Parshas Vayikra

"You know I got the award for bringing in the most new clients into the
business."

"And He (G-d) called (Vayikra) to Moshe..." (Vayikra 1:1) The Torah
writes "Vayikra" with the last letter, alef, smaller than usual. The Rosh
explains that G-d, via a small letter, is showing us Moshe's humility. Moshe
didn't want G-d's speaking to him recorded in the Torah as on a greater
level than when G-d spoke to others, even though we know from various places
in the Torah that it was.

Do you feel a need to let others know how great you are ??

Have a great Shabbos !!

Rabbi Chaim Flom

Rashi commented on this word and seems to tell us that by Bilaam it has the word "yikar", which was likened to "keri".

Here the part of the word is "yikra" and I am not understanding Rashi - is he telling us that it is a different root word without the aleph?

Why i nall the places where G-d speaks to Moshe, does the Rosh explain why the humilty is placed by this parsha? What is the deeper meaning?

Your favorite Talmud.

quote:

Originally posted by rob:
Rashi commented on this word and seems to tell us that by Bilaam it has the word "yikar", which was likened to "keri".

Here the part of the word is "yikra" and I am not understanding Rashi - is he telling us that it is a different root word without the aleph?

Dear Rob,
It seems to me,(i.e.I didn't see anyone specifically talk about this) based on this Rashi and also Rashi on Bimidbar 23:4, that Vayikra comes from the word "to call" which has an "alef" at the end, and that gramatically always stays. Vayikar in Balak comes from the word "happens" which has a "heh" at the end, which gramatically can be dropped. [The other possibility would be to say that vayikar also comes from the word "to call" but the alef was dropped at the end TO LOOK LIKE "happened". Since the first way is simpler, and I didn't see a reason not to say that, I'll keep the first approach.]
If I see anything on this, I'll let you know.
Take care.
Chaim Flom

quote:

Originally posted by Avi Kahn:
Why i nall the places where G-d speaks to Moshe, does the Rosh explain why the humilty is placed by this parsha? What is the deeper meaning?

Your favorite Talmud.

Dear Avrumie,
You shouldn't think that I am ignoring your question. I've done a lot of research, and don't have an answer yet.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom

I've heard that a parent SHOULD tell his kids about good deeds that he's done to encourage his
children to do similar things. Doesn't that conflict with your dvar Torah?

Ed, welcome to The Global Yeshiva. What you say is true, but I don't think it conflicts with Rav Flom's Dvar Torah. Why do you think plaques are put up to show that so-and-so gave money in a relative's memory. It's (among other reasons) to encourage others to give as well (to tzedaka).

So if there is a good reason to boast a bit (as in the example you give) then it would seem to be OK. But otherwise, one should be humble like Moshe Rabbeinu.

quote:

Originally posted by Ed Abramovitz:
I've heard that a parent SHOULD tell his kids about good deeds that he's done to encourage his
children to do similar things. Doesn't that conflict with your dvar Torah?

Dear Ed,
The manner and intent that it is done in, is the difference between teaching and arrogance. The best method of teaching is by example, but if the child (or student) doesn't know about it, the lesson isn't taught. The parent should make sure that it isn't given in a bragging fashion.
Even things that are inherently done with tznius (modesty) should be taught to our children. I once heard a tape from Rebbetzin Greenberg that she went to non-frum kibbutzim talking about mikva. A woman who's father was a Chassidishe Rebbe, but she herself wasn't frum, told the Rebbetzin that she never heard of a mikva, so obviously her mother didn't go to one !! In her mother's attempt of tznius, she never let her daughter know about mikva.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom

quote:

Originally posted by Yisroel Phillips:
Ed, welcome to The Global Yeshiva. What you say is true, but I don't think it conflicts with Rav Flom's Dvar Torah. Why do you think plaques are put up to show that so-and-so gave money in a relative's memory. It's (among other reasons) to encourage others to give as well (to tzedaka).

So if there is a good reason to boast a bit (as in the example you give) then it would seem to be OK. But otherwise, one should be humble like Moshe Rabbeinu.

Dear Yisroel,
The example you gave about putting up plaques is very interesting. There is a teshuva (responsa) of the Rashba #981 that learns from the Torah's accrediting Reuvaine with saving Yosef's life (Biraishis 37:21)that "it is proper to write and publicize the name of one who does a mitzva". This is brought in halacha by the Rama in Y.D. 149:13. The same piece in the Rama says " one, however should make sure that he doesn't glorify himself (when he gives charity)because not only will he lose his merit, but he will be punished".
There is an urban legend about a wealthy man who's name is on many buildings,was asked, why is his name on so many buildings, yet the Reichmanns' names don't appear on buildings? He answered that the Reichmanns had already been successful in teaching their next generation how to give.
Take care.
Chaim Flom

K'vod HaRav Flom, this just goes to to show that there is a fine line between doing something "pour encourager les autres" and doing something to boast about it.

