Parshat Terumah: The Holy Ark
by Rabbi Lobel

The Holy Ark, which resided in the Hoy of Holies, was two and half cubits in length and one and a half cubits in height and width. On top were a crowned covering and two winged Cherubim (angels) made of gold. Each side had two rings for poles to carry the Ark. (Exodus 25:10 – 22)

The Kli Yakar (1550 – 1619; Exodus 25:10- 11) states the Ark represented the Crown of Torah, which is every Jew’s heritage. In contrast to the Crowns of Priesthood and Kingship, which rely upon lineage, every Jew can pursue and achieve the Crown of Torah through diligent study and adherence to the Torah’s precepts.

However, the Kli Yakar teaches us to look closer at the Ark. In order to achieve the Crown of Torah, study and observance aren’t enough. We also need humility.

All three dimensions of the Ark have “broken measurements”, i.e. measured in fractions of a unit, not whole numbers. Why? To teach us that just as the symbolic Crown of Torah is “incomplete” in every measurement, so are each of us “incomplete” in every way. And, without appreciating that each of us is lacking in every measurement, from intelligence to compassion to self-control and every other characteristic, no matter what we do or how long we persevere, we can never achieve the full measurement of Torah.

As the Kli Yakar explains, being humble in the pursuit of Torah requires us to remember two things. First, no matter how much we learn or how much we develop, there’s always room for growth. Second, the recognition that each of us is wanting, that nobody has a monopoly on knowledge or character, compels us to be receptive to learning from others. As Ethics of our Fathers (Pirkei Avos 4:1) says, “Who is wise? He who learns from all people.”

The irony is that the Crown of Torah represents the epitome of knowledge, dedication, and good deeds. Yet, attaining the crown begins with the recognition that, no matter our efforts, there is always room for consistent and continuous growth.