Sedra of the week: Vayikra
By Rabbi Jonny Roodyn
At first glance, the book of Leviticus appears as unintelligible as its name. The technical details of the various offerings are a far cry from the dramatic stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the subsequent slavery in and redemption from Egypt.
However, there are lessons to be learnt from these sedras, just like all the others. The very first word of the book, after which it gets its name vayikra, is written in an unusual fashion.
The final aleph of the word is written in a smaller superscript font. This means that the word can now be read two ways, either as vayekar or in the conventional fashion, vayikra. These two words have radically different meanings.
The term vayekar has connotations of randomness and chance. This is a term that is used to refer to enemies of the Jewish people such as Amalek, ’who happened upon us on the way’ and the evil prophet Bilaam. By way of contrast, the word vayikra means ‘and he called’.
In this instance, it is God calling out to Moses in a direct and specific communication. The story is told of the great Chasidic leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk who, when asked the age-old question: ‘Where is God?’ replies pithily ‘wherever you let Him in’.
The Hebrew word for ‘world’ is olam, which comes from the word ne’elam, concealed. Human beings are given the choice to see the world as a collection of random events or as part of a big picture, one where the details are incredibly significant. The Chasidic masters say that there is always a voice calling out to us, but we have to be able to listen to it.
One who sees the world as a collection of random events is unable to find meaning or significance in things that occur, because they simply happen.
A person who lives with the perspective of vayekar has a very lonely existence. One where pain and suffering just happen, with no underlying reason and for no greater purpose.
All events are haphazard and there is no such thing as destiny. One who develops a sense of emunah and appreciates that events do not happen by chance is able to find meaning even in the most challenging of situations.
The small aleph teaches us that there is a fine line between these two approaches, but that it makes a world of difference.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
