Let’s talk about something beautiful—the Ark of the Covenant. It was the very first piece of furniture G‑d asked the Jewish people to make for the Mishkan, the traveling Tabernacle they built in the desert. It was a gold-lined, open box made of wood, holding the holiest treasure: the two sapphire tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. Covering the Ark was a golden lid with two figurines on top—cherubim, or little winged angels with baby-like faces. What is the significance behind all these details? Why did G‑d want it this way?
Let’s start with the cherubim: Their innocent, infant-like faces symbolize the unbreakable bond between a parent and a child. No matter what happens, this bond is always there. And this is how G‑d sees us; we’re His children, and even when things get tough, even when we feel far away from Him, that connection never goes away. Just as a parent loves their child unconditionally, G‑d loves us in the same way.
But there’s more. The cherubim faced each other, and they were placed above the tablets of the Torah. This placement tells us that through the study of Torah, we connect to our deepest, truest selves—the part of us that is forever bound to G‑d. Learning Torah isn’t just about gaining knowledge; it’s about awakening the core of our soul. It’s about feeling that closeness to G‑d, as if we’re returning home.
The Torah, as we have it, is a simplified version of G‑d’s infinite wisdom. It’s like a master teacher taking a complex idea and explaining it in a way that even a child can understand. G‑d, in His infinite kindness, gave us a Torah we could grasp, a way for us to access His wisdom and guidance. That’s why the cherubim had infant-like faces. They remind us that we’re like children, receiving wisdom from our Father in Heaven. The Torah is designed for us—tailored to our world, our lives, and our needs.
The wings of the cherubim were spread out, as if they were protecting the Ark and everything it represented. This is a reminder of the role education plays in keeping the Torah alive. Teaching Torah, especially to children, is like spreading wings over the future of our people. When we invest in their learning, we’re safeguarding the transmission of our values, our traditions, and our connection to G‑d.
It’s fascinating to think about how this applies to us today. The cherubim teach us that our bond with G‑d is unshakable. No matter where we are or what we’ve been through, that connection is always there, waiting for us to rediscover it. When we open a Torah book, when we learn its teachings, we’re tapping into that deep, eternal bond. And when we share these teachings with the next generation, we’re spreading those protective wings over them, ensuring they’ll have that connection too.
The Ark of the Covenant isn’t just a piece of history; it’s a symbol of everything we hold dear. It’s about love, connection, and continuity. It’s about understanding that, no matter how complicated life gets, G‑d made a way for us to find Him, to feel close to Him. We are G‑d’s children, always loved, always protected, and always connected, and we must pass that connection on to our children.
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