“By the mouth of G-d they encamped, and by the mouth of G-d they traveled” (Bamidbar 9:23). The Jewish People never knew in advance how long they would be staying at an encampment in the wilderness. It could have been for a day or for even years. Nonetheless, we would set up the Mishkan at each encampment, following G-d’s instructions to keep the Mishkan functioning at all times.

What is the purpose of the Torah telling us what seems to be ancient history? We know the Torah is G-d’s GPS (G-d’s Personal System) for all times. The Lubavitcher Rebbe tells us that this narrative teaches us 2 important lessons. Number 1, we should recognize that it is G-d who leads us through all our personal journeys through life, whether geographical, emotional or spiritual. Of course we need to make our own efforts and plans in life, but at the same time, we must realize that G-d arranges all pit stops on “The Long and Winding Road.”

The second lesson is, we should never put our lives on hold even when we are in temporary situations. Whether a personal journey lasts a day, a year or a lifetime, we can turn that journey into a Mishkan, imbued with G-d’s Holy Presence.

But how do we accomplish this task? The Torah tells us “The Holy Ark of G-d’s Covenant traveled ahead of them in the wilderness (Bamidbar 10:33). In all of our travels in the desert, the Jewish People were preceded by the Holy Ark, which led the way and cleared the paths of potential dangers and obstacles. This has been true in the long and tragic history of the Jewish People. Throughout our journeys through the centuries, whenever we follow the ARK – ARON, from the word OR, which means the Light of Torah, we have found spiritual and physical fulfillment and contentment.

The Holy Torah is truly the light of our lives, as the song Debby Boone sang, goes: “You Light up My Life.” That is EXACTLY what the Holy Torah does for us!