How to get clarity in life’s journey

One of the most meaningful moments in Shule, is when we open the Ark to take out the Torah. We then sing the words from this week’s Parsha “Vayehi Binsoa Hoaron”.

The Zohar teaches us that the moment we take out the Torah from ark the gates of mercy in heaven open as well, and it then becomes an opportune time for prayer.

The meaning behind the words of “Vayehi Binsoa,” is connected to the Jewish people’s journey in the desert. The enemies of the Jewish people would disperse and scatter as the Holy ark travelled with the Jewish people. The Ark (Aron Hakodesh) houses inside it, the Torah and the
Ten commandments.

This verse is teaching us the power of the Torah. The simple meaning in this, is that the journey for the Jewish people would have been fraught with enemies and obstacles. But it was the Aron Kodesh that cleared the way and made an easy clear path to follow.

The same thing is in our lives; the journey of life is full of bumps in the road and turns and twists. We seek clarity and vision along the winding roads of life. The Torah provides this clarity and gives direction. It disperses the confusion and clears the path of obsatcles.

This doesn’t mean we have to become expert scholars in Torah overnight to have this clarity. It means to have daily or at least weekly moments of studying Torah. Today this is very easy with so much available Torah classes on the internet. Some may prefer short minutes of inspiration, some may enjoy a  torah learning podcast, or Torah teachings on relevant topics. Torah is G-d’s wisdom. Each dose of Torah allows G-dly wisdom to fill our minds. This will change us for the good in our journey in life.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zalman and Esty