The Fulfillment of Jacob’s Dream

By HaRav Dov Begon
Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir

Jacob was facing difficult times. Relentlessly pursued by Esau, who wished to kill him, he left his parents’ home in Be’er Sheva for the exile of Charan, alone and bereft of possessions. Along the way he had a good dream. In his dream, he saw “G-d standing over him” (Genesis 28:13), “to protect him” (Rashi). G-d promised him, “I will give to you and your descendants the land upon which you are lying” (Genesis 28:13). G-d folded the whole Land of Israel under him thereby hinting to him that it would be as easy to conquer as four cubits. (Rashi, Ibid.). And G-d further promised, “Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth. You shall spread out to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south. All the families on earth will be blessed through you and your descendants” (v. 14).

Regarding Jacob’s bleak situation just then, G-d said, “I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this soil” (v. 15).

Jacob’s remarkable dream is the dream of the Jewish People which has accompanied us throughout all the generations, even in the most dark and difficult periods of our bitter and gloomy exile. In times of destruction, pogroms and the Holocaust, Jews never ceased to believe in the fulfillment of Jacob’s dream.

It is true that there were, and continue to be, some who try to blot out the dream. They think that as long as the Jews dream and believe in Jacob’s dream, they will continue on to their goal of returning to their land and fulfilling their destiny -- which is to bring light and goodness to the world. All the same, “many are the thoughts in man’s heart, but it is the council of G-d that will come to pass” (Proverbs 19:21).

Right now, “with G-d bringing back the return of Zion, we are like dreamers” (Psalms 126:1). Our generation is privileged to see the ingathering of the exiles. We are already living Jacob’s dream in a wakeful state, as in G-d’s promise, “I will bring you back to this soil” (Genesis 28:15). It is no dream. It is already a reality. The day is not far off when we will see as well the promise made to both Abraham and Jacob: “All the families on earth will be blessed through you and your descendants” (v. 14).

Looking forward to complete salvation,
Shabbat Shalom.