Vayikra — He Called
Hebrew: וַיִּקְרָא | Book: Vayikra (Leviticus)
Summary
Laws of burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings.
Chabad Chassidic Teachings
Why Does Torah Begin with Vayikra for Children?
The Talmud states that children should begin Torah study with Vayikra — the book of sacrifices — rather than Genesis. Chassidus explains: the sacrifices represent messiras nefesh (self-offering) — the foundation of all Divine service. A child must first learn to give themselves, then learn the stories and laws.
Korban: Drawing Near
The word korban (sacrifice) comes from karov — “to draw near.” A korban is not about giving something up but about drawing closer to God. The animal brought represents the animal nature within the person — offering it on the altar means elevating one’s animal drives to the service of the Divine.
The Small Aleph of Vayikra
The word Vayikra is written with a small aleph — Moses’s humility in receiving this intimate call from God. The large aleph in Bereishit’s Anochi represents God’s infinite self; the small aleph of Vayikra represents Moses’s complete bittul before that infinite reality.
Inner Dimension of the Sacrifices
Each type of sacrifice corresponds to a mode of inner service:
- Olah (burnt offering, fully consumed) = total bittul, nothing reserved for self
- Shelamim (peace offering) = shalom — harmony between all dimensions of the self
- Chatat (sin offering) = teshuva, drawing close after distance
Key Concepts
Sources Cited
Vayikra 1:2; Leviticus Rabbah 1:1; Zohar III:2a