weekly Torah reading: parashas Vayeitzei 5782

“And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it.” -Genesis 28:12

This ascent and descent of the angels upon the ladder in Jacob’s dream may be understood as being symbolic of prayer (Sforno). So, in effect, Jacob's ladder may be symbolic of a "prayer ladder." Even though G-d resides in Shomayim (Heaven), He can still hear the whispered prayers of a penitent