Answering the Call

Reflect, Remember & Retell

Parashat Vayikra | Leviticus 1:1–5:26

This week we begin the Book of Leviticus with a single word:

“Vayikra”—And [God] called to Moses… (Leviticus 1:1)

This quiet call marks a turning point. After the thunder and fire of Mount Sinai, God now speaks in a softer voice—intimate, direct, and deeply personal. As I reflected on this verse, I found myself thinking about how the Divine calls to each of us. Sometimes it’s clear and unmistakable; other times, it’s just a whisper beneath the noise of our lives—one that requires us to Be Still and listen in order to hear what we are being called to do.

“The Call”, my prayer that was inspired by Parashat Vayikra is an invitation to be still, to listen with intention to what we are truly called to do, and to answer that call with love and courage.

The Call

A Prayer inspired by Parashat Vayikra

May I be still enough
to hear God’s Call—
and courageous enough to answer.

May I feel embraced
by the Transcendent Source
my soul is seeking.

May I recognize the difference
between what I enjoy doing
and what I am being Called to do.

May I accept,
even when I do not understand.

May I be present
to the love and the pain,
the hope and the joy
that are part of my journey.

May my heart remain
open to possibility—
and may all I do and all I say
flow from a place of love.

My Creative Process

Most of my work is a hybrid between digital and physical– I draw, paint and letter on the board, and compose in PhotoShop. While I could create my work digitally, I prefer the interaction of paint on paper– there is a visceral and profound connection that occurs for me; especially when I set the intention to have my work serve as a path of hope and healing. Below are photos of the art I created and incorporated into the images for Parashat Vayikra.

Sacred Calls

Both the Torah portion and the upcoming holiday of Passover offer opportunities to pause, reflect, and respond.

Vayikra calls us to sacred service.
The Haggadah calls us to remember and retell.
Both are invitations to be present, to listen deeply, and to step forward to answer our soul’s call.

As you move through this season of spiritual preparation, I invite you to reflect on what it means to answer your call—and how the themes of freedom, justice, and love shape your personal journey.

This Week’s Journaling Prompts

Reflecting on Vayikra and Preparing for Passover

1. Listening for the Call

• When have you felt a sacred nudge or inner calling?
• What helps you become still enough to hear what your soul needs?
• Is there something you’ve been called to do that you’ve been resisting—or avoiding?
• How can you create more space for quiet listening in your life?

2. Discerning Purpose

• What do you believe is your personal purpose at this point in your life’s journey?
• How do you distinguish between what is enjoyable and what is purposeful?
• In what areas of your life do you feel called to grow, stretch, or serve in a new way?
• In what ways do you feel prepared—or unprepared—to say “Hineini” (Here I am) and answer the call?

3. Preparing for Passover

• What “narrow places” (Mitzrayim) are you being called to leave behind this year?
• What does freedom look like for you right now—in body, mind, or spirit?
• How can you bring compassion, awareness, and love into this year’s Seder?
• What is one way you can help bring liberation or healing to someone else?

Closing Blessing: A Passover Prayer

As we prepare to gather around the Seder table, I’d like to share a prayer I wrote to help frame this sacred time with presence, purpose, and love.

You are welcome to download a copy of this prayer to share at your Seder table.

A Prayer for Passover

As we gather around the Seder table,
may each of us find meaning and purpose
in retelling the age-old story of the Exodus from Egypt.

As we journey from bondage to redemption,
may we recognize that the Haggadah holds more than history—
it is tangible connection to our heritage.

Are we not all wanderers in the desert?
Don’t we all yearn to be part of something greater than ourselves?
In a time of ongoing challenge and uncertainty, how do we hold on to hope?

WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER NIGHTS?
This night is different because we are here, together—
having chosen to remember and to recount.
May we be fully present and open
to the mysteries about to unfold.

ON THIS NIGHT
may our souls cry out against indifference, injustice, and inequality,
and may we be inspired to work towards understanding and enlightenment.

ON THIS NIGHT
may our hearts grow in hope and compassion,
and may we find both the courage and the ability
to bring freedom to those still enslaved.

ON THIS NIGHT
may we feel a deep connection to one another and to community,
and may all we say and do reflect our highest, most loving selves.

ON THIS NIGHT
may we rediscover that love is the answer.

LOVE IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER.
And may that sacred truth fill our hearts,
our homes, and our world—with peace.