In this pasuk, the Torah spells Hashem’s summons to Moshe with a miniature aleph. The smaller size of this letter makes it stand out as if it were a word by itself. Horav Yosef Zundel Salant, zl, interprets the aleph’s size in a novel manner. He cites the Midrash in Sefer Eichah in which Chazal extol the significance of young children in the eyes of Hashem. They say that when the Sanhedrin was exiled from Yerushalayim, the Shechinah did not accompany them. Likewise, when the mishmaros, who were the various “watches” of Kohanim that served in the Bais Hamikdash, were exiled, the Shechinah remained. Only after the tinokos shel bais rabbon, young school children, were driven into exile, did the Shechinah cease to dwell in Klal Yisrael. It was only in the merit of the Torah studied by such pure souls as the young children that the Shechinah continued to abide in Klal Yisrael.
Horav Salant suggests that this is the underlying interpretation of the pasuk in Shemos 25:22, “It is there that I will set My meetings with you, and I will speak with you from atop the Kapores from between the two Keruvim that are on the Aron.” Rashi explains that when Hashem spoke to Moshe, the Voice came from Heaven to the top of the Kapores. It emanated out from between the Keruvim to Moshe Rabbeinu. Apparently, a strong spiritual significance is attributed to the Keruvim. Chazal teach us that the Keruvim looked liked little children. This implies that in the zechus, merit, of little children, Hashem constricts the Shechinah in order to teach Torah and mitzvos to Klal Yisrael.
We find this idea connected to the giving of the Torah. Referring to the pasuk in Tehillim 8:3, “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have established strength”, the Midrash relates that when Hashem was about to give the Torah to Klal Yisrael, He questioned who was to guarantee its observance. The people responded that they would be responsible to uphold the Torah. Hashem did not accept them as guarantors, noting that they were themselves too heavily in debt to Him. “Who is there that is not indebted to You?” asked Klal Yisrael. “The young children whose commitment is pure and virtuous. They will serve as security that the Torah will be observed. I will give you the Torah through the medium of their mouths. If you do not heed the Torah, I will collect from you the security–the young, innocent children.”
Thus, as Hashem’s voice emanates from between the Keruvim, it begins with a miniature aleph. At times, the word “aleph” is defined as, “to teach.” This implies that Hashem speaks to us in the merit of the “little aleph“–our commitment to teaching Torah to young children. The aleph zeira, is a metaphor for Jewish education. Our resolve to see to it that every Jewish child is provided with a Jewish education is the catalyst for the Shechinah’s choice to repose among us. Indeed, we may be so bold as to posit that Hashem’s relationship will be manifest with us commensurate with the type and manner of education we avail our children. We will receive in accordance to that which we commit.
