As Trivial as a Name – Parshat Shemot

It can get confusing. On the one hand, a name is just a name. It seems to be an arbitrary appellation attached to people for purposes of convenience. Even Juliet said:

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;"1

On the other hand we find that the Torah sometimes makes an issue out of names and has even changed people's names. We even find situations where the reason for a specific name is given. In this week's parsha, Parshat Shemot, (literally the Portion of Names) we find that the Torah repeats the names of Jacob's sons.2 There is absolutely no obvious need to repeat the names. We know all of them. We even know some details about their lives. Why repeat their names? Rashi, the great medieval commentator, says that the names were not repeated out of necessity but rather of love and caring. In a theme he repeats in other places as well, Rashi says that the repetition had no special reason – it was just because of His love for them that he repeats their names. The name reminds Him of the essence of who Jacob's children were. And so, he repeats their names 'just because'.

There is just something about a name that can capture the essence of a person. In fact, God Himself gets involved in people's names on various instances.3 A name, therefore, must be more than just a simple appellation.

                "There are three names by which a person is called:

                One that his parents call him;

                One that people call him;

                And one that he earns for himself.

                The best of them is the one he earns for himself"4

There is even a beautiful Hebrew poem by Zelda that is a takeoff on this saying that enumerates the different names a person acquires for himself during his life.

Our name represents something. It represents who we are. It represents what we've done. It represents our strengths and our failings. It represents what we choose it to represent.

When our name is called out, it has meaning. We have meaning. If we lead a meaningful life, our name is not just a simple appellation anymore. It is us.

Click here to read another logoParsha article on Parshat Shemot  

Notes

  1. Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II
  2. Shemot 1:1-4
  3. For example we see this by Abraham - Bereishit 17:5; Sarah - ibid 15; Jacob - ibid. 35:10
  4. Tanchuma Shemot 35:1

Have A Great Shabbat!laughing

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