Rabbi Adam Frankenberg

And Jacob rested at Luz (לוז) Genesis 28:19. There are or at least were two cities named Luz. One in the Land of Israel and the other, with a somewhat unfortunate history in The Hittite Kingdom*.

Luz, the one in Canaan, was to become an Isrealite city under which it was to be known as Beth-El (Meaning The House of G-D). It is here in the city of Beth-El or at least the place which was to become Beth-El that Jacob rests for the night whilst fleeing from his brother, Esau. At the point in time when Jacob rested there. It is clear that he is out in the open.

It says something rather interning, or at least I find it interesting. I’ve always been interested in small details over the big picture,

“Jacob took one of the stones OF THAT PLACE to use as a pillow”

Aside from the question of why he is using stones for a pillow. What other place is he going to get stones from? It’s not as if he is going to carry a stone with him, certainly not one substantial enough to act as a pillow.

So firstly, why was Jacob using a stone for a pillow? And secondly., what other place would he have obtained such a stone?

So why was Jacob using a stone as a pillow? Tradition makes three comments, one practical, at least to some degree, and two mystical.

1. The reason we are told “A” stone is because at first the stones were arguing with each other about which one of them was going to have the honour of having one of the patriarchs use it as a pillow. So The Holy One Blessed be He, turned the twelve of them into one single stone so that they could all have the honour. (Bavli Chullin 89b). This is the classic G-D as peace maker. And is an indication of the importance of peacemaking, considering why Jacob is sleeping here in the first place this is both significant and somewhat ironic. Because if we remember Jacob is fleeing from his brother, because at least from his brother’s perspective, Jacob had stolen his birthright.

Intereving to make peace in the presence of, and because of a man who has just caused such disunity in his family. And who when he reaches his uncle’s family will cause disharmony there.

But however much disharmony is invertible we should all do all that we can to play the role of peace-maker. Always an important lesson but somehow with all that is going on across the whole world it seems even more so.

2. The second explanation offered to us, again this came to me via Rashi, is:

That scripture says a stone of THAT place to make a link with other verses, to show that Jacob had chosen correctly in establishing that particular place to be The House of G-D (future Temple).

Third reason.

3. Jacob is setting up a very, “If this then that” relationship with G-D. This works for him but we all need to find our own particular way of forming a relationship.

A reason I would proffer, for the stones joining together one falling between the previous two two on the mystical scale.

Jacob will be the Father of the Twelve Tribes and this is a symbolic reminder that the Twelve would be united to form one people, The People of Israel.

Contrast Jacob’s way of forming a relationship with God with that of Abraham, and indeed Isaac (best seen on that mountain of the Akkadah from both two sides). In terms of the mirzvot Abraham is seen as exemplifying the positive commandments and Isaac the negative ones.

We all have to find our own path to forming our own relationship with God, what works best for you might not necessarily work well for me just as those ways which work well for me might not be suited for you.

Learning what our way can be works best at moments of restfulness where we pause to let God in.

*During the conquest of the Land of Israel, in Judges Chapter One, we are told that when the Children of Israel were attacking Luz they found a spy from within the city who showed them a way into it. They completely destroyed it but in return for his help let the man and his family go. (Judges 1:22-27).

They went to the Land of The Hittites where they established a Second City of Luz.

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