Shabbat Forshpeis
A Taste of Torah in Honor of Shabbat
PARSHAT VA-YIKRA
THE LIFE LESSONS OF THE SMALL ALEPH
MARCH 14-15, 2003 / 11 ADAR II 5763
When beginning this weeks parsha,
we realize that the very first word of the Book of Leviticus has a letter aleph that is smaller than the others. Why?
Smaller, suggests the Baal Turim, because it points to Moshes (Moses) humility. It teaches an ethical lesson. Moshe preferred the text to read va-yikar without a final aleph, as va-yikar means "by chance." Rather than state that God called Moshe (va-yikra) implying a constant close relationship, Moshe, in his modesty, wished the text to read that God spoke with him only occasionally (va-yikar). Moshe, of course, adheres to Gods command that the aleph be included, but does so humbly and writes a small aleph.
A second, more mystical thought comes to mind. Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, the first Ashkenazik Chief Rabbi of Israel insists that the soul is made up of different Hebrew letters. When performing a mitzvah (commandment) Rav Kook argues, the letters shine brightly. In other words, whatever the action required for a religious observance, it ought reflect an inner spiritual quest and, that quest is expressed through the illumination of the inner letters.
Perhaps this teaching explains why the aleph is smaller. The aleph, being the first letter of the alphabet, represents all Hebrew letters, and those letters for Rav Kook mirror the idea of the "soul aglow." A korban (sacrifice) which is the subject of Gods calling to Moshe (va-yikra) should not remain an external empty gesture. It must be complemented by the human beings inner decision to internalize the mitzvah. Hence, the aleph is distinguished by being written small, as the goal of the sacrifice is to stir the figuratively small, albeit powerful "lights of the soul" drawing one near God. No wonder the very word korban comes from the word karov, to come close to God.
A final Chassidic thought: Rav Shlomo Carlebach often told the story of the Munkatsha passport. In this story a chassid asked the Munkatsha Rebbe for a passport to travel from Munkatsh to Berlin just before WW II. Considering the climate of the times the request seemed impossible to fulfill. After many hours, the Rebbe emerged from his private chambers and gave him an empty piece of paper soaked with tears with which the chassid was escorted everywhere in Germany with great honor.
Rav Shlomo explained that the Munkatsha passport surfaces over and over in our lives. When a bride walks around the groom, they give each other the Munkatsha passport. When children are born they close their eyes and cry, giving to and receiving from their parents the Munkatsha passport. And when we stand near the Kotel to pray before the Lord, we do so with the Munkatsha passport. And, concluded Rav Shlomo, when we begin the Talmud, we start on the second page daf bais. Where is daf aleph, the first page? It is empty, absolutely empty. It is the Munkatsha passport.
Rav Shlomo never explained what the Munkatsha passport meant, but for me it represents infinite love. Hence, the aleph of va-yikra is small to remind us of the importance of approaching God with daf aleph, with the Munkatsha passport symbol of the unconditional love that we ought have for God and that God has for us and that we should all have for one another.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Avi Weiss
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