Parshas Vayikra – Hinged

By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

This Shabbos, we begin Sefer Vayikra, the third of the Chamisha Chumshei Torah, the Five Books of the Torah. Vayikra is also known as Toras Kohanim, Teachings of the Kohanim, for it includes the laws of korbonos, the offerings brought by Bnei Yisroel, and various laws pertaining to the sacred duties of the kohanim.

The word korbon, sacrifice shares a common root with the word karov – to be close. The offering of sacrifices – whether obligatory or voluntary – brought people closer to HaShem.

Today, we no longer have a Bais HaMikdash, and we are unable to bring sacrifices. But we do have our tefillos, our prayers. “U’nishalmah parim s’foseinu, let our lips substitute for our offerings” (Hosheah 14:3)

We are given the gift of prayer. To be able to talk to HaShem in real time. It’s never too early, never too late. We can always connect to HaShem.

Karov, to be close. HaShem didn’t need man’s korbonos, rather it brought man closer to Him. So too, with our tefillos. Prayer is for us. To bring us karov.

I think of Dovid HaMelech, King David who endured so much pain and anguish during his lifetime. Yet, he turned to HaShem and composed Tehillim. It was Dovid who said “V’ani tefillah, I am a prayer.” (Tehillim/Psalms 109:4). To live a life of tefillah, a life of reaching out to HaShem.

We are beings that long to pray, to feel a connection and speak to HaShem. To offer words of praise, words of gratitude, and in times of need, heartfelt words of request.

I am taken back in time to when my dear father, HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Asher Anshil HaLevi zt”l, was undergoing a serious surgery. It was early morning, pre-dawn hours. Our family was all there. Each one of us holding our Tehillim. The words of Dovid HaMelech were with us. Each of us alone with our thoughts and prayers, yet all of us together, finding solace with the words of Tehillim.

At one point, I looked up from my Tehillim and shot a glance around the family waiting room. There was a man doing a crossword puzzle, a family playing cards. (It was pre ‘smartphone’ days.) How fortunate we were to be “karov”, to be able to cry out to HaShem. To have a siddur, a Tehillim. To be able to say our own personal words of tefillah. To know that our tefillos for our father, were with our Father Above.

Rashi (Bereishis 30:8 and Bamidbar 19:15) explains that the word tefillah means to connect, from the word pasil, a hinge, a connector. Through tefillah, we become “hinged” to HaShem.

My mother a”h was, and still is my inspiration when it comes to tefillah. Her siddur and Tehillim accompanied her wherever she went. If there was “extra time” in her day – and her days were very busy days – she would open her siddur and daven some more.  When each of my daughters went into labor, I would call my mother. “Chaya Sarale”, she would say, “I’m pulling out my Tehillim right now. Iy”h, with G-ds help, everything will be good.”

A mother’s, a bubby’s tefillos. How powerful, how comforting. How fortunate we are to be able to pray to the One Above.

Before each and every lecture and class, my mother would turn to HaShem for guidance and inspiration in finding the right words. Ima would whisper a silent prayer, “HaShem sefasai tiftach, u’fi yagid tehilasecha, HaShem, please open my lips, so that I may find the right words to praise You.” (Tehillim 51:17)

I was in high school when my great-grandfather, HaRav Tzvi Hirsh HaKohein zt”l, was niftar. When he was very sick and weak, my parents took us children to see him and receive a final bracha. Zeide had very little strength, hardly able to speak. He motioned to my father and grandfather, pointing to his beloved seforim, his holy books. He wanted to say goodbye to his siddur, his chumash, his gemorrah. My father and grandfather lifted Zeide and carried him to the bookcase, where he lovingly kissed every sefer. After Zeide’s passing, we would go visit our Bubba. No matter the day of the week, Bubba always had a white tablecloth on the table, and placed in front of Zeide’s seat was his siddur and chumash.

The siddur became my mother’s to treasure. A siddur that was soaked with the tears of so many tefillos. With time, the pages became yellowed, worn and thin. The binding fell apart. My mother kept it in a plastic bag, and whenever any family member had a hospital stay, the siddur with the tefillos of Zeide accompanied them.

Karov HaShem l’chol kor’av…, HaShem is close to all who call out to him… (Tehillim/Psalms 145:18)

The opening word of the parsha, Vayikra, is written with a small aleph. While there are many explanations as to why, one understanding is that HaShem accepted all offerings, no matter the size, even small ones. So it is with our prayers. HaShem is waiting to hear from us. Even a small prayer, every prayer reaches HaShem. Cheryl Minikes, who studied with my mother for many years, recalls the Rebbetzin often challenging her students, saying “Don’t you realize HaShem wants to hear from you? When are you going to talk to Him.”

Rav Nachman of Breslov advised to “pray, pray for whatever you need. Praying is the best way to get it. How very good it is when you can awaken your heart and plead to HaShem until tears stream from your eyes, and you stand like a child crying before a parent. Even if all you can say to HaShem is ‘help’, it is still very good. Repeat this over and over again, until HaShem opens your lips and the words begin to flow from your heart. And even when no words come, do not despair Just wanting to speak to HaShem is a very good thing. Learn to pray, and you will come to know and be attached to the Holy One.” (The Empty Chair, Wisdom of Rav Nachman)

May we all become karov, closer to HaShem.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l