This week’s Torah portion is called VaYikra which is a funny way to start because VaYikra means he called.
Ok maybe not so funny, but I’m very tired.
I’m sure I’m not alone.
Scores of Jewish women around the globe are experiencing various levels of exhaustion as they plow forward in their preparation for the upcoming Passover holiday.
For some this may entail some stressful wardrobe choices as they prepare to jet off to an exotic location, while for others the stress might be building as they have to curate menus and make food for the masses.
Either way it makes us all a bit looopy.
I was talking on the phone with to a friend today and she was looking for something on her desk while we spoke. She said - let me just move away my nonexistent menu and I’m sure I’ll find the paper I need.
Like I said, stress does funny things to people.
May as well inject a bit of humor.
But these are serious times and cleaning and prepping food for the multitudes is no joke.
So you might think this would not be the optimal time for a woman to decide to become Jewish.
That really sounds like someone gone a bit mad, black humor even.
At least if a woman would decide to take such a step it might be wise to wait till after Passover, right?
I am so enamored with a true story of a young woman who happens to be a social media influencer.
Her moniker - nonJewishnanny.
She is a non Jewish young woman, a budding opera singer named Adriana, who took a job as a nanny to a Jewish family to make some extra money. She had never been exposed to a Torah lifestyle at all so she started to share her perspectives on this foreign culture on instagram and her posts went viral. While many of the posts were quite funny and showed how interesting things can look from a different perspective, the underlying premise was one of great respect. Adriana was extremely inspired by the closeness she witnessed in the family dynamic and she was very taken by the children. She found the kids to be warm, loving and accepting. They were so anxious to teach her everything they could about Jewish life and customs, and they did so in a loving way. She felt closer and closer to these children and their family.
The outcome?
Right before Passover:
Her new handle @nowjewishnanny
The power and love of young children is incalculable.
They can literally change the world.

Which brings us to our Torah portion VaYikra - which teaches us about the sacrifices that were brought in the Tabernacle.
There is a well accepted custom to teach little children their first Torah verses from VaYikra.
Now that really must sound quite ludicrous-and with a serious sleep deficit-quite hilarious.
After all, what could be farthest from sweet innocent children then the blood and guts which accompany sacrifices?
After all, we adults have a hard time with the sacrifices, especially as we try to understand them with our 21st century sensitivities. So what can a child gain from these teachings?
Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi answers this question.
She teaches us that Gd wants this child, who surely does not understand all the technicalities enumerated, to walk away with one concept and one concept alone and that is the idea of closeness.
When you live your Judaism and you practice it by keeping mitzvot and delving into the “guts” of it (Passover cleaning and prep can really feel sacrificial at times, remember the Lamb?)you feel the closeness, the connection.
By living the Jewishness it brings it all to life, it makes us feel close to the Creator.
Funnily enough, the Hebrew word for sacrifices is Korbanot, and the root of Korban is Karov which means close.
The purpose of what we learn about in the “sacrifices” is how to live our relationship with Gd, to feel the closeness, to revel in the relationship.
Gd is saying here -I want you to be close to Me.
Or as Rabbanit Yemima puts it
“I want to invite you to Me”.
In the portion Moshe is invited into the Tabernacle to begin bringing the sacrifices. It’s a messy business. It’s not pristine or calm or serene.
It actually sounds like a home.
(No you cannot sacrifice the child who has just made a huge mess where you had just cleaned up).
Many of the messiest tasks we do in our home bring us closer to one another. They exemplify our caring and dedication, the willingness to go the extra yard for someone we love.
It’s about connections and closeness and learning and sharing and all the beauty and complexity that comes with the messiness of a happy family life.
It’s the genuine closeness that the Non-Jewish nanny was captivated by, and to which she has now become a part.
Gd calls to Moshe in the beginning of the Portion and the word used is VaYikra, which also connotes connection and meaning. This wasn’t just an accidental or happenstance meeting, Gd is expressing a love and connection even in the calling of Moshe to the Tabernacle.
As each of us prepares for the upcoming holiday in our own unique way, let us keep our focus on the priority-to create a holiday where love, connection, sharing and meaningful interaction will prevail.
Here’s a tip:
Sprinkle humor liberally and while following your favorite recipes remember don't sacrifice the good to chase for the perfect.
Shabbat Shalom and so much love!