Parashat Vayikra

The Fine Distinction Between Loving and Casual Relationships


Print this page Print this page


This distinction between a meeting with Moses that God prepares for, or prefaces, with a call, which is characterized as a loving relationship, as opposed to a chance meeting with Balaam, which is called tameh or impure, is interesting. The way that 'loving' is set up as being in opposition to 'impure' needs elucidation, especially in view of the fact that issues of purity and impurity--tumah ve'tahara--are central to Leviticus.



It is therefore appropriate that the very mode of communicating these concerns--God’s talking to Moses at the beginning of the book--is itself presented as something delineated, set apart, by a call. The use of the word tameh--impure--for God’s chance meetings with Balaam is telling. That which happens by chance, rather than in a pre-determined framework, is impure.

Use of the Word "Loving"

The use of the word ‘loving’ by Rashi to describe this preparatory call is incredibly suggestive. It means that a love relationship, for Rashi, is one that demands preparation, planning, prefacing. Such a relationship is tahor--pure. The opposite, a casual, accidental relationship, is tameh--impure.


Intriguingly, the difference between the two kinds of experiences--the loving, pure individuation of Moses as opposed to the casual, impure, almost accidental relationship with Balaam--is expressed by only one letter, the aleph added to the end of the word vayikar--“and He happened upon”--that turns it into Vayikra--“and He called.”


Please consider making a donation today.

Rabbi Shimon Felix
