Go Out of Your Ark

In the ark, Noah focused entirely on serving his Creator. After the great flood, G-d commanded Noah, “Go out from the Teivah—the ark.” He was commanded to leave this ideal environment and reenter the world.

Teivah also means “word.” The Baal Shem Tov expounds G-d’s original command, “Come into the ark,” as a lesson for us to “come into the words” of prayer and Torah. These words create a protective “ark” around us, guarding against the “stormy waters” of the world.

The best time of year to enter this “ark” is the month of Tishrei—the month “filled with festivals.” When Tishrei ends, however, we are commanded, “Go out from your ark.” We reenter daily life with the added inspiration we have absorbed. This new holiness infuses every day of the year with a protective purity, enabling us to attain stronger, higher levels of divine service all year long.