Torah Is One, But the Path Into It Is Personal
One of the biggest reasons people struggle with Torah learning is because they assume it should look the same for everyone. But Torah is not a cookie-cutter experience. Torah is alive, dynamic—and it meets each soul differently.
In fact, one of the most liberating teachings I’ve ever encountered comes from the Arizal, the great 16th-century Kabbalist. He taught that every soul originates from a different spiritual world, and that origin influences how a person most naturally connects to Torah.
In other words, you may be feeling disconnected from Torah not because there’s something wrong with you—but because you haven’t yet found the doorway that was designed for your soul.
The Arizal’s Insight: Four Worlds, Four Gateways
According to the Arizal, there are four spiritual realms from which souls descend—Asiyah, Yetzirah, Beriah, and Atzilut. Each corresponds to a different aspect of Torah:
- Asiyah: Souls rooted here connect to Tanakh—the stories, the prophecies, the raw emotional power of biblical narrative.
- Yetzirah: These souls are drawn to Mishnah—its structure, simplicity, and distilled halachic clarity.
- Beriah: Those from this realm resonate with Gemara—the debates, the analysis, the intellectual and spiritual back-and-forth.
- Atzilut: The souls closest to the Divine may be drawn to Kabbalah—the mystical teachings of divine flow, soul structure, and cosmic harmony.
This doesn’t mean you only study one area of Torah, but it does mean that your natural entry point—your gateway—isn’t random. It’s a reflection of who you are at your soul’s root.
If Torah Doesn’t Speak to You, Try Listening Through Another Door
Sadly, many people give up on Torah learning because they try to force themselves through a door that doesn’t open for them. They sit in a Gemara shiur but feel lost. Or they study Halacha but feel uninspired. They begin to think they’re not smart enough, not spiritual enough, not cut out for learning.
But Torah was never meant to be one-size-fits-all. The Talmud itself is a compilation of arguments, of voices that disagree and still belong. That’s not a flaw—that’s the design. The diversity of opinions in Torah reflects the diversity of souls learning it.
There’s nothing wrong with you. You just need to find your door.
Let the Torah Enter Where Your Soul Opens
Torah is not about covering material. Torah is about uncovering yourself. Your journey doesn’t start with what others say you “should” learn. It starts with what lights you up. The part of Torah that stirs your curiosity, humbles your mind, awakens your heart—that’s your gateway. Once you walk through it, the rest of Torah begins to unfold.
So ask yourself:
What part of Torah feels like home to you?
That may be exactly where your soul is waiting to begin
