The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

"And Yakov awakened from his sleep and said, "Indeed, Hashem is in this place, and I did not know."(Bereishis 28:16)

Yaakov falls asleep, and in his sleep, he has an incredible experience. Hashem speaks to him.

Here are the verses speaking for themselves:

And behold, Hashem was standing over him. He said, "I am Hashem, the G-d of Abraham your father, and the G-d of Isaac; the land upon which you are lying to you I will give it and to your seed. And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall gain strength westward and eastward and northward and southward, and through you shall be blessed all the families of the earth and through your seed. And behold, I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will restore you to this land, for I will not forsake you until I have done what I have spoken concerning you."

Wow! That is some dream!

Hashem promises him Eretz Yisroel and children and that He will never forsake him. What more can a person ask for. How does Yaakov react to this amazing experience? Does he do the hora? Does he even say, "Hashem, I love you! Thank you!"

No, he doesn't do any of those things. Rather, he says, "Oy, Hashem is in this place, and I did not know!" Isn't that a kind of funny reaction? Was Yaakov really surprised that "Hashem is in this place?" Did he really not "know" that Hashem is everywhere? Doesn't every Jewish child know the Uncle Moishy song?:

Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere!

Up, up, down, down, Right, left, and all around!

Here, there, and everywhere, That's where he can be found!

Did Rivka Imainu not play that song for Yaakov when he was little? Could it be that Yaakov Avinu never heard Uncle Moishy sing, "Hashem is truly everywhere?" How do we understand, even on a simple level, Yaakov's shock and surprise at discovering that Hashem is truly in this place?

Obviously, this entire episode requires deep and serious analysis and cannot be understood superficially. Nevertheless, perhaps even with my elementary mind, there is a lesson to be gleaned.

Rav Ovadia ben Yaakov Sforno was an Italian rabbi, Biblical commentator, philosopher, and physician. He was born in Cesena in about 1475 and died in Bologna in 1550. His commentary on the Chumash is a classic.

The Sforno explains that Yaakov's statement, "Indeed, Hashem is in this place, and I did not know," is not to be understood that Yaakov did not know Hashem was everywhere.

Of course, Yaakov knew Hashem was omnipresent. Rather, he states that Yaakov was admitting that he failed to realize the potentiality for spiritual greatness, which was attainable in Eretz Yisroel. According to the Sforno, Yaakov was lamenting that he failed to realize the potential for spiritual connection with Hashem at this place.  If he had realized that potential, he would have prepared himself for the experience, making it much more meaningful.  And if he had prepared, the experience ostensibly would have been even greater and more spiritual.

Maseh Avos Siman L’Banim

The actions of the patriarchs are lessons for life for us. Yaakov is teaching us an important lesson for every day of our lives. Too often, we make the same "mistake" as Yakov. We fail to realize that, Indeed, Hashem is in this place.  Therefore we allow spiritual experiences to slip through our fingers, and we are forced to sadly proclaim, "and I did not realize Hashem was in this place!"

Every day, every waking moment is an opportunity for connection to Hashem and for spiritual growth. Hashem is daily in our homes, Shuls, and our lives.  He is waiting to connect with us.  Yet, too often, we only realize this belatedly, and we are forced to say, "Indeed, Hashem is  (was) in this place, and I did not know."

Yaakov Avinu is sending all of us a message. It is the same message that Uncle Moishy is teaching our children. Unfortunately, it has become relegated to a children's song and has not been given the seriousness it deserves. Every waking moment is an opportunity for spiritual connection with Hashem and growth. Every place we happen to be, Hashem is already there. Our challenge is to realize before it's too late that Hashem is here in this place. Our test is to "be prepared."

The potential is there; we must remain on task to fully take advantage of the spiritual opportunities that present themselves daily. If not, we will be forced to admit in a too-little-too-late fashion, "And I did not know."