Vayikra
The Small Aleph
By Rabbi Raymond Beyda
The book of Vayikra, the third of the five books of Moses, begins with a
detailed catalogue of the individual offerings brought for all types of
situations. G-d called out to Moshe and invited him into the Tent of
Meeting in order to communicate these laws to him. Our Masoret --
tradition -- requires that the letter Aleph in the word Vayikra be written
by the scribe smaller than the other letters of the Torah scroll. It is
called Aleph ze-ira- the small Aleph.
Some commentators explain the significance of this law as a reference
to humility. Moshe did not want the honor he would get if the Torah
announced that Hashem called out to him directly and invited him into a
private meeting in the Tent of Meeting. He was forced, however, to write
all the letters of the Torah without exception and so he wrote this Aleph
smaller than the other letters.
Others add that the Aleph is written small in this particular place,
because it is the beginning of the book that deals with service to Hashem
through sacrificial offerings. In Tehillim, King David points out that G-
d desires a broken spirit -- humility -- rather than a sizable
offering. "Zibhay Elokim ruah nishbarah" -- "The sacrifices of G-d are a
broken spirit; A contrite heart G-d will not despise." [Teh 51:16]. As a
hint to this concept Moshe wrote the letter Aleph small at the beginning
of the book of Vayikra that deals with the subject of sacrificial
requirements.
Rabbi Obadiah Hadayah, zt'l, taught that the small Aleph, stands for
the number 1, signifying unity. Moshe Rabenu worked diligently as the
leader of our people with the goal of maintaining unity. Every Jew is part
of the unit called Yehudi and all must feel responsible for every other
person in the nation. The Torah hints again at this ideal in the second
verse where it says, "Adam -- a person -- singular -- who might offer a
sacrifice to G-d, --from the cattle and the sheep you all -- plural --
shall bring your offering." The verse opens in singular and closes in
plural. When one improves his or her spirituality by serving G-d one is
offering on behalf of all the people.
Shabbat Shalom
Raymond J Beyda
www.raymondbeyda.com
Text Copyright © 2004 Rabbi Raymond Beyda and Torah.org
