The First Word: A Call

The opening word of this week’s parsha is not just a beginning; it is an invitation:

“Vayikra el Moshe…” — “And He called to Moshe…” (Vayikra 1:1)

Rashi, quoting the Midrash, explains something remarkable:
This “calling” (Vayikra) is an expression of love.

Before G-d speaks, before instructions are given, before action is required, there is a call.

A personal call.
A deliberate call.
A loving call.

Why the Small Aleph?

In a Sefer Torah (Torah Scroll), the word Vayikra is written with a small Aleph.

The Baal HaTurim explains that Moshe Rabbeinu wanted to write “Vayikar” (which implies something more casual, like a chance encounter, as it says regarding Bilaam). But Hashem instructed him to write “Vayikra”, a language of closeness and affection.

So Moshe compromised: he wrote the Aleph small.

This small Aleph represents something powerful:

True greatness comes with humility.
Even when we are called, we don’t inflate ourselves; we listen.

Korbanos: Drawing Close

The central theme of Vayikra is korbanos (offerings).

But the word korban comes from the root “karov”,  meaning “to come close.”

The purpose of a korban is not sacrifice for its own sake.
It is about reconnection.

Tanya explains that the core idea of a korban is to channel our animalistic drives and elevate them to a higher purpose.

It’s not about losing something, it’s about transforming something.

A Message for Today

We no longer bring physical korbanos, but the deeper message is as relevant as ever.

Every one of us is constantly being “called.”

  • A moment to show patience instead of anger

  • An opportunity to help someone quietly

  • A nudge to grow, to improve, to step up

These are our modern-day korbanos.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe teaches that the call of Vayikra is ongoing; it’s not just for Moshe. It’s for each of us, in every generation.

The question is:

Are we listening?

For Those on the Front Lines

For those serving in law enforcement, military, and public safety, this message carries even deeper meaning.

Your life is filled with noise:

  • Radios

  • Sirens

  • Urgency

  • Pressure

And yet, beneath it all, there is a quieter voice.

A voice that calls you to:

  • Act with integrity

  • Lead with compassion

  • Carry responsibility with humility

That voice is your Vayikra.

The Real Avodah

The Ramban explains that korbanos (offerings) are meant to awaken something inside, so that a person should feel as if they themselves are being drawn closer.

Today, our “offering” is:

  • Our time

  • Our ego

  • Our comfort

  • Our reactions

Every time we choose growth over instinct,
We answer the call.

Final Reflection

Vayikra reminds us:

G-d does not begin with demands.
He begins with a call.

A quiet one.
A personal one.
A loving one.

And perhaps the greatest question of all is not:

“Am I doing enough?”

But rather:

Am I listening when I am called?

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