The Weekly Torah Portion - Shemot

The Power of Names – Parasha Shemot

Weekly Sidra: Shemot (Names)
Torah Portion: Shemot /Exodus 1:1-6:1
Haftorah: Yermiyahu /Jeremiah 1:1-2:3

“Moses said to God, "When I come to the Israelites and say to them ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?" 14 And God said to Moses, "I am that I am | Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh." He continued, "Thus shall you say to the Israelites, ‘Ehyeh sent me to you.’" 15 And God said further to Moses, "Thus shall you speak to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you: This shall be My name forever, This My appellation for all eternity. (Exodus 3:13-15)

This week’s section is called, in Hebrew, ‘Names’. It begins with a list of the names of the tribes, and it contains an interesting dialogue between Moses and God by the burning bush about God’s names (3:13).

At first glance this is not understood; we already know the names of the tribes from the book of Genesis why say them again?  It also isn’t clear why Moses wants to know God’s name and even more unclear what God answers him:

First God says His name is ‘I will be’ Then He says it is ‘the Lord’, then ‘The God of your fathers’ then "The God of Abraham, the God of Issac, the God of Jacob".

What is God trying to say here? Why so many names?  Also is there any connection between God’s names and the names of the tribes?

A name is a connector. When one has a name he can be called; his identity can be felt in the world.

That is what is so special about the Jews not changing their ‘names’ in Egypt; despite the difficult of exile they did not change their identities, their connection to one another to life and to Judaism.

Similarly the Names of God are ways that God ‘connects’ to the world and how we connect to Him. That is what Moses meant when he said to God at the burning bush (3:13) "The Jewish people will ask me what is Your name, what will I tell them?"

In other words, the Jews will want to know how to connect to You, God. Are you so distant that you are unapproachable? And if not then what is Your name; how can You be approached?

That is what God answered. I am certainly much nearer than you can imagine, but I am also much further:  According to Torah HaNiztar (Jewish Tradition) the name "I will be" is the mystery of mysteries and the concealed of concealed above even the spiritual.

The name "Lord" however is closer; it implies that God is the Creator of all being, past, present and future at once.  Even closer is "the God of your fathers" A personal and intimate God that hears all prayers and forgives all sins.

But finally God reveals the true answer to the question. The way to approach Him is as the fathers did; ‘M’sirut Nefesh’ (self sacrifice).

Each person is different (therefore it says the God of Abraham, the God of Issac etc.) but the common theme and essence of their service and ours is self sacrifice.  And the result of such service is ‘Kiddush HaShem’ literally ‘Sanctifying’ or more properly ‘Revealing God’s NAME’ and that is our life’s work.

This is why Abraham, Issac and Jacob are called the fathers of Judaism; they were the first to do it.  But today all this can be done through joy, charity and brotherly love. We are standing on the shoulders of the millions that have sacrificed themselves before us through the ages. Today can reveal God’s name by spreading Torah, Mitzvot and devoting all our energy; actions, speech and thought to do all we can to reveal…..

Mashiach NOW!!

Beth Haderech