WRJ Voices: Vayeitzei

In this week’s Torah portion Jacob is fleeing from his brother and is on his way to Haran when he stops at a “certain place” (Genesis 28:11). He settles in for the night, uses a stone as a pillow, and has a dream. Yes, that dream, of ladders and angels and the comfort of the eternal.

When Jacob arrives in his stopping point for the night it is described merely as a “certain place,” not a sacred place or a holy place, not even a named place. It is simply a spot between where he has been and where he is going.

Rabbi Rabbi Allison RH Conyer clarifies, “This mysterious place is both unknown and awesome, the meeting point between the earth and the heaven, between the material/concrete and the ethereal/abstract. This place is both visited by G-d and is G-d.”

In this case, “Ha’Makom” is clearly understood as a metaphor for something greater – a place, or space, beyond its geographical limitations, a place containing everything- the infinite.

A place containing everything — the infinite. Which he would not have realized had he not stopped at “a certain place.” He is not alone. We are all guilty of being so busy going from here to there that we do not always take the time to stop and be present where we are in the moment.

I’ve just spent the past year helping to plan and organize our district convention. I have reviewed hotel proposals, workshop ideas, countless possible types of bags, and flyers, oh so many flyers.  I have spent so much time looking forward that I definitely needed that reminder.

As I headed into WRJ Central District’s convention, I needed to remind myself it’s not the getting there that is important, nor where I’m going. It’s being present, at that time, in that space, with those women that is important. It is my hope that as we continue to do the work connected to our convention theme, “Embrace Your Voice: Be Empowered, Be Impassioned, Be Heard,” that we focus not only on ourselves, but on the women around us. We not only embrace our voice, we recognize others’ needs to speak. We not only empower ourselves, we work to empower others. We are not only impassioned, we recognize and support the passion of others.

We are not only heard, we listen.

By being present in the moment, not focusing on where we want to go – either physically, or mentally in a conversation— we start to create that sacred space where the divine may dwell. We create that “certain space” where dreams and possibilities exist, not just for ourselves, but for those around us as well. We open ourselves up to “a place containing everything — the infinite.”

As you head into Shabbat may you be granted peace and wholeness and find your “certain place.”

Alison Auerbach is the newly inducted President of WRJ Central District. She is a member of Women of Rockdale in Cincinnati, Ohio. Alison is an active WRJ member and has previously served on the Constitutional Amendments/ Revisions committee and the Individual Membership Task Force, among other leadership roles.