The Small Aleph: Vayikra-Tzav.22

 The Small Aleph

D’var Torah by Rabbi Boaz D. Heilman

March 15, 2022

In its English translations, Va-Yikra, the middle book of the Torah, is known as Leviticus. This title, however, is misleading; the text isn’t only about the Levites and their duties. Much of it pertains to the rest of us, those who were not of the tribe of Levi, chosen by God to serve at God’s Tabernacle. 

In Hebrew, the first word of this book—the word from which the book takes its title—is spelled rather mysteriously, with its last letter aleph (“א”) written smaller than the other letters: ויקרא. Rabbinic commentaries explain that the reason for this is to draw our attention not only to the larger guidelines of God’s commandments, but also to the smaller details. Another interpretation could be that holiness should not be the realm only of an elite group, but also something each one of us can aspire to.

To be sure, much of Leviticus is about the priestly duties—what sacrifices to offer, when, and of course how to offer them properly. But it soon becomes evident that holiness isn’t restricted only to the Levites. 

The word for sacrifice in Hebrew is korban, based on the three-letter root k.r.v, meaning to draw near. In early religious thinking, the vastness of separation between us and the Eternal was bridged by sacrifices. We drew nearer to the Divine through these rituals, some meant to show thanksgiving, others to ask forgiveness and atonement. 

The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in the year 70 CE put an end to the practice of animal sacrifice (though our prayer service, particularly for Shabbat and the holy days, still retains their memory). But the evolution of the Jewish understanding of “drawing near,” of reaching the state of holiness or blessedness, did not stop there.

In this week’s Torah portion (Tzav—“Command”—Lev. 6:1—8:36), we are instructed about the ritual of the dedication of priests. As with animal sacrifices described earlier, the Hebrew root k.r.v, is used here too, only now it applies to the priests. In this ceremony it’s the priests themselves who “draw near.” We learn that a living person can become holy by giving the gift of their ongoing lives. The state of holiness isn’t achieved only through sacred rituals. Blessedness is also the purpose and meaning with which we fill our lives. 

This development is an important step. It’s no longer the animal’s death (and subsequent transformation into divine food, “a pleasing odor unto the Lord”) that brings us closer to God. Our deeds, our behavior, how we live our lives, have the same amazing power. At first it was sacrifices, then the priests who brought us closer to God. Leviticus opens the realm of holiness to the rest of us as well. We—each of us—are represented by the small aleph in Va-Yikra, called upon to be holy in all matters large and small.

© 2022 by Boaz D. Heilman