Parshas Vayikra 5775
The parsha begins that Hashem called to Moshe (Vayikra) and spoke to him. Rashi addresses why the two words, “called” and “spoke” are used, explaining that Hashem’s call to Moshe indicates His love for him. Calling upon a person by name expresses closeness and familiarity. This, as compared to Hashem’s manner of calling in prophecy to Bilaam, where instead of Vayikra the word vayikar is used, implying a chance meeting where there is no real connection between the two parties. This is because Moshe was able to connect to Hashem, whereas Bilaam, mired in physicality, could not relate to Him.
The word “Vayikra” that begins the parsha is spelled with a small letter alef. Why?
The Baal Haturim explains that when Moshe was commanded to write the word Vayikra, he objected. He did not want to write this word in a way that showed that he had a close relationship with Hashem. Moshe, as the most humble man on earth, did not want to express his prophecy as any higher than that of Bilaam. Even when Hashem forced him to write Vayikra and not vayikar, Moshe did so only with a small alef, so as not to draw attention to his special relationship with Hashem.
We should ask, though: This is not the first appearance of the word Vayikra as pertaining to Moshe’s prophecy. Why here did Moshe write a small alef as opposed to Shmos 3:4 where it appears the first time?
Rav Shach answers that Moshe didn’t reach his greatest level of humility right away. This was an ongoing process in which Moshe consistently strengthened himself in this middah. Ultimately, he reached the special level of humility that finds expression in this week’s parsha. Until then, Moshe would have been able to spell the word Vayikra with the alef and feel no need to object. Now, after so many efforts to build up his level of humility, Moshe felt that he could not write such a word about himself. He therefore wrote Vayikra here with a small alef so as not to emphasize his special relationship with Hashem.
With this understanding of the Baal Haturim, that the alef expresses Moshe’s humility, The Kotzker Rebbe explains an enigmatic comment in Midrash Tanchuma. The verse states that Moshe “did not know that his face was shining” (Shmos 34:30), and in order to teach the people he had to cover himself to conceal this overpowering light. The Midrash (end of parshas Ki Sissa) states that Moshe’s face shined because of the extra ink left over from his writing the sefer Torah.
What does extra ink have to do with Moshe’s face having exceptional light? The Kotzker Rebbe answers, the luminescence of Moshe’s face came from the ink that Moshe left over when he chose to write the word Vayikra with a small alef. That “leftover ink” therefore represents Moshe’s humility. This aspect of humility was what made Moshe so holy that his face reflected the celestial light of the Shechina, making it impossible to behold him with human eyes.
This may sound like a madreiga reached only once in human history, but the Ramban states in his famous letter to his son (Igeres Haramban) that this is something any Jew can reach, each at his level: “When you conduct yourself in the manner of humility, to be embarrassed of any man and fear him and fear sin, the spirit of the Shechina and the luminescence of its glory will dwell upon you …”
People have a built-in desire for recognition and honor. In fact, while many of the taavosthat we must overcome tend to diminish in intensity as we grow older, the desire for honor does not. In addition, the greater we grow in Torah, the more the yetzer hara for honor grows as well.
How can we work on humility? Rav Shlomo Wolbe suggests several ways, starting withchizuk in davening. Davening should not be done simply to “be yotzei zein” (get one’s obligation out of the way). One should work hard to instill in himself while davening the sense that he is utterly dependent on Hashem. This brings a person to humility.
Another way is to be modeh al ha’emess, to be willing to admit one’s mistakes. Anyone who learns with a chavrusa knows how difficult this can be, but it brings us very far in building our humility. Even those who don’t learn with a chavrusa can train themselves to accept what others have to say.
Of course, one who is zoche to serve a great talmid chacham and tzaddik, feeling completehisbatlus (subjugation) to him, has already gained a level of humility. Lastly, one can remind himself (not in a morbid way) of his own mortality.
Once, when Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein was learning in the Slobodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, agadol beTorah came in and asked the bnei yeshiva a difficult question on the Gemara they were learning.
“Can anybody answer this question?” he called out.
As the bachurim began discussing possible answers with each other, Rav Zilberstein noticed that a bachur sitting off in a corner whispered a teirutz to the one sitting next to him, and the listener realized that this indeed was the answer. Then, the bachur told the listener to tell over his teirutz, adding: “don’t tell anyone that I said it. I don’t want anykavod for this.”
As the second bachur began saying over the teirutz, all other discussion in the beis medrash stopped. The teirutz was taken up enthusiastically by all. This was an answer that testified to the sharp grasp and nimble mind of the one who had thought of it.
Rav Zilberstein was moved by the first bachur’s insistence that he not receive any honor, and his willingness to let one of his friends receive it instead. As everyone praised the one who said the teirutz, Rav Zilberstein resolved to ascertain who the bachur was who had authored it.
It turned out that this bachur had a tragic history. He had barely survived the Holocaust and was all alone in Eretz Yisrael. Rav Zilberstein decided to check in periodically to see what would become of this bachur. He merited Hashem’s constant siyatta deShemaya and eventually this bachur became one of the leading marbitzei Torah of the generation.
Comments Rav Zilberstein: “How he merited this, we cannot know for sure, but I suggest that it was because of his exceptional humility.”
May we be zoche to grow in humility and reflect Hashem’s divine light!
Exciting news! Rabbi Krieger will soon be publishing a sefer featuring the “best” of the weekly Parsha sheet. If you would like to share in this celebration, please go towww.bircas.org for further details.