Say My Name, Say My Name | Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Beit Midrash

Torah Portion and Tanach
Shmot

קטגוריה משנית

When all is said & done, all we have is our name!

A name is a fascinating thing. On the one hand, it’s just a word, a handle, a way for others to call us rather than merely saying, "Hey, you!" But our name goes much deeper & higher than that. In mystical fashion, our name represents our very essence, our character, our mission, our unique personality. The word "shem," to illustrate this, is at the very center of the word "neshama" or soul.

Fittingly, the story of our becoming a nation is called, Shmot - Names. We each have our own, individual name. That is something which no one can take away from us (though the Nazis tried). We react instinctively & are proud of our name, because it reminds us that we are each a valuable person, that we have self-worth. Hashem knows each of us by name; He recognizes us individually & cherishes our existence.

And we have a collective name, as well. When put all together, we are Yisrael. That name contains within it our 2 most outstanding qualities: We are Yashar, morally upright; & we are devoted to El, Hashem. If we live up to those ideals, then each of us a Sar-El a prince of G-d. The letters of Yisrael also encompass our progenitors, the Avot & Imahot: Yud for Yitzchak & Yakov; Shin for Sara; Raish for Rivka; Alef for Avraham; Lamed for Leah.

In Gematriya, Yisrael (541) equals HaMitzvot. We are defined by the commandments we keep. It also equals Or V’Choshech, light & darkness. We are a people of intense energy; either we are a source of brilliance in the world, or afflicted with gloom. We are never in-between.

The most prominent name in our Sedra, of course, is Moshe, a most intriguing name. It can be Egyptian, recalling Moshe’s early years spent in Paro’s palace. It can also be Hebrew, telling the story of his life, how he was plucked out of the water. And it can also define Moshe’s mandate: "He who pulls others out." Out of slavery, out of exile & subjugation & into freedom.

Our name represents our potential for greatness. Our Sages say that when we neglect to live up to our name, we place ourselves in a kind of personal exile. And so the custom, at the conclusion of the Amida, is to recite p’sukim connected to our name & then to say the verse, Hashem Tzuri V’Goali; G-d is my Rock & my Redeemer.

So what’s in a name? Our history, our destiny, our path to redemption. May we all merit to acquire a good name, a Shem Tov. It’s what we’ll take with us to Olam Haba.

Shmot