Parsha and Humanity – Vayetze: From Self to Soul

Jacob has a dream—a vision of a ladder reaching up to the heavens. Upon awakening, he is deeply moved by the realization that God is present in this place. He concludes his reflections with the poignant words: “And I did not know.”

Some Hasidic masters interpret this exclamation as Jacob’s realization of the presence of the divine as resulting from that he did not know his “I”, in other words his ego. It is because Jacob had overcome his ego, his “I, his sense of self-centeredness, that Jacob merited divine revelation. Hasidic teachings emphasize that the ego serves as a barrier between ourselves and God. Those consumed by ego see only themselves, placing their own interests and desires at the center of their world. When one’s vision is limited to the self, there is no room to perceive the Divine, to recognize others, or to connect with the broader tapestry of humanity and creation.

The Baal Shem Tov offers a profound interpretation of Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 5:5: “I stand between you and God.” He teaches that it is the “I”, the ego, that stands as an obstacle between us and God.

We know that much of the violence in the world stems from unchecked ego. This tragedy is magnified when violence is committed in the name of religion—a distortion of faith’s true essence. Instead of serving the core values of our traditions, we often misuse religion to satisfy ego-driven desires.

Even the English language offers a subtle insight into this dynamic. The words “God” and “ego” both contain the letters “g” and “o”, forming the word “go”. However, the key difference lies in the letters “d” and “e”. In the alphabet, “d” comes before “e”—a reminder that God must come before ego. By prioritizing the Divine, we can transcend self-centeredness and embrace the interconnectedness of humanity and life itself, bridging the heavens and the earth.

This vision of connection is our hope for a better world. It begins with Jacob’s example: “I did not know”—the recognition of and liberation from the ego. This freedom opens the door to transformation, hinted at by another play on letters: moving from “Me” to “We” simply by inverting the first letter.

Through humility and selflessness, we can move closer to a world of unity and harmony, where we see not just ourselves, but the Divine and the other all around us.