Parshas Aikev (5767)

Bs”d

Parshas Aikev (5767)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

It is amazing how going through the sedra every year brings new obvious insights overlooked in previous years.

The commandment to make an aron for the luchos was only given for the second luchos (10:1). The purpose of the ark was for the protection and care of the luchos so that they should not be harmed.

Perhaps we can explain that Moshe Rabainu had surely planned to make an aron in which to place the first luchos, on his own. The aron represents and symbolizes an effort one makes to protect himself from spiritual downfall. The second luchos were given after Klal Yisroel had the great downfall of the chet haeigel. It was obvious that greater effort and investment was necessary to protect themselves from a repeat of being caught in the snare of the evil inclination. Both the first and second luchos would have had an aron. The only difference between the two was that the second was accompanied by the positive commandment from Hashem.

And so in this commandment there lies the advice for us to go out of our way to insure ourselves and protect ourselves from further downfalls after having experienced them.

Hashem should open our eyes to the truth always.