MEETING THE CHALLENGE

PARSHA

VAYIKRA 08

“Vayikra and he called” (Lev.1.1)

This Shabbat we commence the reading of the third Book of the Torah which is
dedicated to divine service.

The first word Vayikra,is the call to divine service. The Alef in this term is smaller than the other letters. Alef begins the Alef-Bet, so we may learn that the
uninitiated who wishes to devote himself to the worship of divinity, should commence in a small way. Thereafter he may dedicate himself to something greater.
(Torat Shimeon)

There are many things we want to do in life, yet we leave them in abeyance. We are weighed down even before we begin, for the task appears in the mind’s eye as an enormous and daunting undertaking.

We should bear in mind that even the single act of eating
an apple cannot be mastered in one go.
To consume it, we take one bite at a time, careful not to bite off more
than we can chew.

The principle applies to any situation in life that threatens to overwhelm us. It is possible to seize it and manage it. We may grasp it and take in a little at a
time, increasing our hold by degrees until it is under control and safely in
our hands.