Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1 The Call

 Rabbi Mark H. Levin, DHL

Do you and a significant other ever have problems of communication? Torah provides an answer!

The third book of Torah, Leviticus, opens with God calling to Moses, "He called to Moses. Adonai spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying ..."

Since in rabbnic theology God is never redundant, no extra words appear in the Torah. Every word serves a purpose. What is being conveyed by the Torah saying first that God called, and then Adonai spoke to Moses? Why two verbs for speech rather than one? What is added?

Rashi answers (Silbermann trans.) "All oral communications of the Lord to Moses, whether they are introduced by daber or by amar or by tsav [3 Hebrew words: speak, say and command] were preceded by a call (to prepare him for the forthcoming address). It is a way of expressing affection, the mode used by the ministering angels when addressing each other, as it is said, (Isaiah 6:3),'And one called to another (and said Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts).'

In the Talmud (Yoma 4b) we find, "A Tanna taught, 'Why did he precede calling before speaking?' The Torah teaches manners (derech eretz), that a person not say something to a friend unless he has [already] called him [gotten his attention.]"

Torah Temima explains this, "In order not to speak to him suddenly. And the reason for this is so that the listener can prepare himself to hear. This is why it says in Niddah 16b (Babylonian Talmud) that the Lord disdains those who enter a friend's house suddenly. And in Massechet Derech Eretz (chpt 5) we find, "We learn manners from HaMakom [God], that God stood at the opening to the Garden [of Eden] and called to Adam, as it is said, 'And Adonai called to the man and said, 'Where are you?' (ayeka)."  Torah Temima adds that if God announced himself to Moses before speaking, a man with whom God had a very close and warm relationship, then so should we.

In our word infested culture so much of what is spoken falls on deaf ears because we are unprepared to hear it. The Torah treats words as sacred. God creates the universe with words! Perhaps we should consider how to address words to those we love: getting their attention, speaking carefully, making sure that we are heard. When people are distracted by other sounds or activities (a television, a game, ear buds, music, work, etc.) they may hear sound but not the true words that are spoken, not the intent. Words convey meaning far beyond the literal sentence structure. There is tone, rapidity, and word choice. And that omits the non-verbal components of speech like eye contact and demeanor!

How much better would our most important relationships be if before speech began, we prepared ourselves to hear what is being said? God teaches us, at the very outset of Leviticus, by modeling with Moses: First get the listeners attention and let him/her prepare, and only then, speak.

Shabbat shalom.