Vayikra

Vayikra 5771 — Do you hear God calling?

“And He called to Moses, and God spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying:”  …Leviticus 1:1

Rashi tells us that even though God called out to Moses, only Moses heard the call, none of the rest of children of Israel heard the call.

This does not, of course, mean that God did not call out to others as well.  It means that the call to Moses was unique to Moses.  The way God called to Moses is different than the way that God called to others.  Look at the different ways God spoke to people in the Bible: to Moses, in this week’s reading he calls to Moses at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, at a place designated as holy.  Yet he also called to Moses from a humble bush in the desert.  He was a “still small voice” to the prophet Elijah; present in a dream to Jacob.  God calls to each of us in ways that are unique to our personalities and to our ability to hear.  But are we listening?

Do you hear God’s call to you?  Rashi also tells us that the language of “calling” is language of affection.  God is calling to you out of love and affection, yet just as God called to Moses in this week’s Torah reading in order to give him instructions and make a request, God also calls on us to fulfill Her will.  What is God calling on you to do?  What is your unique contribution to God’s grand plan?

God is as surely calling to you as He was calling to Moses…but are you listening?

Shabbat shalom,

Reb Barry

Barry Leff

Rabbi Barry (Baruch) Leff is a dual Israeli-American business executive, teacher, speaker and writer who divides his time between Israel and the US.

3 thoughts on “Vayikra 5771 — Do you hear God calling?

  • Greetings from Toledo Rabbi Leff! Hope all is going well for you and your family. Had to share this with you – no joke… My satellite radio – all of the sudden – every time I hit the “Seek” button , says “Seek Religion”. Made me think of you my friend.

    Reply
  • Greetings from Toledo Rabbi Leff! I hope everything is going well with you and your family in Israel. I just had to share this with you as it’s related to this post. All of the sudden when I press the “Seek” button on my satellite radio it says “Seek Religion”. No tech-support needed for this one! PS: I just ordered your new book.

    Reply
  • Barry Leff

    Hi Dave, I like that! I wonder if some rabbi got the satellite radio people to put religion at the top of the “seek” list! 🙂

    Reply

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