The Mishkan was a beautiful Sanctuary built by the Jews in the desert. Each part of the Mishkan represented a specific dimension of Jewish life. The Shulchan/ table with its showbreads represented sustenance. The Menorah represented the light of Torah and Jewish life. And the Aron/ Ark represented Torah study and observance.

Most interesting is the description of the Aron. The Torah states: They shall make the ark, two and a half amos long, by one and a half amos wide, by one and a half amos in height.

The commentaries observe that all the dimensions of the Aron are in halves: two and a half, one and a half, by one and a half. The Kilei Yakar commentary explains that this is to remind us that there is much depth to Torah. No matter how much someone studies, it is as if he has achieved only half. Whether in its breadth or in its depth, Torah always has much more to offer.

A great way to visualize this is to picture yourself ready to shovel your driveway after a snowfall. [Has this ever happened to you?]The task before you is defined by the length of the driveway, its width, as well as by the depth of the snow.  It is quite possible that you will view the task as formidable. Similarly when we approach Torah study we may be overwhelmed by its vastness.

This traditional explanation of the half measures of the Aron expresses the reverence that we have to Torah study. No matter how much we experience we know that it is only "half" of what the Torah has to offer.

There is, however, a different way to look at the "half" measures of the Aron, a perspective which offers a most uplifting message for our generation.

In recent times we often encounter people who strive to increase their level of observance but find that doing so is overwhelming. The half measures of the Aron provide a strategy by which we can succeed.

For example, our sages insisted that a key to success is the willingness to halve a Torah project and break it down to manageable tasks. It is true that the full aspiration may be overwhelming, but in its components we can celebrate success.

Our Sages taught: The fool says, "Who can learn all of Torah? The laws of damages are 30 chapters, Keilim is also 30." But the wise person says, "I will learn two laws today, and two laws tomorrow. One day I will learn it all."

This strategy can work for almost every mitzvah. Instead of being overwhelmed by the entire mitzvah, halve it, and you will succeed. As one great Rabbi taught, "A child rolls over before he crawls; he crawls before he walks; he walks before he runs. So it is with spiritual growth."

In our community we have had the good fortune of offering a program called Take Ten for Talmud. Many people find it overwhelming to keep up with Daf Yomi, as it requires studying an entire page of Talmud each day. But studying one passage of the Daf is much more manageable. Through such a ten minute daily session a person can tap into the eternal wisdom of Torah, acquire the skills of Talmud study, and then advance to greater levels.
 
The half measures of the Aron provide perspective for Torah study and spiritual growth. On the one hand, the vastness of Torah is such that no matter how much you accomplish it will be a mere fraction of what Torah has to offer. But, on the other hand, the half measures provide a strategy for success for even the most ambitious spiritual goals. Halve the goal into manageable components, and you will find yourself in much better shape than the halve nots.

With best wishes for a wonderful Shabbos,

Rabbi Mordechai Rhine
TEACH613
www.teach613.org