This year we don’t only start the new year with Nisan but with the third book of the Torah, Vayikra. This Shabbat, Shabbat HaGadol (The Great Shabbat), is the Shabbat before we were redeemed. The years that Shabbat HaGadol and Vayikra fall out on the same Shabbat are so special. It’s special because it gives us the key as to why we were redeemed this month.

Parshat Vayikra is the start of the parshiot of the korbanot (sacrifices) The point of korbanot was to be ק.ר.ב—close to Hashem. This is the key to our redemption. Bnei Yisrael, although it was a small step, cried out to Hashem. They started speaking to Him through their screams and their cries. Building their connection to Hashem was the key to their freedom! May we all take big and small steps to get closer to Hashem. May we speedily see redemption and freedom for all of Am Yisrael!