Hashem Calls to Us

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

The parashah starts with the word “vayikra,” referring to Hashem calling to Moshe. Rashi tells us that this word connotes calling with love, and that Hashem used this form of communication for all of the commandments that He gave to Moshe. In contrast, when Hashem addressed non-Jewish prophets, the word “vayikar,” without an aleph at the end of the word, is used. This word denotes impurity and happenstance. Hashem dislikes interacting with the nations of the world, so the non-Jewish prophets receive a cold reception.

We may wonder, though. Why not call warmly to the non-Jewish prophets as well, and bring them closer to the truth with love?

Rav Gedalia Schorr explains that when the word “call” is used, the caller expects the listener to hearken to what he wants to say. In order to be “called” by Hashem, we must become people who will listen. The Jewish people were the only ones that desired a relationship with Hashem. When Hashem called, we listened. However, with the nations of the world, Hashem has to “come over to them,” as it were, in order to achieve any communication. We see from here that in order to achieve closeness to Hashem, we have to show Him that we are ready to listen.

Rav Schorr notes that this principle is taught here, at the beginning of the laws of the korbanos. This is because the idea of bringing a korban is to bring us close to Hashem, as the Hebrew root of the word korban conveys. Such closeness can only be achieved with the proper mindset, and it requires preparation.

Nowadays, tefillah fills the place of korbanos, and the same responsibilities apply. Before each tefillah, we must first remind ourselves that we are coming close to Hashem. As we stand in prayer to Him, we should keep this attitude clear in our minds.

The Zohar states that everyday a Bas Kol (Heavenly voice) proclaims, “Return, wayward sons!” The Slonimer Rebbe cites the Ba’al Shem Tov, who asks: who cares? We don’t hear this voice in our lives (as we are not on the level of prophecy needed to hear it). What do we gain from knowing that there is such a Bas Kol?

The Ba’al Shem Tov answers this question with another one. When a person decides to repent out of the blue, where did his inspiration come from? When a person suddenly decides to take control of his actions and completely overhaul his personality, how did the idea enter his mind?

It was the Bas Kol. Just as Hashem called to Moshe, He calls to us, constantly, in myriad, subtle ways. To this day, we remain the nation that is willing to listen to Hashem’s guidance and take the steps needed to obey His call to us. Thus, a Jew can be inspired to repent at any time.

Rabbeinu Yonah (Sha’arei Teshuvah 2:22) writes that a Jew should always be thinking about getting closer to Hashem. We must realize that getting close to Him is the purpose of our existence and the only thing that is meaningful.

It is easy to get distracted, but we must never forget that our days are numbered. As the Mishnah (Avos 2:15) states, “The day is short and the tasks are numerous.” We have so much to do. How are we going to achieve some semblance of fear, love, and trust in Hashem? We have a constant obligation to strive for closeness with Hashem.

In the previous generation, one of the great roshei yeshivah was Rav Aharon Cohen. He was a genius, but his brilliance in Torah was rivaled by his exceptional righteousness. He was very sickly, and he suffered the pain of childlessness as well. Nevertheless, his focus was always on growth and closeness to Hashem. He was a constant source of inspiration to those around him, and his home was always full of the needy.

As one of the heads of the Chevron Yeshivah, Rav Aharon was considered an eminent leader in the Litvishe world, but this did not stop him from pursuing other paths in his service of Hashem. Rav Aharon developed a close relationship with Rav Aharon Roiteh, a chassidic Rebbe. Every Shabbos, he would visit the Rebbe and observe his enthusiastic tefillah. He then applied what he had learned to his own davening. He was willing to do whatever it took to get closer to Hashem, and that was the only thing that mattered to him.

May we be zocheh to listen to Hashem’s call!

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