They shall make an Aron of acacia wood, two and a half amos long, one and a half amos wide, and one and a half amos high (Shemos 25:10)
You shall make a Shulchan of acacia wood, two amos long, one amah wide, and one and a half amos tall (Shemos 25:23)

Rav Ezriel Tauber once spoke in Miami Beach to a crowd of approximately 500 people. He asked the crowd three questions. Question number one: do you consider yourself happy? Everyone in the crowd raised their hand to answer “yes.” Question number two: Are you so happy that you have no reason to be happier? Everyone in the crowd again raised their hand to answer “yes.” Question number three: Rabbi Tauber said he had a device in his pocket and if he pressed the button on it, it would freeze everything a person has in his life. Nothing will be downgraded but also nothing will be upgraded. Everyone will drive the same car, have the same house, work at the same job, and do everything the same for the rest of their lives. Now, how many people want me to press the button? No one raised their hand.

This week’s parsha discusses items that were in the Mishkan. It states the size of the Aron and the size of the Shulchan. The Aron represents a person’s spirituality while the Shulchan represents a person’s material possessions. If a person looks closely, he will see something interesting regarding the sizes of these holy objects. The size of the Aron does not include any whole numbers, while the Shulchan has two of three whole numbers.

The commentators point out the reason the Aron has fractions is because a person should always look at his spirituality as being incomplete. He should always feel that he needs more learning and mitzvos. On the other hand, a person’s material possessions should always be viewed as complete. A person should be completely happy with the material possessions that he has.

The month of Adar begins this week and our Sages state, “as Adar begins, we increase our happiness.” Happiness does not come from material possessions. We might think we are satisfied, but no one would be happy if our material possessions were frozen. Happiness comes from growing spiritually. Therefore, as Adar begins, we should increase our connection to Hashem. As Purim and Pesach are coming, we have many opportunities to perform mitzvos and learn Torah. This is what we should focus on.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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