Parshat Vayeitzei: A Dream Come True!

In Parshat Vayeitzei, Yaakov Avinu rests for the night after a long journey and experiences one of the most iconic dreams in Torah. When he awakens, he is instantly transformed. He senses the holiness of the place, the significance of what he has seen, and the mission now resting on his shoulders. With awe and excitement, he declares, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the House of Hashem and the gate of Shamayim.”

Later in the Torah (Bereishit 41:4), Pharaoh also awakens from a dream — but responds very differently. Instead of feeling stirred or inspired, he simply goes back to sleep. The contrast is sharp and deliberate.

Rav Aharon of Karlin zt”l, as quoted by Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlit”a, notes that Pharaoh’s dream produced no movement, no growth, no awakening. But Yaakov’s dream ignited his soul. It pushed him forward and set his life’s trajectory. A Jew, Rav Aharon explains, does not merely dream. A Jew awakens. A Jew acts.

Perhaps this is why the Hebrew word for dream, chalom (חלום), shares the same letters as lochem (לחם), “to fight.” Achieving something meaningful requires both dreaming and effort, both vision and determination.

Let’s dream of unity among all Jews. Let’s dream of a world beyond labels and divisions, a world where we see one another as part of a shared destiny. Let’s not only dream of Moshiach — let’s help bring him. Let’s dream of every Jew feeling valued and uplifted — and then work to make that dream real with compassion, warmth, and love.

A powerful illustration of this kind of dreaming comes from Rav Yosef Kahaneman zt”l, founder of the Ponevezh Yeshivah. After losing his entire family in the Holocaust, he arrived in Eretz Yisrael with brokenness — but not hopelessness. One day, boys saw him standing alone on a barren hill, lantern in hand, pointing as if describing buildings to invisible listeners.

“Rabbi, what are you looking at?” they asked.

Rav Kahaneman replied with certainty, “Right there is the beit medrash — seven hundred boys learning Torah. And there is the dining room. And over there, the dormitory.”

The boys exchanged sympathetic glances, thinking trauma had affected his mind.

But years later, when these boys returned as adults, they stood frozen. On that very hill stood the beit medrash, the dining room, the dormitory — exactly as Rav Kahaneman had envisioned. His dreams were not fantasies; they were blueprints.

This is the legacy of Yaakov Avinu. This is the legacy of every Jew who dares to dream and then acts with faith and strength. Dream big. Fight for your dreams. Believe in them. Build them. With perseverance, energy, and emunah, the impossible becomes possible.

Keep climbing. Keep striving. And may every holy dream soon become reality.

---

Aryeh Fingerer is a passionate Jewish speaker who connects with readers around the world through his meaningful and relatable divrei Torah. He’s dedicated to spreading positivity and strengthening our bond with Yiddishkeit through stories, insights, and timeless Torah values.
Listen to our podcast, Jewish ‘n Joyful, on all streaming platforms! Sign up for our email list or join our WhatsApp group by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or texting 646-397-2320.
Our weekly newsletter is fi lled with Torah insights, inspiring stories, and uplifting thoughts on the parshah. Check out www. parshaknowledge.com for more info.
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbat and a smile!