spirit torah portion Our Special Nation T The care of your varicose veins and other vascular conditions should not be left to chance. Trust the only Board Certified Vascular Surgeon in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area to guide you through all your options. We offer the most advanced treatment in our expansive, state-of-the-art office. Come see the difference that 18 years of experience makes and the personalized attention that we can deliver. Diego A. Hernandez, MD, FACS Natalie Marcus, NP 43700 Woodward Avenue – Suite 208 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 248-481-2100 38 March 15 • 2018 he opening of Vayikra tell us that God first called to Moses and then communicated to him a specific message concern- ing the sacrificial offerings of the Sanctuary. Why “calling” and then “speaking?” Why not cut to the chase: “And the Lord spoke to Moses from the Tent of Meeting?” The talmudic sage Rabbi Musia Rabbah explains that the Bible is giving us a lesson in good manners: Israelites in general and with Moses Before someone commands another in particular. to do something, he must first ask Moses argues that the Almighty permission to give the order. had promised to show His He even suggests that before love by means of His Divine someone begins speaking to Name, to reveal to him His another, one must ascertain Divine attributes and to that the person wishes to hear accept Israel as His special what he has to say. With great nation. God responds that beauty, the rabbis suggest indeed “My face will lead, that even God Himself follows I, Myself and not an angel- these laws of etiquette when messenger,” and “I shall bring Rabbi Shlomo addressing Moses: asking his you (you, Moses, but not Riskin permission before speaking to the nation) to your ultimate or commanding him. resting place.” Moses is not The Ramban (Nahmanides) satisfied; he argues that God takes a completely opposite Himself, His “face” and not view, limiting this double language of His angel-messenger, must lead the addressing to the Sanctuary specifi- nation! Otherwise, he says, “Do not cally: “This seemingly superfluous take us (the entire nation) out of this language of first calling and then desert.” God agrees that although He speaking is not used elsewhere where cannot be in the midst of the nation, He can and will lead them, stepping God addresses Moses; it is used here in whenever necessary to make cer- because Moses would not otherwise tain that Israel will never disappear have been permitted to enter the Tent of Meeting, would not otherwise and will eventually return to their homeland. have been permitted to be in such Israel remains a “work-in-progress” close proximity to the place where with God behind a cloud and “incom- the Almighty was to be found.” From municado.” Our nation, albeit imper- this second perspective, it is Moses fect, still serves as witnesses that the who must first be summoned by God God of love and compassion exists and receive Divine permission before and orchestrates historical redemp- he dares enter the Sacred Tent of tion through Israel. Meeting of the exalted Holy of Holies. When individuals imbue their This latter interpretation seems hearts, minds and souls with love, closest to the biblical text; Exodus compassion, kindness, grace and specifically tells us that whenever a peace, they cause God to become cloud covered the Sanctuary, Moses manifest, enabling them to com- was prevented from entering the Tent of Meeting and communicating municate with God “face to face” with the Divine. Leviticus opens with like Moses. Then the cloud between Moses’ active intellect and God’s God summoning Moses into the active intellect disappears, and Moses Tent of Meeting, apparently signal- is enabled to teach and understand ing the departure of the cloud and God’s Torah. • the Divine permission for Moses to hear God’s words. Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is chancellor of Ohr Torah This scenario helps us under- Stone and chief rabbi of Efrat, Israel. stand God’s relationship with the Parshat Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1-5:26; Ezekiel 45:16-46:18. (Shabbat HaChodesh)