Dear Friends,

This week’s Torah reading Vayikra, begins with the word "Vayikra" (ויקרא), meaning "And He called." Uniquely, the aleph at the end of the word is written smaller than the other letters in the Torah. The Baal HaTurim explains that this reflects Moshe’s humility. Unlike the word "Vayikar" (without an aleph), which was used for Hashem’s appearance to Bilaam the evil prophet suggesting a chance encounter. "Vayikra" (with an aleph), signifies a loving and intentional calling. Moshe, despite being the greatest prophet, did not see himself as worthy and wanted to downplay his closeness to Hashem, so he used a small aleph.

This small aleph teaches us the balance between greatness and humility. True humility does not mean denying one’s gifts; Moshe knew he was the leader of Israel, yet he remained humble by recognizing that everything he had was from Hashem. The greatest people are those who know their strengths but use them in service of something higher. 

The Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, once visited a shul where he noticed a man sitting with an air of self-importance. The Rebbe turned to him and said, "A yeshiva student once wrote to my father, the Rebbe Rashab, that he feels like a nothing. My father responded, ‘To be a nothing is also something!’ But my dear friend, you, on the other hand, have made yourself into something, perhaps it’s time to become a little more nothing?" 

Humility is not about thinking less of yourself; it’s about thinking of yourself less. Like Moshe, we must embrace our role while recognizing that all greatness comes from Hashem. When we do, we become true vessels for His calling.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Zushe Cunin