Parashat Noah: How prayer becomes an ark that carries us through turbulent times - opinion

An opinion piece on Parashat Noah explores the Baal Shem Tov's teaching that the Hebrew word 'teiva' means both 'ark' and 'word,' interpreting prayer as a vessel of refuge. The article connects this to a painting by Yoram Raanan that merges an ark and a lute, symbolizing how prayer and music can sustain us through the year ahead.

This opinion piece, published on October 16, 2026, in The Jerusalem Post, examines the Torah portion Parashat Noah through the lens of a teaching by the Baal Shem Tov, the 18th-century founder of Hassidic Judaism. The author, Meira Raanan, focuses on the Hebrew word 'teiva,' which means both 'ark' and 'word.' The Baal Shem Tov's teaching, found in 'Amud Hatefila,' instructs that entering the words of prayer is akin to entering the ark—a vessel of refuge and spiritual concentration. The article connects this to a painting by Yoram Raanan, which spontaneously depicts a ship that also resembles a lute, symbolizing how prayer and music can carry and sustain individuals through turbulent times. The piece is framed as a reflection on the end of the Jewish holiday season, suggesting that the experience of prayer can be carried into the ordinary year ahead. The author discloses that she is the wife of the artist and is writing a book on art and Jewish spirituality.