פרשת ויקרא
'ויקרא אל משה וידבר אליו" ויקרא א' א"
Rashi points out that the reason Hashem called to Moshe prior to speaking with him was to show affection. Although in no other location does the Torah interpret the term “calling” in such a manner, the Maharal explains the difference in that here Hashem called to Moshe by his name; as opposed to merely calling to him, which would not show affection at all.
Naming someone expresses the idea that he is important and integral – not just a means to an end; merely beckoning to a person only shows that the person happens to be needed at this time to fulfill his wishes but not that he is important in and of himself.
Similarly we find in the Megillah, that while searching for a wife for Achashverosh, only a woman that would be called by name would be readmitted to his presence. Only if Achashverosh remembered her name, could she be considered important to him.
Our students too feel a strong attachment to their name. It is common for a student to be upset when it is mispronounced or misspellelled. After all, the Torah also places great emphasis on names, teaching that an individual’s name signifies his essence.
How nice it is when we see to it to mentions each and every student at least once a day, by their first name. We convey a message of importance and affection.
About the Author: Rabbi Yisroel Meir Rubinfeld
Rabbi Rubinfeld has been in the field of Torah education for over 3 decades and serves as an Executive School Consultant for Torah Umesorah. He provides an array of services to schools across North America, including teacher and principal mentorship, school and curricula evaluations, professional development and parent education.
Rabbi Rubinfeld's expertise includes classroom management and discipline, effective instruction, bullying, cultivating sensitivity in the classroom, impulse disorders (such as ADHD and ODD), and balancing the educational needs of mainstream and special needs children in the classroom.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is the also the founder and director of Torah Umesorah's Lilmod U'Lilamed department which provides professional development for teachers and principals throughout the year.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is a talmid of the distinguished Yeshivos of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.
