven and earth.  When he awakened from his dream,  Jacob was startled.   And Jacob said:  “God is here, in this moment, in this place, and I hadn’t realized it”!
How many times do we miss significant moments in our lives – moments which we may describe as “God moments” – simply because we are rushing through life rather than allowing ourselves to take our time, to dwell in the moment, and to absorb the spiritual sense of our lives?
This coming week we will have the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Let us take this special time as an opportunity to reflect on the gift of life.  Let us dwell in the moment.  Let us appreciate blessings we may ordinarily overlook in our rush to accomplish task after task.  Let us be thankful for the good in the world, for the good in our lives, and for the good in many people around us!
Let us take the time to celebrate this and many more special moments in our lives!
I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Thanksgiving!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Gilah Dror