וַיַעַשׂ בְצַלְאֵל אֶת-הָאָרֹן, עֲצֵי שִטִים: אַמָתַיִם וָחֵצִי אָרְכּוֹ, וְאַמּה וָחֵצִי רָחְבּוֹ, וְאַמָה וָחֵצִי, קֹמָתוֹ.
The Aron (ark) which held the Luchos, the Ten Commandments, received by Moshe from Heaven, was specifically designed by Hashem to teach us an important life lesson.
All of the arks measurements, up and down- its breadth and girth were to be half measures. 2½ x 1½ x1½. But why?
The answer given by our commentaries should speak to the soul of every one of us – we are simply not complete without the ones we love.
Dysfunction rears its ugly head, taking a toll on relationships everywhere. There are families and spouses that live each day in quiet misery and our community is by no means exempt. The urge to control and negate the feelings of those who depend on us for survival seems to have passed through the generations like a genetic mutation.
We live healthiest when we respect and appreciate each other. Each and every one of us is a feeling, thinking human being who was meant to thrive and grow in a warm, accepting and caring environment.
When we think too much of ourselves, the temptation to belittle others can be difficult to overcome.
The Torah was kept in an ark measured in half steps to show us that to truly absorb the word of Hashem we must never think of ourselves as perfect or immutable, but rather as humble and devoted spouses, parents and friends- respectful and admiring of one another.
As the baalei mussar tell us. change the world by changing yourself first.
A teacher wanted to impart this lesson to his class. He drew a line on the board in front of his classroom.
“How can I make this line smaller without touching or changing it?”
After many attempts, the class fell silent, unable to answer. Approaching the board, the teacher drew a parallel line, five times the size of the original one, underneath it. It was evident to everyone that the original line was now small.
He said to the students, “You see, the previous line has now become smaller in relation to the new line, and I have not touched it at all, indicating that we must focus on bettering ourselves instead of trying to hurt others.”
Working on ourselves will help our relationships with those special others in our lives. The rewards are immeasurable. A life lived with respect, understanding and personal growth brings us a deep sense of happiness. The closer we bond together the greater this happiness grows.
Good Shabbos!
RABBI BEN ZION SNEH
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
