The first word in Parshat Vayikra seems strange in the way it’s written. Instead of writing the whole word, Vayikra, in the same size font, the letter alef (א) is written smaller. Without the aleph, the word becomes (ויקר) which comes from the word chance. This Shabbat is not only a time when we read Vayikra but is also a Shabbat where we are supposed to remember Amalek. Amalek is a people who constantly, despite seeing proof, dismiss God and say that everything occurs by chance.

Returning to Parshat Vayikra, I would like to ask, Why is the aleph small and the word which has a meaning of “by chance” big? I believe that it is to show us that despite things seeming to occur by chance and not always being able to recognize Hashem, He is always there. He is Aleph which in gematria is number one, like Hashem. Despite how hidden He may be at times, He is always there. Hashem is not mentioned in the Purim story where we had to fight Haman who was from Amalek, yet the Jewish people were able to see the little alef and recognize the hand of Hashem. May we all stray from the ideology of Amalek and see the hand of Hashem in all that we do.