Read the pasuk below from Parshat Noach as well as the interesting interpretation from the Ba'al Shem Tov. Then answer the question below.
“G‑d said to Noach: ‘Enter, you and all your family, into the ark.’” (7:1)
QUESTION: The word “Torah” derives from the word “hora’ah” — “teaching.” Every detail of Torah teaches us eternal lessons which we can use in our daily lives. What practical lesson can we learn from Hashem’s command to Noach to enter into the ark?
ANSWER: The Hebrew word “teivah” used for “ark” (meaning here a large, floating “box”) also means “word.” Hashem is telling us also to “enter” into the “words” of Torah and prayer.
Sometimes when we study Torah we forget its holiness and the One who gave us the Torah; we say our prayers without sincerity or attention to their meaning.
Just as Noach was commanded to “enter” with his entire being into the ark (“teivah”), so we are told to “enter” with all our heart and soul into the words (“teivot”) of Torah and prayer, reading the words carefully from the Torah-book or prayer-book, saying each word with feeling.
In this way we will fulfill, in the spiritual sense, a (previous) command Hashem gave to Noach: “A light shall you make for the teivah” (6:16) — you shall illuminate the words (“teivot”) of Torah and prayer with deeper feeling and holiness, until they become “bright and shining” words that illuminate one’s whole being with G‑d’s holiness.
(בעל שם טוב)
Source: Chabad.org Parshat Noach Q & A
What is the Ba'al Shem Tov teaching us about the ideal (best) way to daven and learn Torah?
For a more thorough discussion about the idea of the Besht and the role of Tefilah in the month of Cheshvan, check out Rav Shlomo Katz's shiur The Wonder of Cheshvan below. You can find the video version on Youtube.
In the space below, try doing a "brain dump," where you write a list of words that come into your head about a particular topic. It doesn't need to be in sentences or make "sense;" rather, it should reflect the thoughts and feelings that come to mind when you think of the topic. Here are the questions:
What is YOUR experience with Tefila? What do you WISH your experience was with Tefila?