Page 191 - 24107

24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Black
#24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Yellow
24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Magenta
#
Orchard of Delights 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Cyan

in fact being lured into taking part in someone else’s evil or crooked
schemes. Sometimes an opportunity that looks so inviting is nothing shemOt ת ֹומ ְׁש
more than an illusion, a figment of our inflated egos or base desires
that causes us to throw all caution to the wind. Other times the
apparent opportunity may be a test from on High, God’s way of
assessing a person’s spiritual maturity and self-control.
Joseph himself once fell into the trap of misreading an opportunity £The Meaning of the Name ShemotThe Meaning of the Name ShemotThe Meaning of the Name Shemot
££
and this error had disastrous “equal and opposite” consequences
for the Jewish people. This occurred when Joseph tried to impact
the world spiritually by having all the Egyptians circumcised. This In Hebrew, the book of Exodus is called Shemot, which means
episode is alluded to by the following verse: “When all the land “names.” On a straightforward peshat level this choice is unremarkable
of Egypt hungered, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread. So because many Torah portions derive their names from a keyword in
Pharaoh said to all Egypt, ‘Go to Joseph; whatever he tells you, you their opening verses. Shemot begins with the verse, “And these are
should do’” (Genesis 41:55). This verse is difficult to understand for the names [shemot] of the children of Israel who are coming to Egypt,”
two reasons: Firstly, why did the people cry out to Pharaoh when and continues by listing Jacob’s twelve sons’ names. However,
it was Joseph who was in charge of distributing the food? Secondly, according to the PaRDeS system of learning there are always much
what was Pharaoh referring to when he cryptically told the people deeper reasons for these titles. What spiritual reasons then underlie
to do “whatever” Joseph commands? Midrash Tanchuma, cited by the choice of this name for the second book of the Pentateuch?
Rashi, seems to resolve these two questions by explaining that the On a practical level, the Midrash relates that the children of
people complained to Pharaoh regarding Joseph’s unusual request to Israel retained their strength as a people and ultimately merited
circumcise themselves. Pharaoh cryptically replied that they should redemption from slavery because they kept their Hebrew names,
do whatever Joseph asks.
their distinct style of dress, and their attachment to the Hebrew
The Zohar (2:17a) explains that Joseph desired to “convert” those language (Shemot Rabbah 1:31). Although such actions may seem
souls who were ready to leave the depraved ways of Egypt (the word relatively insignificant, they prevented the Jews from assimilating.
for “Egypt” in Hebrew aptly connotes “constriction” or “a narrow Thus the book begins with a record of the names of the sons of Jacob
place”). Joseph realized that his rise to power gave him opportunities from whom the Jewish nation would descend.
on the spiritual level, not just the material one. He must have However, in a broader sense, the book of Exodus is the book of names
pondered at great length how best to translate his position of power for it is only in Egypt that Jacob’s nuclear family metamorphoses
into a means for the spiritual advancement of the world. As a son from the “children of Israel” (a name given to the family in Genesis)
of Jacob, he doubtless knew the role the Jewish people were to play to the nation of Israel. Indeed, in this book, Jacob’s personal name,
in the rectification of the world, so he “flung the gate wide open.” Israel, becomes the name of his nation.
Sadly, although his motives were pure, he had misread the situation.
His actions were premature and they led to the very opposite of On an even more profound level, God reveals his essential four-
what he had intended. These “converted” souls became the “mixed letter name, the Tetragrammaton, to Israel and the world, in this
multitude” that Moses erred in taking out of Egypt along with the book. As will be explained in the next Torah portion, He had only
Jewish people. partially revealed this secret to the patriarchs and matriarchs in
Genesis. The fact that God has now chosen to reveal His entire name

162 191

#24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Yellow 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Magenta 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Cyan 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Black #