Dream Big and Take Action

In parshat Vayeitzei, amidst Yaakov Avinu’s travels, the sun set prematurely, and Yaakov lay down to sleep. During the night, he had a powerful and meaningful dream. When Yaakov awoke, the Torah tells us he was immediately spurred to action. He recognized the holiness of the place and the significance of the moment.

This reaction stands in stark contrast to another figure in the Torah—Pharaoh. Later, in Parshat Miketz (Bereishit 41:4), Pharaoh also has a dream. His dream, too, was profound and sobering, but what was his response? "Vayeishan"—he simply went back to sleep.

I heard from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlit”a, that Rav Aharon of Karlin zt”l beautifully highlights the difference between Yaakov Avinu and Pharaoh. When Pharaoh dreamt, he wasn’t moved. He wasn’t inspired. He didn’t act. Instead, he fell back into a stupor, retreating into sleep. In contrast, when Yaakov dreamt, he became energized. His dream ignited him, motivated him, and inspired him to take immediate action.

 

The Lesson of Yaakov’s Reaction

The Torah shares Yaakov’s reaction to his dream to teach us an essential lesson: A Jew doesn’t just dream; a Jew acts. Dreams aren’t meant to remain idle thoughts or wishes. They are meant to inspire us to accomplish, to aspire for greatness, and to take action to achieve those aspirations.

As Jews, we are called to think big, strive for more, and push ourselves to become better and stronger. The first step we take after dreaming is what makes all the difference.

 

The Power of a Dream

The story of Rav Yosef Kahaneman zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Ponevezh Yeshiva, exemplifies this concept. Rav Kahaneman, who tragically lost his entire family in the Holocaust, could have easily given in to despair. Instead, he lifted himself up and moved forward with tremendous vision and faith.

One day, two teenage boys saw Rav Kahaneman standing on an empty hill in Eretz Yisrael, holding a lantern and pointing into the distance. Curious, the boys asked him, “Rebbi, what are you looking at?”

Rav Kahaneman responded with excitement: “Boys, what do you mean, ‘What am I looking at?’ Right over there is a Beis Medrash! A beautiful Beis Medrash with 700 boys learning! Over there is the dormitory with hundreds of beds. And over there is the dining room!”

The boys glanced at each other, puzzled. The hill was completely barren. They felt sorry for Rav Kahaneman, assuming his experiences during the Holocaust had affected his mind. He was, they thought, imagining things that didn’t exist.

Years later, one of those boys returned to the very same hill. This time, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Before him stood a magnificent Beis Medrash, alongside a dormitory and dining hall—exactly as Rav Kahaneman had described years earlier. Overcome with emotion, the boy broke down in tears. Rav Kahaneman’s dream had become a reality.

 

The Power of Perseverance

This incredible story demonstrates the transformative power of dreaming big and refusing to give up. Rav Kahaneman didn’t just dream; he acted. With faith, perseverance, and boundless energy, he turned his vision into a reality, defying what others thought was possible.

 

The Takeaway

As Jews, we are called to follow Yaakov Avinu’s example. We must dream boldly and act decisively. Dreams give us the inspiration to climb higher, but it is action that transforms them into reality.

Let’s commit to dreaming big, persevering through challenges, and striving to become better and stronger people. No dream is too far-fetched when paired with faith, effort, and determination. Like Yaakov Avinu, let us wake up and take that first step—because it can make all the difference.

Let’s keep climbing. Let’s keep striving. And let’s achieve greatness together!

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