B"H

Parshath Vayetze

Traveling Up and Down with the Angels
By Yitzhak Kolakowski
--------------

When we greet someone, we say "Shalom aleichem", "Peace be upon
thee (plural)".  Even when greeting one person, we use the plural
"aleichem".  It has been explained that angels accompany a person,
so when we say the plural "aleichem" we are greeting the person
and his angels.

When a person travels, angels accompany him.  This is why Jacob
was accompanied by so many angels.  Certainly a righteous person
such as Jacob was surrounded by angels, but all the more so when
one is traveling.  In fact, some people have the minhag to recite
the last verses of this week's parsha (in addition to other verses
about angels) in Tephilath HaDerech, the traveling prayer.

Whenever we have an opportunity to travel, we should.  The mysticics
teach us that there are sparks of holiness spread all over the world.
When we do a mitzvah in a particular place, those sparks are collected
and elevated to holiness.  When all or most of the sparks are gathered,
Moshiach will come.  When we travel to different places, we are able
to have mercy on the sparks of holiness in those places by eating
there or davening there or doing other mitzvos there.  Thus, it is
good to travel to different places when we have the opportunity.
(Rebbe Nahman Breslover: Sichoth HaRan 85)  Perhaps this is why the
angels accompany us when we travel, since our travel is so important,
so holy.  All the potential dangers when we travel are eliminated 
when we do so for the sake of a mitzvah.  "For He will give His 
angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalms 91:9)

Now when we are serving G-d, we are always traveling.  We are
surrounded by angels, and become as one of them.  In Jacob's dream,
he saw a ladder, and the angels were going up and down.  So when we
see ourselves going up and down when we serve Hashem, we shouldn't be
discouraged.  The angels also go up and down and they are always
serving G-d, so to we are like the angels.  (Reb Nathan: Likutei
Halachoth: H"M, Laws of Gifts 4:12:14)  By definition, every act of
an angel is in service of G-d because an angel can only do His will.
Even when the angels go down they are serving G-d.  Although we must
always strive to go up, sometimes unintentionally going down is also
in service of G-d, so don't give up hope.  You might think you are lost
and far away from G-d, but you might just wake up in that place and
cry out as our father Jacob did "Surely the L-rd is in this place; and 
I knew it not.  How awesome is this place!  This is none other 
than the house of G-d, and this is the gate of heaven."
(Genesis 28:16-17) 

Indeed, as the angels say : "the whole world is filled with His Glory."
(Isaiah 6:3)

May we be worthy to gather all of our sparks and serve HaShem in
that very awesome and holy place, even the house of G-d, even the
gate of heaven.

Gut Shabbos.