Shabbat Greetings
The book of Leviticus opens with the word, “Vayikra,” and [God] called. This is also the name of our portion this week, Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26) “And [God] called to Moses” and told him to enter the Tabernacle. This use of the word Vayikra is unique in the Torah. Every other time God communicates with Moses the Torah uses one of two words: vay’daber – “and God spoke” – or vayomer – “and God said.” What’s more, the last letter of the word vayikra, alef, is written much smaller than the other letters. What is the Torah seeking to tell us here?
The great medieval commentator Rashi suggests that God instructed Moses to write vayikra here rather than vay’daber or vayomer because God wanted the Torah to convey the intimate personal relationship that existed between God and Moses. God wanted to use the word “called” to demonstrate that God speaking to Moses was not a chance occurrence but reflected that relationship.
In contrast, when the pagan prophet Balaam receives a message from God in his dreams, the Torah uses the word vayikar – spelled the same but without the alef at the end.” Vayikar means “to chance upon” and implies that Balaam’s encounter with God was not reflective of any relationship.
According to a rabbinic midrash, Moses, who was exceedingly humble, did not want to be recognized in this way, and so desired to write the word without the alef. God insisted, and far be it for Moses to disobey God. He writes the alef. But out of his humility, because he did not see himself as special, he wrote the alef very small.
A modern rabbinic interpretation offers what is perhaps the most meaningful explanation of the small alef, given our predicament today. The rabbis say that the small alef teaches us that God spoke very softly. Only Moses could hear God, not the Israelites. In the same way, Elijah at Mount Sinai finds that God is not in the strong wind, the earthquake or the fire. Instead, God speaks to him with a “still, small voice.” The small alef and the still small voice are reminders to us that that God is often found in the small and quiet moments in life.
Many feel they experience God in the cataclysmic events in life: in war, diplomacy, natural wonders and disasters. But a person of faith feels and sees the presence of God also in the small and quiet moments of life: a smile, a tear, a loving look or embrace, a flower or rainbow. Those who seek God will find God in the quiet moments, when we have time to read our sacred texts, pray, meditate and reflect. Too often the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives is so intense that it can drown out the voice of God. When we push all that “noise” out of our hearts and minds, we can feel the spirit of God rushing in like the tide, filling our very being with its soothing presence, calming us, giving us a sense of purpose and direction, and renewing our strength.
There is much that can be difficult about today’s world. Take a break once in awhile for we have been handed a great gift: the ability to open ourselves up to God’s spirit, God’s guidance and strength. Use these moments to close out the noise and let in God’s light.
SHABBAT SHALOM