BS’D
Today, 29 of Iyar is the yahrtzeit of Shmuel HaNavi ztk’l. Shmuel was born to Chana, who had been barren for many years and prayed intensely for a child. Shmuel was raised in an atmosphere of great holiness, and became a leading prophet in Israel. Shmuel’s greatest contribution was in anointing the first king of Israel, Saul, and later anointing King David in his stead. (Some sources list Shmuel’s yahrtzeit as Iyar 28) ~ Excerpt from Aish.com. May he serve as an advocate for Klal Yisrael, Amen.
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Mordechai Chaim ben Leah. May Hashem shower him with a complete healing among all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.
When Yaakov Avinu leaves Beersheba for Haran, he lies down to rest and has a wondrous dream (Bereishis 28:12). He sees a ladder standing firmly on the ground, reaching upward to the heavens. Angels are going up and down, and v’hinei Hashem nitzav alav, “Behold, Hashem is standing above him.”
The Izhbitzer Rebbe ztk’l explained that there are two words that can be used for standing. One is omed, which simply means standing there, and the other is nitzav, which implies being planted in place. A human being is an omed; he always has the choice to stay in one place or move away. A nitzav has no such choice; it is planted in its place, like a stone.
By using the expression of nitzav, Hashem was telling Yaakov a beautiful message. “Dear child, I have no choice but to be with you.” Hashem wanted us to realize that no matter what, no matter where, He would always be planted and bonded with us. Hashem’s connection with us is forever, something that can never be moved nor shifted. We may ascend and descend the ladder to Heaven, sometimes rising and sometimes falling, but Hashem will always be planted above us and within us. No matter where we are, because we are Hashem’s children, He will be with us.
What a powerful message! It gives one a sense of tranquility despite the world’s thunderous storms.
