Parashat Shemot It’s all in the name
We begin the second book of the Torah this week, the book of Shemot. The opening verses remind the reader that the Israelites have migrated to Egypt due to a famine, Joseph had risen to power and the family has been reunited after 22 years. A discerning reader will be clued in to these events from last week’s reading. The obvious question is why repeat information that we know? Why state again the names of the twelve tribes of Israel?
There is something special when we hear our name being called especially by those nearest and dearest. In today’s world it’s possible to go for days without speaking to anyone, simply by replacing verbal communication with text. We avoid potential unpleasantness by sending a written message rather than verbally communicating that message. It has become acceptable in the modern world to send typed messages to people in the same house instead of getting up to find them! Last week we learnt that each tribe was given a special blessing that would allow its’ unique talent to emerge. Given enough time and good will, we could create our own blessings that would focus on each of our own family member’s talents and abilities. Discovering how special someone else is often becomes relegated to a shiva house. The verse this week informs us that the entire “generation died.” It is so very tragic when we only appreciate people after death, when Shiva houses become arenas of discovery, when all you hear are the words “I never knew that” instead of “yes, I know he/she was indeed unique, special beloved.” How wonderful then, at a time when we are about to indulge in, enjoy or suffer (delete as appropriate) family and loved ones, that we begin the book of Exodus with the repetition of the names. Each member of Jacobs’s family, each head of a tribe was so beloved and cherished that mentioning the name becomes a way of demonstrating that love. If your nerves become fraught during the holiday period and your job appears like an exotic island retreat, pause and call out the names of those who are nearest and dearest. Each name should linger for a moment as you discover what they mean to you.
Shabbat Shalom
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