God Was In This Place
God is IN This Place
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
As our parsha opens, Jacob is scared, and rightfully so. Jacob had stolen the blessing of the firstborn that belonged to his brother. His brother, Esav, is so hurt and angry that he is ready to kill Jacob. Their mother, Rebecca, urges him to leave home and run for his life. Jacob heads to the home of his extended family to build a new life.
We can only imagine his anxiety as he lays his head down on a rock to sleep for the night. He famously dreams of a ladder ascending to heaven and God comforting him with the promise of protection. When Jacob awakens, he says (Genesis 28:16), “Wow- God was in this place and I had no idea.” He declares the spot to be “awesome.” (vs. 17)
Cantor Wolman- sing
In this Place words & music by Jeff Klepper - based on Genesis 28:16
I was weary, I was tired, so I rested for the night / A stone for my pillow, the moon and stars for light I saw angels on a ladder, from above and from below / God was in this place and I, I did not know I was chasing after rainbows, I was far away from home / Thinking of my family, so hard to be alone I was wrestling with feelings I was trying not to show / God was in this place and I, I did not know There is a ladder to the heavens / You must climb it if you can You can do it, if you dream it / If you open up your hand We are on this road together, we are traveling somewhere We are all in need of comfort, we could use some love and care I can still hear Jacob calling from the Torah long ago God was in this place and I, I did not know
Jacob is experiencing what we might describe as “mindfulness.” The dream has focused his attention in an extreme way. He enters into a covenant with God and moves forward to encounter his cousin Rachel at the well, beginning a relationship with her and her family that will sustain him for the next 20 years.
We can imagine that Jacob woke up not only physically but spiritually. That the ladder symbolizes the possibility of our own personal ascent, our own maturation and growth.
I wonder if Jacob was able to take his newfound awareness of God’s presence with him into his new life? What if he cultivated that sense of mindfulness even after he physically moved on?
What if we could develop an awareness that “God is in this place” even when we are not right here in this sanctuary? When we’re in the kitchen? When we’re dealing with our kids? When we’re at work? Because the fact of the matter is that God IS in those places- we just need to find ways to stop for a moment and notice.
There is a concept we call “devekut,” that is, being aware of, being attached, connected to God. The challenge of devekut is to imagine, wherever we are and whatever we are doing, that it is as if there is an invisible thread that keeps us connected to God’s presence, mindful that God is in this place.
Maybe it’s through prayer- through pausing throughout the day to meditate on a brief blessing? Giving thanks for food or noticing the beauty of the natural world? Maybe it’s a niggun on our lips or in our heart?
Maybe it’s by living our lives with purpose, by translating the values of our tradition into action?
Maybe it’s by seeing others, treating others, as made b’tzelem Elohim, as truly images of God? By being present to others with caring and concern, by bringing that sense of mindfulness and focus to what matters most in our relationships?
It is especially challenging, perhaps the greatest challenge, to feel God’s presence in times of trial. Can we look at our most difficult moments as opportunities for personal growth, following in Jacob’s footsteps?
There he is- alone in the desert. Forced to leave home. Plagued by regrets about his choices. Unsure about where his journey is leading.
Yet, after a hard night’s sleep with only a bunch of rocks as his pillow, he awakens to the realization that God is, in fact, there with him in his fear of the unknown. “I didn’t know,” he says. Yet now his eyes have been opened.
As we read Jacob’s story this week, we remind ourselves that we can connect with the divine energy available at every moment.
We read in the book of psalms- “Shiviti Adonai l’negdi tamid, I place God before me always.” (Psalm 16:8) There is a whole art industry of crafting “shivitis,” works of art that include this verse so that we can have a literal reminder that God is in this place. There are a few examples in the handout.
Let’s join together with Cantor Wolman in singing the words of this inspiring psalm- SHIVITI
Shiviti Psalm 16:8 music by Daphna Rosenberg (Nava Tehila)
God was in this place and I, I did not know
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