Protect Your Head This Holidays

 

In this week’s Parsha we learn about how Yaakov Avinu arrived at Har Hamoriah and laid down to go to sleep. Before doing so the Posuk tells us “Vayikach meavnei hamakom vaysem merashosov – And he took from the stones of the place and put them around his head.”

 

Rashi explains that he was afraid of wild animals and wanted to protect himself from them. The question is: Why then did he only put them around his head? Shouldn’t he have surrounded his entire body for protection?

 

The mefarshim explains that Yaakov was primarily worried about spiritual danger, He was about to go to Charan and live in Lavan’s home where there would be negative influences that pose a danger to Yaakov’s ruchnius.

 

When confronted with spiritual danger, the most important part of our defence is our heads, i.e., our hashkafa, our perspective. When we think clearly, if we know the truth, there is hope that we will stand strong and go in the right direction. The only way to do that is to learn and immerse ourselves in Torah. That’s why Yaakov took from the Kedusha of Har Habayis and surrounded his head with it. That will ensure that he will remain “Yaakov Avinu” even in the house of Lavan.

 

This lesson is especially important when we go on holiday. Summertime poses a danger that we may become laxer with Halacha especially when we are away from our usual environment.

 

Therefore, I would like to invite you to join us for a summer of learning through our various virtual learning programs (See below for details). Only then, will we make sure that our summer will not only give our bodies rest but also recharge our Neshama. Hashem gives us extra time during the summer so let’s use it to serve and connect to Him more.

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