Why does the first word in Vayikra end with an undersized letter aleph? Moshe, say the sages, wanted the word to be written not "Vayikra" with the aleph ("And He called"), but as "Vayikar" - without the aleph ("And He happened upon," as in the case of Bilaam in Bamidbar 23:4).
In his humility, Moshe did not want to write a word that suggested that G-d regularly called to him. He wanted to appear as merely an occasional recipient of G-d's call, Vayikar. When G-d insisted that the aleph be included, Moshe inserted it, but made it smaller than the rest of the word.
None of us is a Moshe, but each of us is bidden to hear the call of G-d embedded within His Torah. We might think - might even wish! - that this call is only occasional - Vayikar. Not so. G-d calls us through Vayikra - with a healthy, full-sized aleph.
G-d has provided us with special listening devices to enable us to hear His call. Through Torah study, we can enter, however tentatively, the Divine Mind of G-d. Through prayer, we enable G-d to enter into our hearts and souls. Gemilut chasadim, deeds of kindness, is another "hearing aid" by which the echo of G-d resounds in our actions. And each of the 613 mitzvot constitutes a distinctive modality of G-d's call. Together, they combine to make us the recipients of G-d's full Vayikra.
G-d can be heard anywhere, but primarily on the soil of Eretz Yisrael is His call heard most clearly, minus the foreign static that is endemic to the Diaspora. Although Israel is often cacophonous, one can hear the call of G-d here as in no other place.
In this Land, it is Vayikra, not Vayikar.
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Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, retired editor of Tradition and formerly rabbi in Atlanta, has just published his eighth book, Biblical Questions, Spiritual Journeys.
In his humility, Moshe did not want to write a word that suggested that G-d regularly called to him. He wanted to appear as merely an occasional recipient of G-d's call, Vayikar. When G-d insisted that the aleph be included, Moshe inserted it, but made it smaller than the rest of the word.
None of us is a Moshe, but each of us is bidden to hear the call of G-d embedded within His Torah. We might think - might even wish! - that this call is only occasional - Vayikar. Not so. G-d calls us through Vayikra - with a healthy, full-sized aleph.
G-d has provided us with special listening devices to enable us to hear His call. Through Torah study, we can enter, however tentatively, the Divine Mind of G-d. Through prayer, we enable G-d to enter into our hearts and souls. Gemilut chasadim, deeds of kindness, is another "hearing aid" by which the echo of G-d resounds in our actions. And each of the 613 mitzvot constitutes a distinctive modality of G-d's call. Together, they combine to make us the recipients of G-d's full Vayikra.
G-d can be heard anywhere, but primarily on the soil of Eretz Yisrael is His call heard most clearly, minus the foreign static that is endemic to the Diaspora. Although Israel is often cacophonous, one can hear the call of G-d here as in no other place.
In this Land, it is Vayikra, not Vayikar.
-------------------------------
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, retired editor of Tradition and formerly rabbi in Atlanta, has just published his eighth book, Biblical Questions, Spiritual Journeys.