This week Jews all over the world start to read a new book of Torah. It is difficult to think of time marching on and plans continuing to unfold in these days of cancellations, isolation, and what feels for many like a hard stop to normal life. The book of Leviticus begins with the phrase, “God called out to Moses,” which is where it gets the name Vayikra, “God called out.” This strange book full of ritual laws of sacrifice and purification, perhaps the least relatable of all the books of Torah, begins with a most relatable act – especially for us, right now.
Ours is a God who calls out to us as much as we call out to that God. Ours is a God of Relationship, a God of Connection, and so this lengthy treatise on the sacrificial system is, perhaps, all about how this God wants to be called out to. More likely, it is about how our ancient brains conceptualized how God would want to be connected to and served.
This God of Connection wants us to be curious; about God, the world, and each other. Take this week’s parsha as one of many reminders that you are not alone, and that there are many in your world who want to hear from you, so call out.
– Rabbi Callie Schulman