Before we begin reading the Torah, we open the ark and recite a passage from the Zohar.

The Baal Shem Tov once said that when the ark is opened and we recite these words with purity, faith and from the depths of our heart, God will fulfill our requests, whether fully or in part. It is a time of extreme holiness, as the Alter Rebbe, R. Schneur Zalman, once said: “When the ark is opened, the world of the Ark of the Covenant of God is opened as well. Herein lies all the exertion and self-sacrifice invested in all the Torah scrolls that we have ever written. The angel Michael then proclaims, “God is in His holy sanctuary, let all the world fall silent before Him!” At this time, when we say this prayer from the depths of our heart, the angel Michael intercedes on our behalf.”