Have you ever noticed how the smallest details can carry the deepest meanings? In the Hebrew Bible, even the size of a single letter can tell a fascinating story. Let me share with you an intriguing detail from the book of Leviticus that speaks volumes about human nature and our relationship with G-d.
The very first word of Leviticus, “Vayikra” (meaning “And He called”), contains a curious feature: its final letter, Aleph, is written smaller than all the others. This wasn’t a scribal error – it was intentionally written this way, and the reason behind it offers us a beautiful lesson about humility.
This verse tells us that G-d called to Moses, singling him out for divine communication. Now, imagine being in Moses’ sandals for a moment. The Creator of the universe wants to speak with you personally! Yet, tradition tells us that this diminutive Aleph represents Moses’ humility in the face of such extraordinary divine attention.
Contrast this with another interesting detail from the Bible: in the book of Chronicles, when writing about Adam (the first human), his name is spelled with an oversized Aleph. This larger-than-life letter symbolizes Adam’s awareness of his own greatness – after all, he was created directly by G-d’s hand and breath and given dominion over all creation. But as we know from the Garden of Eden story, this awareness of his special status eventually led to his downfall.
Moses, on the other hand, showed us a better way. Despite being the greatest prophet who ever lived, despite performing miraculous signs and leading an entire nation to freedom, he remained remarkably humble. This wasn’t false modesty – Moses knew his capabilities well. The difference was that he never saw these gifts as his own accomplishments.
Here’s where it gets practical for us today: true humility isn’t about denying our talents or abilities. It’s about maintaining a healthy perspective about our gifts while remembering their source. Whether you’re leading a company, raising a family, creating art, or serving your community, remember that you’re both Adam and Moses. You have that “big Aleph” within you – the divine spark that makes you capable of amazing things. But cultivating that “small Aleph” of Moses – that humble recognition of where our gifts come from – that’s what helps us use those capabilities wisely and well.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yonatan Hambourger
This post has been contributed by a third party. The opinions, facts and any media content are presented solely by the author, and Atlanta Jewish Connector assumes no responsibility for them. Want to add your voice to the conversation? Publish your own post here.
