Why God Told Jacob to Arise and Go Up to Bethel

(Genesis 35:1:) "Then God said to Jacob: Arise, go up to Bethel." Let our master teach us: When one prays, where must he direct his heart? Thus our masters taught: One who prays must direct his heart toward the House of the Holy of Holies. Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob says: One who prays outside the Land [must direct his heart toward the Land of Israel; one who prays in the Land of Israel must direct his heart toward Jerusalem; one who prays in Jerusalem must direct his heart toward the Temple; one who was praying in the Temple] must direct his heart toward the House of the Holy of Holies. Rabbi Abin the Levite said: It is written (Song of Songs 4:4), "Like the tower of David is your neck, built for talpiyyot." What is "talpiyyot"? That all mouths (piyyot) pray within it. [Rabbi Judah the Levite said: It is written (1 Kings 6:17), "That was the Temple, before (lifnei)." What is "before"? That all faces (panim) turn within it.] The Holy One, blessed be He, said: All are going and yearning for My house; will you not go there? "Arise, go up to Bethel."