Subject: In Memory of Shmuel Leib ben Zvi (Lewis Berkin) & Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin) Vayikra 5783 |
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
Date: 3/24/2023, 9:35 AM |
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com |
In this week's parsha we begin the book of Vayikra, which deals primarily with the laws pertaining to the Kohanim and the service in the Tabernacle and Holy Temple. The first word of this book is Vayikra "and (Hashem) called to Moshe". If you look into the way the word is actually written in the sefer Torah, you will see that the last letter of the word the letter "Aleph" is written smaller than the other letters of the word.
Rashi comments that the word Vayikra is a term of calling with endearment. One would think that if G-d was calling to Moshe with endearment then the word certainly would not have a small letter. Maybe it should even have a big letter showing G-d's Love. But the small letter teaches us a very important lesson. Even when we are getting something small or less than what we expect, when we feel "short changed" so to speak with our lot in life, we should realize that it is out of endearment. We don't see the full picture and we are always convinced we know what is best for us. Of course we need to always pray and strive for what we think is proper, but if things don't go the way we want we should realize this is from Above for our best. The Aleph is also the first letter of the Hebrew word Emunah (faith). We must always keep our faith in G-d that what is happening is for our best.
Shabbat Shalom,
Heath