Just Being There – Parshat Vayeitzei

We often feel that only grandiose actions really have any impact. People all too often will refrain from reaching out to those in need because they feel they cannot possibly give others all that they need. Sometimes, though, all a person needs is  a friend who will just be there.

This week's parsha teaches us, among other things of course, that sometimes, just being there has value in and of itself. God is in the middle of speaking with Yaakov in the middle of his famous dream. In fact, He was already starting to wind down but right then He adds the words, "I am with you."¹ He even prefaces it with the word "ve-Hinei" – loosely translated as 'take note'. But they were already talking!? What do these words, "take note, I am with you" add to the discussion? Malbim answers that God is comforting Yaakov telling him not to fear the loss of his emotional happiness and that "even though you are leaving the land of Israel, I will still be with you." Just by being with Yaakov, God is comforting him.

In the 80's we sang a song by Uncle Moishy:

Don’t walk in front of me I may not follow

Don’t walk behind me I may not lead

Just walk beside me and be my friend   

And together we will walk in the ways of Hashem²

Dr. Viktor Frankl wrote that as therapists all we have to offer to a client is ourselves³.

That may be all we can do sometime. And perhaps that is exactly what is needed.

Notes

1. Bereishit 28:15
2. The words, aside from the last line, have been widely attributed to Albert Camus though I have not seen anyone quote a source for it. Here is a link to the Uncle Moishy rendition on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPX54anU0qA
3. I remember reading this but as of this writing could not yet find the source for this idea.

Have A Great Shabbat!

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