D’var Torah in honor of my father Alvin who died at Age 49 on erev Shabbat Hagadol 37 years ago.

I am intrigued by the term “Yayekra” the name of the book of the bible that we are currently reading. Yayekra means “to call” as in “to summons”. But it can mean to name – to define. For instance after each day of creation God “called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." As we read through the bible those times when God “calls” someone - using the term “Yayekra” are often defining moments.

The first time it is used in this context Adam and Eve have just eaten the forbidden apple:

"But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9)

Man and woman have defined themselves as creatures who are seduced by and drawn to knowledge. This capacity to know and the desire to pursue knowledge defines us has humans.

Another dramatic moment when the word “Yakerah is used is in the story of the Akedah, “the Binding of Isaac”. As the knife is raised in Abraham’s hand:
"the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied. (Genesis 22:11)

Abraham has defined himself as someone who is willing to make remarkable sacrifices to his God.

So what about Moses?

The first four times God uses the term Vayekrah to call Moses are very dramatic. The first is when God calls Moses from the burning bush. The next three times occur at Mt. Sinai at the giving of the Ten Commandments. Clearly these are defining moments for Moses and for the Jewish people. But what is so definitional about this time that God called Moses and what is so definitional about this whole book that it is called “Vayekrah”? And, by the way, this is the last time God “Calls” to Moses using the term Vayekrah.

“God called to Moses, speaking to him from the Communion Tent and said: Speak to the Israelites, and tell them the following: When one of you brings a mammal as an offering to God, the sacrifice must be taken from the cattle, sheep or goats.” (Leviticus1:1)

In the book of Vayekrah, the Jewish people and their relationship to God are defined by rituals and by behaviors:

• Sacrifices
• The rites of Yom Kippur
• Keeping Kosher
• Worship
• Observing holidays
  

Thus, it is not only those “wow” moments that define who we are and how we are defined by God but those things that we commit ourselves to do every day – day in and day out.

My father defined himself as many of our fathers did. By getting up every day at 5:30 am to wrestle with the traffic on the Long Island Expressway and spend the day mixing and packaging spices at the family business J. Raphael and Sons. Only after he died did I learn that he never enjoyed his work. He had wanted to be a teacher. He loved history. But his portion was to mix and package spices and he did it every day until he became ill with cancer.

His definitions were those of steadiness, commitment and sacrifice. He defined himself by his unwavering commitment to his family. And for this may his memory be for a blessing