Yeshiva
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Vayikra
The gemara (Yoma 4b) posits that the kri’ah preceding Hashem’s speaking is the Torah’s way of teaching us good manners – a person should not speak to his friend before calling out to him. It is interesting that this lesson about relationships between man and man comes in the opening specifically of a book that deals primarily with mitzvot between man and Hashem. We are to remember that even if one has an important piece of information to relay, he should do it in a manner that shows respect and grace. Not only is content important; so is the way it is conveyed.
Rashi (to our pasuk) also relates a compliment to Moshe. Hashem related to Moshe as to one of the angels in His "entourage." We also see the element of courtesy appreciated by people: "[He used] a language of affection, language that Heavenly angels use, as it says ‘… they called one to the other’ (Yeshayahu 6:3)." This quote appears in the ma’aseh hamerkava, one of the most sublime prophetic visions. We should learn that all the more so, a person who wants to impact on others should go about it by speaking to him in the proper manner.
Rabbeinu Asher, the famous halachist known as the Rosh, taught us a related lesson from our opening pasuk. The last letter of "Vayikra" is an abnormally small aleph, because Moshe would make himself small. Indeed, the Torah refers to Moshe as the humblest person on the face of the earth (Bamidbar 12:3). Moshe’s unique trait, which distinguished him even from Aharon and Miriam, was his humility. Indeed, anyone who wants to excel in the Torah of Moshe should be armed with a nice level of this characteristic.
The Zohar (Vayeilech 285a) connects between our pasuk and "When I call out in Hashem’s Name, ascribe greatness to our G-d" (Devarim 32:3). This connection hints at the following idea. Our pasuk, the "gateway" to the Torah of sacrifices, is closely connected to the general value of learning Torah (the pasuk in Devarim is the source of the mitzva to make a beracha before learning Torah). When we cannot bring korbanot, the study of Torah, which Moshe enabled, remains open. Again, in order to succeed in Torah, we need humility and the ability to relate nicely to our counterparts. Joining and helping society at large also requires us to embrace "Its ways are the ways of pleasantness" (Mishlei 3:17).
Hashem calls to us by means of Moshe and his Torah, and we call out to Hashem by learning that same Torah. May we soon merit to have the Beit Hamikdash in our midst, where the Divine Presence will dwell and Torah will emerge.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Hosha'ana Rabba FLYDUBAI & HOSHANA RABBA- ANI VAHU HOSHIA NA- I & HIM SAVE US
"Ani vaHu Hoshia Na", "I and Him, Save Us". We don't just pray to Him, but we also pray to and for ourselves that we should emulate and educate our children to have that instinctive altruism with which He created the world. President Trump seemed amused about Yaniv Hayon, our PLUMBER who confidently worked with G-d like Superman (he learned from a pilot on a TV show!) to save 174 lives on the Dubai hijacking, but we in Israel are totally accustomed already 78 years to our plumbers, teachers, garbage-men, rabbis, farmers & doctors being Hashem's shlichim! This is what Zionism is about.
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part I
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Our King on Rosh Hashana, Our Father on Yom Kippur.
Based on Aroch Siach, p. 221 (Rav Shaul Yisraeli)
