Long Island Torah Network
  • Home
  • Locations
    • East Northport
    • Huntington
    • Merrick
  • Programs
    • Lulav and Ethrog
    • Catalog >
      • Hebrew
      • Jewish Values
      • Holidays
      • Jewish Living
      • Jewish History
      • Text Study
    • Hebrew School
    • Beis Medrash Night
    • Telephone and Online Learning >
      • Special Classes
      • Daily Audio Learning
      • Torah on ZOOM
    • Learning and Lox
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Mission
    • L.I.T.N. Video
  • News and Recent Events
    • Chanukah Event
    • 2019 L.I.T.N. Dinner
  • Publications/Media
    • SederBox
    • Our Video
    • L.I.T.N. 2017 Dinner
    • Torah Minute >
      • Purim - Seeing the Hand of G-d
      • Vayigash - Torah Study - Key to Our Nation's Survival
      • Chayei Sarah - Kindness and Respect
      • Vayeirah - Respect the Person, Reject the Misdeed
      • Lech Lecha - The Opportunity of a Challenge
      • Noach - The Power of Appreciation
      • Bereishis - Importance of Character Development
      • Yom Kippur - A Priceless Opportunity
      • Yom Kippur - Take the First Step to Greatness
      • Rosh Hashana - G-d Loves Us - Let's Build Our Relationship
      • Shoftim - The Dignity of Every Human Being
      • Balak - The Greatness of Torah Study
      • Chukas - Torah-A Gift for All of Us
      • Korach- Capacity for Growth
      • Shlach- The Power of Speech
      • Beha'aloscha - Mitzvos - The Greatest Gift and Opportunity
      • Naso -New Stage - New Opportunities
      • Naso - Every Mitzvah is a Big Mitzvah
      • Shavuos - The Freedom of the Torah
      • Bechukosai - Our Relationship with Hashem - An Eternal Bond
      • Behar - Torah Transmission - From Sinai to the Present
      • Acharei Mos-Kedoshim - The Divine Spark in Every Human Being
      • Pesach - Internalizing the Message
      • Tzav / Pesach - From Generation to Generation
      • Vayikra - Mitzvos - From Hashem with Love
      • Tetzaveh - The Power of a First Impression
      • Terumah - Doing the Best We Can
      • Mishpatim - In Someone Else's Shoes
      • Yisro - Finding Happiness with what we Have
      • Beshalach - Knowing Who We Are
      • Bo - Seeing the Hand of G-d
      • Va'eirah - Generation to Generation - Influence and Impact
      • Shemos - Empathy - Do we Have Enough?
      • Vayechi - Our Relationships with People - Our Relationship with G-D
      • Vayechi - Seeking Advice
      • Chanukah - The Source of our Strength
      • Vayeishev - From Generation to Generation
      • Vayishlach - The Purpose of our Possesions
      • Vayeitzei - Great Interpersonal Conduct - Making it Even Better
      • Toldos - Just Say it
      • Bereishis - Greatness of Humanity
      • Sukkos - Happiness for us and all our People
      • Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement- A Time to Thank
      • Vayeilech - Shabbos Shuva - The Impact on Others
      • Nitzavim - Rosh Hashana
      • Ki Savo - The Future of Judaism
      • Ki Savo - My Idea or Yours?
      • Ki Savo - Every Day a New Opportunity
      • Ki Seitzei - Strength is Being Aware of Weakness
      • Va'eschanan-Nachamu - Hashem is Always with Us
      • Va'eschanan-Nachamu - Miztvos - Recipe for Spiritual Well-being
      • Tisha B'Av - A Day of Mourning, A Day of Hope
      • Devarim Tisha B'Av- I Can Bring World Peace?
      • Devarim - Prayers are Always Answered
      • Devarim-Tisha B'Av - Torah-It's Already Ours
      • Matos-Masei- It's Not "Just Words"
      • Matos Masei- Appreciating Our Worth - The Key to Growth
      • Korach - The Power of Community
      • Metzora - Pesach - G-d's Love for Me
      • Tazria-Metzorah - The Action or the Attitude
      • Tazria - Avoiding Slander - More Opportunities than Ever
      • Shmini - Difficulty of Accepting Criticism
      • Pekudei - I Wish I Could
      • Vayakhel - Inspire Ourselves and We Can Do it
      • Ki Sisa - Sensitivity to Feelings
      • Yisro - Of Course I'm Aware! - It's Obvious!
      • Bo - Appreciating Every Detail
      • Ki Seitzei - Working Together with Sensitivity
      • Re'eh - The Torah's Mitzvos- The Perfect Prescription
      • Eikev - Mitzvos - For Hashem or for Us?
      • Pinchas - The Impact of an Experience
      • Pinchas - Seeing is Believing
      • Va'eirah - Do I Really Know who I Am?
      • Va'eirah - G-d's Kindness - A Force Like No Other
      • Tetzaveh - Purim - Seize the Moment
      • Torah Inspirations - Parshas B'Shalach
      • Toldos - The Impact of our Environment
      • Nitzavim-Vayeilech - Change-We Could Do It
      • The Situation in Israel - How We Can Help
    • Snapshot >
      • Parshas Tetzaveh
      • Parshas Vayigash
      • Parshas Vayeishev
      • Parshas Vayishlach
      • Parshas Vayeitzei
      • Parshas Vayeitzei
      • Parshas Toldos
      • Parshas Chayei Sarah
      • Parshas Vayeirah
      • Parshas Lech Lecha
      • Parshas Pinchas
      • Parshas Balak
      • Parshas Chukas
      • Parshas Korach
      • Parshas Shlach
      • Beha'aloscha
      • Parshas Naso
      • Parshas Behar-Bechukosai
      • Parshas Emor
      • Achrei Mos-Kedoshim
      • Parshas Tazria-Metzorah
      • Parshas Shmini
      • Parshas Vayikra
      • Parshas Pekudei
      • Parshas Vayakhel
      • Parshas Ki Sisa
      • Parshas Terumah
      • Parshas Mishpatim
      • Parshas Yisro
      • Parshas Beshalach
      • Parshas Bo
      • Parshas Va'eirah
      • Parshas Shemos
      • Parshas Vayechi
      • Parshas Noach
      • Parshas Vayeilech
      • Parshas Ki Savo
      • Beha'aloscha
      • Parshas Vayechi
    • A Closer Look >
      • Beha'aloscha
      • Parshas Noach CL
      • Parshas Ki Savo
      • Parshas Tazria-Metzora
      • Parshas Vayikra CL
      • Parshas Pekudei CL
      • Parshas Vayakhel CL
      • Parshas Ki Sisa CL
      • Parshas Tetzaveh
      • Parshas Terumah
      • Parshas Mishpatim CL
      • Parshas Yisro CL
      • Parshas Beshalach CL
      • Parshas Shemos CL
      • Parshas Vayechi CL
      • Parshas Vayigash CL
      • Parshas Vayeisheiv CL
      • Parshas Vayishlach CL
      • Parshas Vayeitzei CL
      • Parshas Toldos CL
      • Parshas Chayei Sarah CL
      • Parshas Vayeirah CL
      • Parshas Korach
      • Sh'lach
      • Parshas Yisro
      • Parshas B'shalach
      • Haazinu
      • Beha'aloscha
      • Parshas Vayakhel
      • Parshas Shemos
      • Parshas Vayechi
      • Parshas Vayigash
      • Parshas Vayaishev
      • Vayishlach
      • Parshas Behar-Bechukosai
      • Parshas Emor
      • Achrei Mos-Kedoshim
      • Parshas Shmini
      • Parshas Vayeitzei
      • Parshas Noach
    • Thoughts and Perspectives on the Coronavirus situation
    • Call-In Archives
    • Relationships Seminar
    • Elul >
      • One By One
    • Thoughts for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
    • Yom Kippur Overview
    • Sukkos - Meanings, Observances and Traditions
    • Chanukah - History, Meaning, and Observance >
      • Laws of Chanukah Candle Lighting
    • The Tenth of Teveth
    • Purim
    • Pesach - Passover
    • Three Weeks and Nine Days
    • Shavuos
    • Tisha B'Av
  • Donate
  • Contact
    • Ask the Rabbi
Picture
Vayikra

