Obviously, we are well aware of Yaakov Avinu’s origin, his home from which he was leaving.  What is really important for the reader is his destination.  Why does the Torah underscore his leaving Be’er Sheva?  Quoting Chazal, Rashi says, “When a righteous person departs from a city, its glory departs.”  For while the tzadik is in the city, he is its glory, splendor and beauty.  The commentators, each in his own inimitable manner, offer their understanding and analysis of these terms.  I would like to make one observation concerning the emphasis on Yaakov leaving Be’er Sheva.  Yaakov left Be’er Sheva;…

The realm in which the Heavenly Angels make their “home” is Heaven.  Thus, the Torah should have written that Angels were first descending and then ascending back to their spiritual habitat.  Rashi clearly says that olim techilah, v’achar kach yordim, they first went up to Shomayim and then returned down to land.  Horav Chaim Berlin, zl, explains this with a practical analogy.  The eastern wall of a shul is called the “front,” and walking up to the lectern or Aron Kodesh is called “walking up.”  The reason for this is that the Aron Kodesh, Ark, is situated on the eastern…