Parshat Vaykira opens with the following pasuk:

וַיִּקְרָ֖א אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו מֵאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר

Rashi has such a beautiful commentary on this pasuk. He says that Hashem first calls Moshe by name, he summons him, and only then speaks to him as a lesson to us on how we are meant to interact with each other.

Before we speak with anyone, have criticism for anyone, or input for anyone, we must see them first. We must know them, see where they are coming from, and only then approach them.

On Rosh Hashanah we say in davening “מבין ומאזין”  – He understands and He listens. When we daven on Rosh Hashana, when we pour our hearts out to Hashem and ask for forgiveness, to be written in the Book of Life, we are reminded that Hashem loves us so much. Before He listens to our tefillot, He sees us, He calls us by name, He understands us and then He begins to listen. 

We must learn from this. We must grow to be people who see those in our lives before judging them. We must focus on being a nation that sees others before dismissing them. 

The people of Ukraine are begging for this. They are in desperate need of others to understand them before they speak, to understand them before they are dismissed.

As a Jewish People, we know that every life is precious. We know that every single person has a name, has endless worth and we are taught in this week’s parsha how they must each be approached.

The words of Natan Sharnaky sum this up so beautifully. 

“When I was growing up in Donetsk, Ukraine, there were [people from] many nations and nationalities. [Some] had ID papers that said ‘Russian,’ ‘Ukrainian; ‘Georgian; or ‘Kozak.’ These were not so important since there was not much difference between them. The single designation that stood out was ‘Jew.’ if that was written as your identity, it was as if you had a disease.

“We knew nothing about Judaism. There was nothing significant about our Jewish identity other than the anti-Semitism, hatred, and discriminatory treatment we experienced because of it. When it came to a university application, for example, no one tried to change his designation from ‘Russian ‘ to ‘Ukrainian’ because it did not matter. However, if you could change your designation of ‘Jew’, it substantially improved your chances of university admission.

“This week I was reminded of those days, when I saw thousands of people standing at the borders of Ukraine trying to escape. They are standing there day and night and there is only one word that can help them get out: ‘Jew.’ If you are a Jew, there are Jews outside who care about and are waiting for you. There is someone on the other side of the border who is searching for you. Your chances of leaving are excellent.

“The world has changed. When I was a child, ‘Jew’ was an unfortunate designation. No one envied us. But today on the Ukrainian border, identifying as a Jew is a most fortunate circumstance. It describes those who have a place to go, where their family, an entire nation, is waiting for them on the other side.”

Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbat and a beautiful Purim