Parashat Vayikra
Only One Was Called, But We Were All Chosen
The nature of
Moshe’s communication with God was affected by his role as intermediary and
representative of the people.
By Rabbi Avi Weinstein
The following article
is reprinted with permission from Hillel: The
Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
The last lines of the book of Exodus have Moshe placing the
finishing touches on the Mishkan, the
Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is enveloped in clouds with the presence of the Holy
One emanating from its center. Moshe is prevented from entering because the
clouds indicate that the Holy One's presence is there in full glory. Then the
next book, Leviticus/Vayikra, opens with God's inaugural meeting with Moshe.
Leviticus 1:1
"And He called to Moshe, and God spoke to him from the
Tent of Meeting saying..."
Rashi on Leviticus 1:1
"Every time God spoke to Moshe, he was welcomed by this
calling which was a term of endearment. It was the same language used by the
ministering angels for they too, 'called one to the other...' (Isaiah)...And
the voice went to Moshe alone for Israel was unable to hear the sound... Yet,
everything God said to Moshe for thirty-eight years was for the sake of Israel.
It was only after the generation of the spies--those who were afraid to conquer
the land of Israel--had died that God spoke to Moshe for his sake alone. As it
is written, "After all the people from the generation of the war had
passed, God spoke to me." (Deuteronomy 2:16)
Your Rashi Navigator
1. What problem in the text is Rashi addressing?
2. How does he answer it?
3. Rashi says that God's calling Moshe to the tent was done
in an endearing manner, but God's actual words were incredibly harsh, how do
you understand this contrast?
4. What allows God to finally have a conversation with
Moshe?
5. Why does this make a
difference?
A Word
Rashi calls us to pay attention to the fact that God is
literally calling on Moshe, but not like a salesperson or a telephone
solicitor, but like a relative. It is like heeding "a calling" to
what we feel we are destined to be. Moshe alone heard this voice even though
this was the same voice that echoed thunderously at Sinai. The calling shook
his very being, unbeknownst to those throngs milling about the camp.
More amazing is the fact that Moshe's calling was not for him at all, but it
was for all of Israel. His calling was to be God's interpreter, God's
translator, God's humanizer. Rashi notices that God never had a personal
conversation with Moshe until after the generation of the spies had all finally
died.
God's work was to try and keep Israel in order; Moshe's calling was to promote
the cause of Israel and not his personal relationship with the Holy One. As
long as the community wandered in the desert because of their disinclination to
enter the land, God would only speak to Israel in stern tones and Moshe would
not have the benefit of basking in God's grace.
Nevertheless, when God calls Moshe to these meetings, he does so with love,
saying that these people are your responsibility, but my tone is directed
toward them through you. You, Moshe, embody this generation in all they
represent. My calling reminds us both that there is the potential for a
relationship after our work is done, but only then.
Moshe finally gets that conversation after this generation is gone and before
the new generation is about to conquer the land. It is there that, "God
spoke to me..." Moshe says, and Rashi infers that God spoke to him with
the gentleness and affection Moshe had always deserved.
The promise that the conversation would indeed happen
sometime was important enough that Rashi made note of it. It reminds us that
how Moshe was called made it possible for him to receive the harsh word of his
Lord.
Provided by Hillel’s
Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning, which creates innovative
educational resources based on Jewish texts and trains Hillel students,
professionals, and lay leaders to infuse Jewish content throughout their
activities. © 2002 Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
