2021/5781
In this week’s Parashah, Parashat VaYakheil, the Mishkan is built as a house of Hashem. The Aron, which holds the Torah, is at its center in the Kodesh HaKodashim. There is a fascinating Halachah which applies specifically to the Aron. When Bnei Yisrael travelled, the Aron had to be transported in a specific way. It had to be carried by hand and on the shoulders of the Levi’im; it could not be placed in a wagon like many other parts of the Mishkan. The Gemara tells of a miracle that occurred while the Levi’im were carrying the Aron: “Nassa Aron Et Nosav,” “The Aron carried those who carried it” (Sotah 35a). The Leviim who carried the Aron felt as if they were being physically lifted by the Aron as they travelled with it. What is the deeper significance of this miracle and what message can we learn from it?
The Aron represents the Torah. Carrying the Aron symbolizes the honor we are meant to give the Torah. By doing this, the Torah reciprocates and “carries” us by giving purpose and meaning to our lives. “Eitz Chayim Hi LaMachazikim Bah,” “It is a tree of life for those who take hold of it” (Mishlei 3:18). If we “take hold” of the Torah and “carry” it by respecting it, learning it, and following it, then, the Torah will, in turn, carry us. If we protect and keep the Mitzvot, the Mitzvot will protect us.
A famous Zionistic writer and poet from before the state of Israel, Achad Ha’am, made this correlation regarding a specific Mitzvah as well. He wrote: “Yoteir MiSheShamru Yisrael Et HaShabbat HaShabbat Shamrah Otam,” “Shabbat guards Bnei Yisrael even more than they guard it.” An example of this is when Jews began immigrating to America in the early and mid 1900s. Many, struggling to find a consistent job, were faced with the great challenge of either going to work seven days a week, thereby violating Shabbat, or not showing up on Shabbat for which they would be fired. Many did end up going to work on shabbos in order to keep their jobs. However, there were also many who, despite being fired over and over again at the end of each week, continued to hold true to Shabbat, protecting it and guarding it. Many of those Jews who held onto Shabbat in those extremely difficult times have said that their devotion to Shabbat has greatly impacted their lives and has kept them, their children, and grandchildren religious, Shomer Shabbat Jews. We see, not just how much these Jews cherished Shabbat, but also, how much Shabbat affected and protected them.
There is a similar, inspiring story about Natan Sharansky, a famous Russian dissident. He taught and spread the love of the land of Israel despite it being against the law. He relentlessly pursued his dream to move to Israel and was arrested and imprisoned for it. Ultimately, after twelve years in prison, he was freed and emigrated to Israel. The following story about Natan Sharansky, told by Dr. Yael Ziegler, takes place in Israel many years later:
“This morning I was in a bakery in Jerusalem when I noticed that I was standing behind Natan Sharansky. I summoned up my courage and told him that I had just cited from his book this week in a class I was teaching on Sefer Tehillim. I explained that I told my students the inspiring story of how he had kept a tiny book of Tehillim with him at all times, even when he had to struggle with the authorities to get it back. At that point, Sharansky smiled, reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a tiny (palm-sized) tattered book of Tehillim. I was stunned, and I asked him ‘Do you carry that wherever you go?’ Sharansky didn’t even pause and he replied ‘Actually, it carries me.’”
Natan Sharansky realized and deeply felt that his Sefer Tehillim had carried him through all the great struggles of his past and continued to carry him throughout his life. This is the message of the Aron. If we devote ourselves to the Torah, “carry” it and follow in its path, it will “carry” us throughout our lives and fill each day with meaning.