HEARING THE CALL

Our parasha this week begins with the powerful words:

Vayikra El Moshe – And He called to Moses…. [Vayikra 1:1]

The Torah records three distinct occasions when G-d “calls” out to Moses, each marking the beginning of a momentous task. The first occurs at the burning bush. While shepherding the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro, Moses arrives at Mount Horeb (otherwise known as Sinai), where a strange sight captures his attention: a bush is engulfed in flames, yet is not being destroyed. He steps forward to investigate this paradox. At that moment, he hears his first divine call:

“G-d called out to Moses from within the bush, and said, ‘Moses, Moses.’ And he answered, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not come any closer…’”

G-d then entrusts Moses with his historic mission: to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Call number two comes at Mount Sinai, just before the giving of the Torah. As the Israelites encamp at the foot of the mountain, Moses ascends. There, G-d calls to him once more:

“The L-d called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘So shall you say to the House of Jacob and relate to the Children of Israel.’”

This call marks the beginning of Moses’ role as the transmitter of Torah to the Jewish people.

And call number three appears at the start of this week’s parasha, Vayikra. Moses is called to receive the laws of sacrifices in the newly constructed Tabernacle, to instruct the people on the dimensions of holiness and purity that will now be part of their lives.

Rabbi Elie Munk (father of the late Lady Amelie Jakobovits) notes that Moses’ deep humility prevented him from assuming he was automatically suited for these monumental roles. G-d had to explicitly summon him. In fact, some commentators suggest that Moses himself reflected this humility by writing the word Vayikra with a small aleph at the end of the word, symbolizing his continued sense of unworthiness.

Chassidic commentators take this idea further: G-d’s call is not limited to Moses. In every generation, He calls upon us. The question is, are we listening?

Each of us, like Moses, encounters moments in life when we sense a quiet but persistent call—a mission, a purpose, an opportunity to make a difference. We may feel unworthy or unprepared. Yet just as G-d continued to call Moses, urging him forward, so too does He call to us. The challenge is whether we will respond. By opening our hearts to that call, we can each find our unique role in bringing holiness, justice, and kindness into the world.