"Terumah — Part V — “וְעָשׂוּ אֲרוֹן”: Torah, Knowledge, and the Equality of Israel"

5.2 — The Crown That Belongs to Everyone

The Crown Around the Ark

When the Torah describes the construction of the Aron, it includes a striking detail:

וְצִפִּיתָ אֹתוֹ זָהָב טָהוֹר
מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ תְּצַפֶּנּוּ
וְעָשִׂיתָ עָלָיו זֵר זָהָב סָבִיב
“You shall cover it with pure gold, from within and from without you shall cover it, and you shall make upon it a golden crown all around” (Shemos 25:11)

The Ark is not only covered in gold. It is crowned. Around its upper edge runs a decorative border of gold—a zer zahav, a golden crown.

The sages see deep meaning in this detail. The Ark represents the Torah. Its crown represents the crown of Torah.

But this crown is unlike any other.

Rashi: The Three Crowns

Rashi explains that the Mishkan contains three crowns:

• The crown of the altar, representing the crown of priesthood.
• The crown of the table, representing the crown of kingship.
• The crown of the Ark, representing the crown of Torah.

Each crown symbolizes a different form of leadership or distinction within the Jewish people.

But these crowns are not equal in accessibility.

The crown of priesthood belongs to the descendants of Aharon.
The crown of kingship belongs to the royal line of David.
But the crown of Torah belongs to anyone who seeks it.

Torah is not inherited through bloodline. It is acquired through effort, study, and dedication.

Rambam: The Crown of Torah Is Open to All

Rambam makes this idea explicit. He writes that the crown of Torah is available to every Jew. Anyone who wishes to take it may come and take it.

Kingship and priesthood are inherited. A person is born into those roles. But Torah is different. It is not passed down through lineage. It is earned.

This makes Torah unique among all forms of honor and status. It is the one crown that is not restricted by birth.

A poor person can acquire it.
A person of humble background can acquire it.
Anyone with determination and devotion can acquire it.

In this sense, Torah creates a society in which dignity is based not on wealth or ancestry, but on knowledge and character.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: A Society Built on Learning

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains that this principle is revolutionary. Most ancient societies were structured around hierarchy—kings, nobles, priests, and laborers. Status was inherited, and social mobility was limited.

The Torah introduces a different model. It places the highest crown not on power or wealth, but on learning.

In the Jewish vision, the greatest figure is not necessarily the richest or the strongest. It is the scholar, the teacher, the person of wisdom.

This creates a radically egalitarian idea. Every child, no matter his background, has access to the same crown: the crown of Torah.

Education becomes the great equalizer. It allows a person to rise through knowledge rather than through birth.

The Ark, crowned with gold, stands at the center of the Mishkan as a symbol of this truth.

Gold Inside and Out

The Torah describes the Ark as being covered with gold both inside and outside:

מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ תְּצַפֶּנּוּ
“From within and from without you shall cover it” (25:11)

The sages explain that this teaches that a Torah scholar must be consistent inside and out. His inner character should match his outward behavior.

Torah is not merely intellectual knowledge. It is a way of life. The crown of Torah belongs only to the one whose inner and outer worlds are aligned.

In this way, the Ark teaches two lessons at once:

• Torah is open to everyone.
• But it must be lived, not just studied.

The Source of True Dignity

In many societies, dignity is linked to wealth, power, or status. People are honored for what they possess or for the positions they hold.

The crown of the Ark offers a different model. It places dignity in knowledge, wisdom, and moral character.

A person who studies Torah, lives by it, and teaches it to others carries a crown that no one can take away. It does not depend on circumstances, inheritance, or material success.

This is a dignity rooted in the soul.

Equality Before the Torah

Because the crown of Torah is open to all, it creates a fundamental equality within the nation.

A king must honor the Torah.
A priest must follow the Torah.
A common laborer must live by the Torah.

Before the Ark, all stand equally. The Torah is the shared covenant that unites the entire people.

The crown around the Ark therefore symbolizes not only honor, but equality. It reminds the nation that the highest form of greatness is available to everyone.

Application for Today — Education as the Foundation of Society

The message of the Ark’s crown speaks directly to modern life. Many societies still measure success by wealth, fame, or power. But these forms of status are limited and unevenly distributed.

The Torah offers a different foundation: education and wisdom.

When a society values learning:

• Every child has the potential to rise.
• Dignity is based on knowledge, not inheritance.
• Moral character becomes more important than status.
• Communities invest in schools, teachers, and study.

On a personal level, the crown of Torah invites each person to build a life centered on learning.

That may mean:

• Setting aside time each day for Torah study.
• Encouraging children to see learning as the highest form of achievement.
• Respecting scholars and teachers.
• Measuring success not only by income, but by growth in wisdom and character.

The crown of Torah is still available.
It waits for anyone who is willing to reach for it.

📖 Sources

• Full sources available on the Mitzvah Minute Parshas Terumah page under insights and commentaries