Kol Tuv.

quote:

Originally posted by Rabbi Flom:

quote:

Originally posted by Avi Kahn:
Why i nall the places where G-d speaks to Moshe, does the Rosh explain why the humilty is placed by this parsha? What is the deeper meaning?

Your favorite Talmud.

Dear Avrumie,
You shouldn't think that I am ignoring your question. I've done a lot of research, and don't have an answer yet.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom

Dear Avrumie,
As I mentioned earlier, I was not ignoring your question, but to the contrary have spent MANY HOURS learning and speaking to others about it. I will elaborate on your question first. The first Rashi in Vaykra tells us, based on this posuk, that whenever Hashem spoke to Moshe, He "called" Moshe before speaking. Also because of the little "alef" in vayikra the commentaries learn Moshe's humility. Your question is, Hashem has been speaking to Moshe since Parshas Shemos---why wait until Parshas Yayikra to teach me this??? I thought that the approach to answer this would be based on the Rambam in his introduction to Chelek. (That is his commentary on the Mishnayos 10nth chapter of Sanhedrin where he teaches us the 13 principles of faith.) He says there that all other prophets spoke to G-d while asleep, but G-d spoke to Moshe during the day from between the Keruvim. I had a question-- Hashem spoke to Moshe even before the Mishkan?? I thought that MAYBE Moshe had this great level of prophecy BECAUSE of the Mishkan and in Vayikra is the first time G-d spoke to Moshe in the Mishkan. Consequently this answers your question. Since this is the FIRST time G-d spoke to Moshe after the Mishkan was completed, therefore all of the teachings about Hashem's talking to Moshe are here.
Great answer, BUT IT ISN"T TRUE!!! The Rambam says explicitly, in the 7th chapter of the Shemona Perakim,(his introduction to Pirkei Avos) that Moshe reached his great level of prophecy at Shemos 33:20, when Moshe pleaded to Hashem that Hashem should show Moshe His ways !!
I showed why the lessons of Moshe's talking to Hashem couldn't have been taught before Shemos 33:20, but is still doesn't answer your question.
Sorry, but I am still working on it.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom

quote:

Originally posted by Avi Kahn:
Why i nall the places where G-d speaks to Moshe, does the Rosh explain why the humilty is placed by this parsha? What is the deeper meaning?
Your favorite Talmud.

Welcome to the Global Yeshiva! There is an incredible Ramban on verse 1:9 which explains reasoning behind the sacrafices. Each detail of the sacrifice is suppose to hint to the fact that because of our sins we are actually the ones who should be sacriced. Hashem in his chesed takes an animal instead.

Because of this, Rav Nehman in his sefer Darki Musser explains that at the root of sacrifices lies the concept of humility. So Hashem choose this particular parsha to educate us and reveal the great humility of our beloved teach Moshe.

I think this is a possible answer.

quote:

Originally posted by Avi Kahn:
Why of all the places where G-d speaks to Moshe, does the Rosh explain why
the humilty is placed by this parsha? What is the deeper meaning?

Your favorite Talmud.

Dear Avrumi,
I must confess, that I probably haven't gone for more than 2 days at any time in the past month without thinking about your question.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, your question is not just about Moshe's
humility which is learned from the small "alef",but another drasha that
chazal learn from the word "Vayikra" i.e.that WHENEVER Hashem spoke to
Moshe, He "called"him first as a sign of love. Your question is "why does it say "Vayikra" HERE.? I have 2 answers for you, but today I'll just give
one.(The other one needs a little more refinement.) It is from Rav Avraham Cooperman. Chazal say that even though Moshe built the Mishkan, and might have felt like a bit of a "baal habos" there, it would have been wrong for him to come into the Mishkan without Hashem calling him first. Therefore the Torah records this "Vayikra", Hashem's calling Moshe. This explains why HERE the Torah recorded "Vayikra" that we learn so much from.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom

quote:

Originally posted by Yisroel Phillips:
K'vod HaRav Flom, this just goes to to show that there is a fine line between doing something "pour encourager les autres" and doing something to boast about it.

Kol Tuv.

Dear Yisroel,
I didn't think that the British were allowed to write or speak French in public. HA!!
Take care.
Chaim Flom

quote:

Originally posted by Avi Kahn:
Why in all the places where G-d speaks to Moshe, does the Rosh explain why the humilty is placed by this parsha? What is the deeper meaning?

Your favorite Talmud.

Dear Avrumie,
This is the 2nd answer that I promised you. Since Hashem's speaking to Moshe from the Cruvim-cherubs in the Ohel Moed was the continuation of the "Revelation" of Mount Sinai (see Ramban in the beginning of Vayikra)and it seems to be referred to as the place with the direct link to Heaven, it was Moshe's greatest prophecy with Hashem. (At Mount Sinai, all of Bnai Yisrael got this prophecy, but in the ohel Moed it was just as "loud" but only Moshe received it.) Therefore, this was the special "speaking" of Hashem to Moshe, and Moshe because of his great humility just wanted it to be recorded as "vayikar" (as by Bilaam).
I hope these 2 answers were satisfactory, and always feel free to ask.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom