Vayikra: Before Hashem, With Hashem

In the Beis Midrash of Rebbe Yitzchak Meir Heschel of Zinkov (d. 1854), the oldest son and successor of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel, popularly known as the Apter Rebbe or the Oheiv Yisrael, there was an emphasis on avodas ha–middos, refining character traits, and in particular attaining humility. When the Rebbe returned home to Zinkov from a lengthy trip, he found that over the course of his absence, his community had hired a chazzan to lead prayer services. Unfortunately, this chazzan seemed to be lacking in Yiras Shamayim, and his middos did not live up to the standards the Rebbe was comfortable with. In defense of their hiring, the gabbai pleaded: “The chazzan was passing through town and had such a magnificent voice that everyone was so impressed! His voice fills the room, and he davens before the Amud so beautifully we didn’t think we needed to know anything more about his personality, and we offered him the job on the spot.”

Said the Rebbe, “Indeed, you found a chazzan who davens for the congregation before the Amud; however, in Zinkov, I would have preferred we had a chazzan who davens before Hashem.”

“Vayikra Hashem el Moshe—And Hashem called out to Moshe,” inviting him to enter the Ohel Moed, the Tent of Meeting, and stand before Him there for the first time. The last letter of the word Vayikra is written in our Torah scrolls as an alef zeira, a small alef, smaller in size than the other letters. The Meforshim comment this points out Moshe Rabbeinu’s humility, even as Hashem called to Moshe directly, Moshe remained anav mikol adam, “humbler than any other person” (Vayikra, 12:3).

Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt’l, Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaas points to Moshe Rabbeinu’s middah of humility and noted how self-aware those in positions of Jewish leadership and influence must be within their roles of power and authority. Jewish law states that when a Jewish king davens the Amidah, he must remain in a bowed position throughout the entire prayer, instilling in himself self-negation and humility before the King of Kings. Rav Belsky would say that malchus, rulership, is the ultimate avdus, servitude. It is in this spirit that the great tzaddik, Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, zt’l, would sign his letters as “A Servant of the Holy Nation in the Holy Land.”

Rambam writes of a Jewish king: “He must be exceedingly humble; (he must) not exercise pomp and dignity over his people more than necessary… (he must) be gracious and compassionate to young and old, and go and come for their sake and their good…and protect the honor of the smallest of the small…” (Hilchos Melachim, 2:6)

When the Tzemach Tzedek, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (the 3rd Lubavitcher Rebbe) was brought to cheder to learn Torah, he asked his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, why the letter alef of the word Vayikra is written smaller than the other letters. The Alter Rebbe explained to the young genius and future Rebbe that the alef zeira honors Moshe’s humility, his “smallness” in his own eyes. He shared an insight as to how Moshe maintained that middah: “Moshe Rabbeinu was aware of the outstanding qualities he had been blessed with, yet did not become conceited. Instead, with great humility, he said to himself, “Someone else in my position, given the opportunity to receive the Torah face-to-face from Hashem and granted all of this spiritual potential, would have accomplished so much more.”

After experiencing the chaotic unraveling of Covid-19, of our routine, expectations, sense of control, and stability, what is clear is how so many of us have been “davening for the Amud,” relying on external structures and framework, manmade (holy!) institutions and constructs for our spiritual and personal connection with Hashem. 

In the aftermath of this period, it is clear that each of us is called upon to be a shaliach tzibbur: We are all davening for one another, leading a congregation of even one in our own homes, for our families and friends, even online. It is clear how much we are all standing before Hashem. Individually and collectively, we are experiencing the humility of the alef zeira.

This Shabbos Vayikra, may we embrace a humbled state, hear Hashem’s calling, and respond directly to Him with open, sincere conversation, real talk, real kesher.

No more davening for the Amud before a congregation. 

Only before Hashem, with Hashem. 

Rav Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children and the author of the “Baderech” series. Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife, Ora, and their family.