When the Tzemach Tzedek first attended cheder, he asked his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, why the alef in Vayikra was small. The Alter Rebbe answered that the aleph in Adam [the first man] was big to indicate that he had great talents and powers, being the work of Hashem. Unfortunately, his awareness of his superior level caused him to sin.
Moshe Rebeinu, on the other hand, knew his own greatness, but that knowledge did not cause him to be haughty, it made him feel humble and small. Moshe realized that if another Jew had his talents, he could be even greater.
After explaining that the aleph in Adam’s name was big the Alter Rebbe answered the young future Rebbe by saying, “The small aleph in Vayikra hints to Moshe’s humility.”
Our Rebbe asks, “It would have been sufficient to say that the small aleph in Vayikra indicates Moshe’s humility. Why did the Alter Rebbe mention Adam in answering the child’s question?
One possible response is that the Alter Rebbe was not trying to explain just the wording but wanted to teach his grandson a lesson in serving Hashem. This lesson required first explaining that the large aleph indicates that one must recognize his own talents and greatness, just like Adam. This is in keeping with the Chassidic saying, “Just like one needs to know what he lacks, he also needs to know his positive qualities.”
But in reckoning his superior qualities, a person must realize that those qualities derive from his soul and the merits of his forefathers. Understanding that any greatness he possesses is not of his own making will prevent him from feeling arrogant.
The teaching of the Alter Rebbe to the Tzemach Tzedek can be applied to everyone. All of us have inherited talents and powers that we need to recognize. If not, when it comes to doing a mitzvah, we could think, “Who am I and what am I, to think that I am great enough to serve G-d in this awesome and holy manner?” Therefore, we are told “You are like Adam before the sin, and no matter what your standing is at this point, you have to conduct yourself as if you are higher than any connection to sin.
