Congregation Emeth’s Year of Living Jewishly - Mitzvah of the Week*: Shemot – Who are you? This week, we begin reading from the second Book of the Five Books of Moses. In English this Book is named “Exodus” because it begins with the story of the enslavement of the tribes of Jacob and continues to the exodus from Egypt and the wandering in the desert. In Hebrew, this Book and its first chapter is called Shemot, “names”. The chapter begins by recounting the children of Israel who came down to Egypt, stating, “These are the names…” “The significance of names in the Torah is apparent from the beginning. Seeking a helpmate for the first man, God brings all of the animals of the world before him, To see what the man would call them (Genesis 2:18-19). …However, the text does not record the names given by man to any of the animals. When woman, the one to whom man can truly relate, is created, he says (Genesis 2:23): This is bone from my bones, flesh from my flesh, therefore let her be called Ishah (woman) for she was taken out of Ish (man). The first name explicated in the Torah is a name of deep, essential connection. Later, the first woman is given an even more specific name--Chava (Eve)--because she is in universal relationship: the mother of all the living (Genesis 3:20). Our names are our essence. They are meant to describe what we truly are.” (Udi Hammerman, MyJewishLearning) Our mitzvah of the week asks you to discover who you “truly are”, beginning with your name. 1. For whom (or what) are you named? Naming another person is one of the most important (and first) actions parents take when a baby is born. Why do you suppose your parents gave you the name they did? What can you learn about your parents’ intentions, hopes and dreams for you by the name they selected? 2. Do you know your Hebrew name? Our Hebrew names connect us to our ancestors in a very specific way. If you don’t know your Hebrew name, is it possible to discover it (an older living relative, perhaps)? If you don’t know your Hebrew name or weren’t given one that you recall, select one for yourself. I will gladly guide you, and we can even have a naming ceremony during a service, as we’ve done for other congregants. While this is not technically a “mitzvah” (commandment), the assignment gives you the opportunity to experience a week of personal discovery, so that you can begin “living up to your name,” the ultimate objective of this week’s mitzvah. May you have a week of blessings and a Shabbat of peace, Rabbi Debbie Israel
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 05:03:46 +0000
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