Torah is Everything- and That’s Half of the Story

In Parshat Terumah we learn about the Aron, the Ark, that housed the Luchot. The measurements of the Aron are all “broken” ie halves: “They shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.”

The Baal HaTurim notes that the half measurements teach us the lesson that one who wants to become great in Torah learning must “break themselves.” Humility is not just a nice attribute to have alongside wisdom; it is a necessity (and prerequisite) for one aspiring to become a Talmid Chacham.

I believe that this idea of the Baal Haturim can also teach us something else. Talmud Torah is referred to as “Kneged Kulam” equal to all other Mitzvot. And yet Torah study cannot, and must not, exist within a vacuum. Ideally, Torah is learned with the intent of teaching those lessons to others; or at the very least of applying those lessons in our own lives. That is why there are so many philosophies that incorporate Torah alongside another value: Torah V’Avodah, Torah U’Maddah, Torah im Derech Eretz. This is not just a 19^th or 20^th century phenomenon; the Rabbis in Pirkei Avot express a similar sentiment in many Mishnayot:

1:2: The world stands on three things: Torah, prayer and kindness”

2:2: Beautiful is the study of Torah with the way of the world, for the toil of them both causes sin to be forgotten. Ultimately, all Torah study that is not accompanied with work is destined to cease and to cause sin.

3:10 One whose deeds exceed his wisdom, his wisdom endures. But one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, his wisdom does not endure.

There was never an ideal in Jewish tradition of studying Torah in a vacuum. Just like the Aron by itself is measured in half’s, Torah study must be combined with other values and endeavors in order to optimize its effect on ourselves and our environment.

Some of the vessels in the Mishkan had poles that were fitted through rings utilized for carrying them as the Mishkan was moved from place to place. The poles attached to the Aron were unique in two ways, and each difference can teach us a lesson about the centrality of Torah.

One unique feature of the Aron’s poles was that they were never allowed to be removed. Even when the Aron was set down in the rebuilt Mishkan, the poles for the Aron had to stay. The lesson is that we must be ready and able to take Torah values and Torah lessons with us, even with little or no notice.

The second unique feature was that according to the Chumash, the poles were placed onto the Aron even before the Luchot were placed inside. I believe the lesson here is that there is value to learning about our surroundings, the world around us , the society in which we live. But before we go anywhere and before we do anything, we must firmly place the Luchot into the equation.

There is much in the world that we should enjoy and experience. But we must do so while always wearing our “Torah lenses”, and we take the Aron with us wherever we go.