2021/5781
In the first Aliyah of this week's Parasha, Yaakov Avinu falls asleep on the way to Charan to escape murder from his brother, Esav. Famously, he has a meaningful dream of angels going up and down a ladder to heaven. But a striking moment comes after Yaakov wakes up from his dream, when he makes the following troubling vow: "Jacob then made a vow, saying, “If God remains with me, if He protects me on this journey that I am making, and gives me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safe to my father’s house—the LORD shall be my God. And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, shall be God’s abode; and of all that You give me, I will set aside a tithe for You" (BeReishit 28: 20-22). One question emerges from these Pesukim: Is Yaakov implying that if Hashem doesn't protect him, Hashem won't be his God or he won't serve Hashem? That doesn't sound right!
Sure enough, the Mefarshim explain what Yaakov Avinu meant. The Seforno explains that "the LORD shall be my God" means that Hashem will be the judge of how successfully Yaakov accomplished what he promised to Hashem. The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh writes differently that these words mean that Hashem will make His name associated with Yaakov, as he did with Avraham and Yitzchak. There is a beautiful answer given by the Ramban. He explains that if Yaakov will make it back home safely, then he will serve Hashem correctly in Eretz Yisrael at the place where he put the stone, and he quotes the Gemara that states, "anyone who resides outside of Eretz Yisrael is considered as one who does not have a God" (Ketubot 110b).
Perhaps unexpectedly, in a Parasha named after our patriarch's exit from the Holy Land, we learn just how important our connection to the land is. We learn that although Yaakov Avinu had to temporarily leave Eretz Yisrael, he never forgot his roots and wished to return to properly serve Hashem. How apt of a lesson it is for us nowadays; we don't have an Eisav pushing us away from Israel, but just the contrary. We have established a home for ourselves for the first time in 2000 years, where we can live safely and flourish as a people. Our opportunity is now; let's take advantage, let's find the Yaakov Avinu in ourselves, and may we merit the complete return of our exile with the rebuilding of our Temple.