5785/2025
What is our Avodah? We can learn our Avodah from the very first word of the Parashah, “VaYikra”. The word “VaYikra” famously has a small Alef. The Baal HaTurim says that there is a small Alef because Moshe Rabbeinu wanted it to say “VaYikar”- not that Hashem called on Moshe, rather that Hashem “chanced” upon Moshe. This shows Moshe’s humility that he wanted it to seem that Hashem just chanced upon him, and not that Hashem especially called, giving attention, to Moshe. But Hashem responded to Moshe, saying, ‘No. I want everyone to see how close our relationship is, and I want everyone to know how great you are. Nevertheless, the Alef was written small out of respect for Moshe.
In other words, in the first word of the Parashah we find humility. But why now? We were already introduced to Moshe Rabbeinu in Sefer Shemot, so why does Hashem decide that now, at the start of Sefer VaYikra, is a good time to show Moshe’s humility? The Gemara in Sota answers: Rav Shimon Ben Levi says, “Come and see how great it is to have humility before of Hashem. What Hashem thinks of those who are humble.” When the Beit HaMikdash was around, one would bring a Korban Olah and receive the reward for bringing an Olah. One would bring a Korban Mincha and be rewarded for a Mincha. But someone who has a broken and humble spirit, the Gemara says, it is as if they brought all of the Korbanot and their tefillot will be answered. Based on the Pasuk ( ״זבחי אלקים רוח נשברה ולא עוד אלא שאין תפלתו נמאסת שנאמר לב נשבר ונדכה אלהים לא תבזה״ - Tehillim, 51:19). The Gemara here says that humility takes the place of all of the Korbanot! Something that we are yearning for and davening for is the Seder Korbanot in Sefer VaYikra; and what takes the place of that is humility, ”Anavah”.
But it’s not easy; we naturally are haughty, wanting everyone to think highly of us. However, if we have humility, it is as if we brought the Korbanot. That’s why it’s in the first word of the Sefer. Humility is thinking that you are insignificant in this world and that the purpose of your life is to serve Hashem; and that you will always do what is right. There is no greater foundation. hen we bring a Korban, the goal is not the Korban; it’s that when we bring a Korban, we lower ourselves. We realize that we’ve done something wrong. Bringing the Korban shows that you are not superior.
We need to realize why we’re here in this world. We are here to serve Hashem and at the same time try our best to help everyone around us; as did Moshe Rabbeinu. The Midrash said Moshe Rabbeinu had 10 names. One of them was ירד - he brought down the Torah; another was חבר - he attached us to Hashem. Our name is our essence and that’s what we see from Moshe’s names reflecting Torah and kinship. This raises the question: why did Hashem choose to keep the name that Bat Pharoah gave Moshe in Mitzrayim when she “drew him from the water”? What does that tell us about Moshe? Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz observes that this story is about the daughter of Pharoah saving a Jewish baby boy from the river. She sacrificed herself to save his life. When you act toward someone in a certain way, it becomes part of them, and this became part of Moshe. Moshe became someone who sacrificed for others and put others above himself. That’s why we call him “Moshe.” because that is what Bat Pharoah’s act and subsequently Moshe’s character represented. Moshe Rabbeinu’s greatness was not only about the Torah that he learned and brought the Torah to Bnei Yisrael; it was his humbly, putting others before himself.
The Torah is compared to water. The Gemara in Taanit says that just like water trickles down and finds the lowest point, so too one Must lower oneself with humility to connect to the Torah. And it’s the humility that brings us closer to Hashem. May we all be Zoche to learn from Moshe’s humility and improve in our Avodat Hashem.