{"id":4799,"date":"2024-03-19T11:38:06","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T15:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/seventyfacesoftorah\/?p=4799"},"modified":"2024-04-16T09:44:24","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T13:44:24","slug":"what-is-ours-to-do-the-humble-aleph-of-leviticus-1-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/seventyfacesoftorah\/2024\/03\/what-is-ours-to-do-the-humble-aleph-of-leviticus-1-1\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Ours to Do? The \u201cHumble\u201d Aleph of Leviticus 1:1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Parashat Va\u2019yikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26<\/a>)<\/i><\/p>\n

By Rabbi Or N. Rose, Director, Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership<\/a>, Hebrew College <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he [YHWH] called to Moses from the Tent of Meeting\u2026\u201d
\n\"Vayikra
\nAs one can see in the image above, the letter Aleph at the end of the word \u201cVa\u2019yikra\u2014And He called,\u201d is smaller than the rest of the letters. This oddity (like other instances of reduced or enlarged letters in the Hebrew Bible<\/a>) has led to an outpouring of creative commentary throughout the ages.<\/p>\n

One common interpretation is that the small Aleph<\/em> is reflective of Moses\u2019 humility. Even though he is a great prophet and leader, Moses does not develop an outsized ego. In fact, the Bible later describes him as \u201chumbler than all other people on the face of the earth.\u201d (Numbers 12:3<\/a>) As we begin reading the third book of the Torah\u2014the center point or heart of the \u201cFive Books of Moses\u201d\u2014we are reminded of the core value of humility.<\/p>\n

But humility is not the same as denigration. The great Hasidic master, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev<\/a> (1740-1809), makes this point deftly through a careful reading of the verse just cited from the Book of Numbers. Why is Moses described as \u201chumbler\u201d than all other people? Because while they turned their gaze downward\u2014to \u201cthe earth\u201d\u2014Moses looked up to the heavens. Meaning, Moses did not think of himself as a lowly creature, but in meditating on the vastness of creation, and his place in it, he came to an appropriate assessment of his stature. As the Berditchever states, \u201cThis is the rung of the true and holy tzaddik<\/em> (righteous one), who comes to this level of humility through his contemplative gaze\u201d upon the whole of the cosmos, including the angels above, who stand before the blessed Creator in \u201cawe and fear.\u201d Moses did not seek to aggrandize or belittle himself, but to position himself fittingly within the \u201cgreat chain of being.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

In crafting this commentary on Moses, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak is, of course, exploring the meaning of humility for himself as a religious leader and for his community. In fact, Hasidic masters are commonly referred to as tzaddikim<\/em> (plural form of tzaddik<\/em>). What does it mean to be a humble seeker and\/or leader? This master\u2019s answer is that it requires one to develop a measured understanding of their place within their earthly and cosmic contexts.<\/p>\n

Inspired by this insight, I find myself asking the following questions anew:
\nWhat is my current location?
\nWhere do I wish to be?
\nHow can I utilize my particular talents and skills to become the best possible version of myself, and in so doing, be of greater service to others?\u202f<\/em><\/p>\n

It is noteworthy that God\u2019s call to Moses at the beginning of Leviticus comes immediately after the Israelite leader has completed the great task of erecting the Tabernacle<\/a>. In fact, in the closing lines of the Book of Exodus, we learn that, \u201cthe glory of YHWH\u201d so filled the new sanctuary that Moses could not enter it<\/a>. Furthermore, now that the Tabernacle has been built, it will be Aaron, the High Priest, and not Moses, who will serve as the chief actor in this sacred domain and in the ritual life of the Israelite community. This, too, requires Moses to demonstrate humility. He must make space for his brother to carry out his priestly duties. This is not an act of self-deprecation but one of thoughtful recognition of their respective leadership roles.<\/p>\n

In reading the opening words of Leviticus\u2014including contemplating the significance of the \u201chumble\u201d Aleph<\/em>\u2014we are invited to reflect on our place within our communities, past and present, and within the larger context of creation. And like Moses, even when we find ourselves outside of the sacred center (or offstage) we must listen intently for God\u2019s call emerging from the \u201cTent of Meeting.\u201d Each of us has a distinctive role to play in the unfolding cosmic drama; discerning what is ours to do\u2014and what is not\u2014is essential to this sacred service.<\/p>\n

\n

Rabbi Or N. Rose is the founding Director of the Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership of Hebrew College<\/a>. His recent publications include <\/em>With the Best of Intentions: Interreligious Misteps and Mistakes<\/a> and <\/em>Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi: Essential Teachings<\/a> (both by Orbis Books).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Parashat Va\u2019yikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26) By Rabbi Or N. Rose, Director, Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership, Hebrew College \u201cAnd he [YHWH] called to Moses from the Tent of Meeting\u2026\u201d As one can see in the image above, the letter Aleph at the end of the word \u201cVa\u2019yikra\u2014And He called,\u201d is smaller than the rest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3007,"featured_media":4802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[14,190,41],"class_list":["post-4799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-70-faces-of-torah","tag-interreligious","tag-moses"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Ours to Do? The \u201cHumble\u201d Aleph of Leviticus 1:1<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Parashat Va\u2019yikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26) By Rabbi Or N. 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