THE LITTLE ALEPH

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Binyamin on his birthday next week. We are so happy you are having your birthday while staying with us this year while your parents are away. Wishing you an amazing year of growth and happiness Binyamin!

And in the same Family, Mazal Tov Devorah Leah for the wedding of your brother on Sunday. Wishing the whole Family continued simchos!

Mazal Tov to Aaron on going official with his music on Spotify under the name of Aaron Percy. One of the virtues of Bnei Yisrael for which they merited to leave Egypt, is that they never changed their Hebrew names while in the Egyptian slavery. Wishing you much success Aaron. I love your music! (and your pride of your Hebrew name)

In this week's Sedra Vayikra, you will notice that the first word Vayikra is written with a small aleph.

There is much to be said about this, but a few items of interest related to this, came past me this week.

1. The Baal Haturim explains that this small aleph is referring to the HUMILITY of Mosheh. Hashem understood that Mosheh did not want to boast that Hashem had called him, and wanted it to be written vayikar (without the aleph) ie as if, rather, Hashem had appeared to him in a dream. So Hashem compromised and made the aleph small. It is said that Mosheh Rabeinu, despite his greatness, was the humblest of men.

2. In an article from Midrash Yalkut Teimani, it gives another reason for the small aleph. It is customary to start teaching young children the Parsha of Vayikra, when they first start learning Chumash. There are some beautiful Traditions relating to this. This custom is alluded to in the miniature aleph in Vayikra, a hint that it is the SMALL CHILDREN who prepare for the Redemption by studying the verses of Sacrificial Laws. Of course there are also much deeper reasons for this custom also.

3. And in relation to this second point, I received a beautiful cd from one of our secretaries at the office whose son had just had his Barmitzvah, and him and his father had composed a song together. This was very beautiful and meaningful, and brought tears to my eyes. I have attached it for interest, as it relates also to the education of young children and humility, and to all families.

4. And again, in relation to humility, we are also now moving into Pesach, characterised by the humility of Matzos.

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos and a Kosher and Happy Pesach

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