Ascent depicts the metaphor for prayer that is embedded within Jacob's ladder. The painting depicts the Zohar’s view of prayer, which is that each person is able to climb from an earth-bound existence into deeper states of consciousness until one unites with the G‑dliness at the core of the human soul.
The ascent up Jacob's ladder is linked to the four spiritual worlds and their connection to the morning prayer. Beginning with the World of Action (Asiyah), in which the worshipper conquers his or her animalistic pleasure-seeking soul, a person then climbs deeper through the World of Formation (Yetzirah) and Creation (Beriyah), until finally reaching the World of Intimacy. In this deepest world of spiritual enlightenment, one is united with the One and fortified with the goodness and love required to illuminate the world.
This painting is deeply inspired by Jacob’s Ladder an article posted by Rabbi Yosef Y. Jacobson.