Text:

[G-d] called to Moses, and G-d spoke to him…
                                                                  [Vayikra 1:1]
 
Moses was the head of all the prophets, yet Scripture did not praise him for his other lofty character traits – only for the trait of humility, as it says: “And the man Moses was exceedingly humble”…. Included in his humility [was the fact that] he did not want to come to the Mishkan [unannounced.  Although G-d had told Moses to come to the Mishkan and speak with Him, Moses] did not have the heart to come … until G-d gave him permission and called him, as it is written, “He called to Moses…”
                                                                 [Rabbeinu Bachya]
 
“Any Torah scholar who lacks understanding is worse than a carcass.” Moses, father of wisdom; father of the prophets; who took the Jews out of Egypt…and went up to the lofty Heavens, and brought Torah down… and worked on making the Mishkan [still] did not enter the inner sanctum until [G-d] called him, as it is written, “G-d called to Moses… ”
                                                                [Midrash]
 
Question:
 
Rabbeinu Bachya praises Moses’ extreme humility. The fact that Moses waited until he was called – even though he knew G-d wanted to speak with him – shows how extraordinarily humble he was.
 
But the Midrash implies that, had Moses not waited until he was called, he would be “worse than a carcass”! That implies that we are dealing with a very basic matter of etiquette!
 
Which is it?
 
Answer:
 
That Moses waited until he was called shows incredible humility; this could not have been expected of any lesser individual. But it was expected of Moses. Unparalleled wisdom must lead to unparalleled refinement of character. If Moses had missed this nuance of etiquette – if his character did not “measure up” to his wisdom – he would indeed have been “worse than a carcass.”
 
Message:
 
Derech Eretz – being a “mensch” – means more than “basic etiquette.” As we acquire Torah wisdom , we also grow in Derech Eretz, attaining ever-deeper levels of sensitivity and refinement. If our character does not parallel our wisdom, we risk distorting ourselves into an ugly caricature of G-d’s most beautiful creation – the human being. 



​

​Click below to open a printable pdf

vayikra_snapshot_and_closer_look_template_final.pdf
File Size: 911 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File