Parashat Shemot

Parashat Shemot chronicles the main parts of the story of the Yitziat Mitzraim (Exodus from Egypt). The first few verses begin with the lineage of Yaakov’s (aka Yisrael’s) family. However, the refuge they seek in Egypt doesn’t last forever and the text is quick to point out in verse 8:
“וַיָּ֥קָם מֶֽלֶךְ־חָדָ֖שׁ עַל־מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יָדַ֖ע אֶת־יוֹסֵֽף”
“a new king rose up over Egypt who did not know Yosef.” 
This pharaoh subsequently enslaves Bnai Yisrael and the story of a nation begins. Moshe is born, raised in Pharaoh’s household, and eventually is chosen by God to lead Bnai Yisrael out of slavery. In our Middle School Tanakh courses, we teach students the origins of the names of the books of the Torah. Quite anticlimactically, the names for each of the books in Hebrew come from the first important word in the book. Every year, there is at least one student who seems disappointed by this fact. However, the name of the second book of the Torah, Shemot, which means “names,” holds a greater significance beyond its status as the first important word in the book.  

The first verse of Sefer Shemot begins with, “וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל” — “and these are the names of the Children of Israel.” In Rashi’s comment on this verse, he explains that even though the Torah already named Yaakov’s descendants in Sefer Bereshit, it repeats them here when telling us of their deaths because it shows how important they were to God. Rashi adds that “they are compared to the stars which also God brings out and brings in by number and name when they cease to shine, as it is said, (Isaiah 40:26) ‘He bringeth out their host by number, He calleth them all by name.'” (source from Sefaria). From this we learn that in addition to being an important part of the collective lineage, the Torah also acknowledges each individual person’s significance and their unique importance to God. 

In Judaism, community is vital, and these past months have constantly reminded us of the power of community. At the same time, each individual within that community is exceptional. The story told in Sefer Shemot marks the transition of the main characters in the Torah from a family clan to a nation. But, the individuals who make up this nation must be acknowledged, remembered, and called out by name. This duality is the greater lesson learned from Shemot.  

This week as our Leffell School community celebrates Shabbat at Home, both together as well as within our individual households, we begin the book of the Torah called “names,” reminding us of both our connection to Am Yisrael (the people of Israel) and our unique place within it.  Shabbat Shalom!