Our Mission

You have circled this mountain long enough; turn northward.

Deut. 2:3

On the one hand, the north is allegorically associated with menacing evil, as the prophet Jeremiah warns, “evil will break forth from the north upon all the inhabitants of the land.”

On the other hand, the north is also allegorically associated with the Torah. King Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs, says, “The eternal Torah was hidden” – the word for “hidden” (יצפן) being related to the word for “north” (צפון). In addition, the north alludes to the coming of the Messiah, as indicated in King David’s words, “How great is the goodness that You have hidden [צפנת] for those who fear You.”

The reason for this paradox is that the Torah teaches us how to reveal the inner core of good within everything, including elements of reality that appear to be evil, and this process will be completed with the coming of the Messiah.

Thus, in this verse, G-d is telling each of us: Now that you have received them Torah, My instruction manual for refining yourselves and the world at large, it is time to turn “northward” – to engage the world, even confronting evil when necessary, applying the Torah’s lessons to life. In this way, you will do your part toward bringing the world to its purpose and hastening the advent of the Messianic redemption.

— Daily Wisdom 3