Rabbi Daniel Siegel – Head of Jewish Life

“But I didn’t do anything”

This week’s Parashah opens with the word that gives it its title: VaYikra – ‘And God called’.

When and how do we know we know we are being called upon?

After listing a variety of actions for which we are held accountable, our Torah reading states:

If a person incurs guilt, for he hears a voice calling out and he can serve as a witness for he has seen or knows but he keeps silent, then shall he bear his iniquity.

Our acts of omission, like those of commission, incur blame.

In Hebrew, the word for silent is also the word for deaf – חרש/cheresh. Our silence is often born of our refusing to hear.

We recently read together, on Purim, the critical words:

אם החרש תחרישי בעת הזאת…את ובית אביך תאבדו

Speaking of the impending destruction of her people, Mordechai exhorts Ester:

If you remain deaf/silent (hacharesh tacharishi) at this time, you and your father’s house shall certainly perish. In Judaism, silence serves as acquiescence and deafness brings destruction.

Each of us is considered to be like the first human, being asked to hear the voice of calling and to be present to it. And God called to Adam and said: ‘Where are you’?

Being deaf and silent to the needs of others and one’s own responsibility renders mute the meaning of our lives.

In doing nothing we become nothing.

In breaking our silence we proclaim that we hear. In doing so we recognise the life and value of another and thereby give meaning and purpose to our own.

As we approach Pesach, please join our Emanuel School community in hearing the call of those in need by supporting our Pesach Plitim (Refugees) Project by bringing in food and/or toiletry items by Wednesday 24 March 2021.