Vayikra

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‎The words ויקרא אל משה at the beginning of our parsha have the word ויקרא written with a small letter Alef. The Baal HaTurim explains that Hashem had instructed Moshe to write ויקרא , which means that Hashem called out to Moshe.  Moshe, in his humility, wanted to write ויקר which implies a chance meeting. However left with no choice because Hashem told him to write it out in full, he made the Alef small, displaying for us the great humility of Moshe, the greatest of men who wanted no recognition. 

Chazal demonstrate how great the humble ones are to Hashem.  During the time of the Beis Hamikdash, if a person brought a Korban Olah, he received the merit of an Olah; if he brought a Shelamim, he received the merit of a Shelamim.  However, one who is humble has the merit of all the Korbanos. Therefore, says the Shaar Yashuv the beginning of Vayikra, the sefer of instruction for all the korbanos, starts with the small Alef to teach us that one who is humble, is considered to have brought all the korbanos. 

What is the key to being humble? Maybe we can get an insight from the following story. 

An engaged couple came to Reb Chaim Kanievsky with the following dilemma.  The wedding was set to take place in three weeks & the groom was just diagnosed with a life threatening tumor. The groom did not want his bride to be stuck with him for a lifetime of suffering. He felt, “if I have to suffer, why should she?” Therefore, he wanted to break the engagement. She, on the other hand said “this is a test to see if I will remain loyal. Since he has to suffer with an illness, should I make him suffer more by leaving? I will remain at his side.” Each one was more concerned for the other & was adamant about it. 

Reb Chaim, after listening to both sides, said they should stay together & blessed them warmly. 
Later, someone who was there asked Reb Chaim why he advised them to stay together. He answered that he based his decision on a Midrash. The Midrash related the story of Alexander of Macedonia visiting the king of Kezia. He saw two people come in front of the king with a court case. One had sold a field to the other in which the buyer had found a treasure. Their arguments in front of the king were the exact opposite of what one would expect. The seller said he sold the field with all its contents so the treasure belonged to the buyer whereas the buyer said he only bought the field, so the treasure was the seller’s. 

The king turned to one of them asking if he had a son. He asked the other if he had a daughter. When both answered yes, the king said, “my advice to you is to marry them to each other & give them the treasure.” 

Reb Chaim explained that this Midrash teaches us that if one thinks about another & puts the other person’s needs before his own, he will not lose out. One who steps on someone else's toes to get ahead is a loser. One who sacrifices for someone else will always emerge a winner. 
Just as neither the buyer nor the seller lost out in the story in the Midrash, so, too, this bride & groom, who were only concerned about each other wouldn't lose out either. 

The humility of Moshe is testified to be the Torah. Moshe always put everyone else's needs above his own. When Hashem wanted to destroy Klal Yisroel & make a new nation originating from Moshe, Moshe said that he’d rather be erased from Hashem’s book; he wasn't going to be the last man standing.  He wanted everyone else to be with him. Perhaps, if we put the needs of others before our own & demonstrate concern for others, we will be able to gain greater humility & the merits that come from all the Korbanos!‎

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