When you build a house that is new, you shall make a guard rail for your roofכִּי תִבְנֶה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָDevarim 22:8
The Noam Elimelech looks into the deeper meaning of this verse. He explains that the beginning of this verse "When you build a house" refers to our 'internal house', in other words our souls. The soul is a very holy entity and needs to be protected and maintained regularly.
How can we protect the soul?
New Torah
He explains that the next word in this verse has the answer - 'new'. What does it mean to be new for this 'internal house'? This means to regularly bring in Torah to enrich and inject the soul with something fresh and meaningful. 'New' Torah means everyday exposing the soul to Torah, weather through a dedicated shiur and taking the extra time to study something new, or review something as well.
From the Depths
The verse continues with 'you shall make a guard rail for your roof.' This, according to the Noam Elimelech, means that you should deepen and descend from your heights. This he shows from the word 'guard rail' which in Hebrew appears as 'מעקה'. The word 'מעקה' comes out the word 'מִמַּעֲמַקִּים' which is from the depths, as expressed in Tehillim.
A song of ascents. From the depths I have called You, HashemThat is where we have to be to nurture our souls, down into the depths. From there is where we are moved to call out to Hashem, and connect to Hashem. By descending into the depths, we can undermine a sense of aloofness and pride that we may fall into.שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ הTehillim 130:1
Step Down from Pride
Finally the phrase concludes with 'for your roof.' The roof hints to pride, since a roof is located in a high place. When we degrade ourselves, then we prepare our 'house' to be built appropriately and justly.
We should all be blessed to nurture our souls with fresh Torah daily and continue to grow and enhance our connection with Hashem.
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