This Shabbat, we will read about another Moses, the Moses that led Jews out of ancient Egypt to receive the Torah and settle in Israel.
The Hebrew name of the book of Exodus that we begin reading this Shabbat, is Shemot (Names). The title "Names" is from the opening words of Exodus. It begins with the words "These were the names of the Jews that came to Egypt."
The Talmudic sages point out that this is the second time that the Torah lists these names. Obviously, the Torah is underlining the tremendous importance that of those names to Jewish life. The Jews left Egypt with the very same type of names that they had when they had arrived in Egypt some 210 years earlier. Although Egypt was a powerful civilization with a highly developed culture, the Jews did not assimilate and lose their Jewish identity; they still referred to themselves with their original Hebrew names.
What helped protect Jews from assimilating was the fact that they did not change their Hebrew names to names that would resonate better with their Egyptian neighbors. A name is a powerful statement of what a person is. When a person uses his/her Jewish name in their daily business affairs it demonstrates that the person is comfortable and proud of his or her Jewish identity.
There is a Jewish custom that when a person is critically ill, his family adds or changes his Hebrew name. The Yiddish names of "Alter" for a man or "Alta" for a woman were names that were added with a prayer that the named person would live to reach old age. The masters of Kabbalah teach that the Jewish name is a channel to the soul. G-d created the world with words of Hebrew, the Holy Language. The very letters and words of Hebrew describe the flow of divine life and energy to those beings that were created with G-d’s utterances. When parents select a name for their child, they are granted prophetic insight so that the Jewish name that they give is a perfect match for their child’s soul. No one else, not even grandparents or friends, should meddle with the parent’s choice of an appropriate Hebrew name for their child.
We usually select a name of either a parent or grandparent, to perpetuate their memory or the name of a righteous Jew, so that the child will be imbued with the qualities of his namesake. We are careful not to name a child after a decadent person or one who led a tragic life, because the name imparts the character of the namesake on the child.
A boy receives his Jewish name at his circumcision. A girl receives her Jewish name as soon as possible after her birth, during the reading of the Torah in synagogue on Mondays, Thursday or Shabbat.
Jewish names are beautiful. Whereas the names used in many cultures glorify war and prowess, Jewish names describe faith and kindness. Learn the meaning of your Jewish name and you will be amazed at the spiritual depth and meaning.
The important lesson of Shemot is to use our Jewish names with comfort and pride. It will keep us proud of our Jewish heritage.
Monday will be the Yahrzeit of Maimonides, one of the greatest scholars in Jewish history. Maimonides (Rabbi Moses son of Maimon) lived much of his life in Egypt. This Shabbat, we will read about another Moses, the Moses that led Jews out of ancient Egypt to receive the Torah and settle in Israel.
The Hebrew name of the book of Exodus that we begin reading this Shabbat, is Shemot (Names). The title "Names" is from the opening words of Exodus. It begins with the words "These were the names of the Jews that came to Egypt."
The Talmudic sages point out that this is the second time that the Torah lists these names. Obviously, the Torah is underlining the tremendous importance that of those names to Jewish life. The Jews left Egypt with the very same type of names that they had when they had arrived in Egypt some 210 years earlier. Although Egypt was a powerful civilization with a highly developed culture, the Jews did not assimilate and lose their Jewish identity; they still referred to themselves with their original Hebrew names.
What helped protect Jews from assimilating was the fact that they did not change their Hebrew names to names that would resonate better with their Egyptian neighbors. A name is a powerful statement of what a person is. When a person uses his/her Jewish name in their daily business affairs it demonstrates that the person is comfortable and proud of his or her Jewish identity.
There is a Jewish custom that when a person is critically ill, his family adds or changes his Hebrew name. The Yiddish names of "Alter" for a man or "Alta" for a woman were names that were added with a prayer that the named person would live to reach old age. The masters of Kabbalah teach that the Jewish name is a channel to the soul. G-d created the world with words of Hebrew, the Holy Language. The very letters and words of Hebrew describe the flow of divine life and energy to those beings that were created with G-d’s utterances. When parents select a name for their child, they are granted prophetic insight so that the Jewish name that they give is a perfect match for their child’s soul. No one else, not even grandparents or friends, should meddle with the parent’s choice of an appropriate Hebrew name for their child.
We usually select a name of either a parent or grandparent, to perpetuate their memory or the name of a righteous Jew, so that the child will be imbued with the qualities of his namesake. We are careful not to name a child after a decadent person or one who led a tragic life, because the name imparts the character of the namesake on the child.
A boy receives his Jewish name at his circumcision. A girl receives her Jewish name as soon as possible after her birth, during the reading of the Torah in synagogue on Mondays, Thursday or Shabbat.
Jewish names are beautiful. Whereas the names used in many cultures glorify war and prowess, Jewish names describe faith and kindness. Learn the meaning of your Jewish name and you will be amazed at the spiritual depth and meaning.
The important lesson of Shemot is to use our Jewish names with comfort and pride. It will keep us proud of our Jewish heritage.
