Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
This wasn’t a miracle. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz emphasized again and again, when he taught this Torah portion, that Yaakov moving the massive stone from the well was not a miracle. Yet it was not a matter of muscles either, but of heart and faith.
Just prior to this event, Yaakov had dreamed the famous ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ dream. He heard promises from G-d about his purpose and his glorious future. After he understood the reason and the significance of his journey and his mission, he succeeded in lifting the massive stone by himself. And Rav Shmuelevitz comments: “It was not a matter of physical strength, but of willpower. And willpower is stronger. In challenging moments, you discover powerful inner forces and fiery enthusiasm that go above and beyond mere physical prowess. Natural forces in a human being depend on spiritual forces. When you act with all the forces of your soul, you have the power to far exceed customary human strength.”
This was not a miracle, but a natural consequence of what happens when we are motivated to live up to our full potential. Each one of us, given a purpose, a vision, and a dream of a glorious future, has the power to make that dream come true.
