Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:SHEMOTH:EXODUS:

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:SHEMOTH:EXODUS:

Rabbi Arthur Segal
Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA, USA
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Hilton Head Island, SC;Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA

"The Name Game"

In the first lines of this Parasha, the names of Jacob's sons who came with him to Egypt are listed. Curiously, the names of his grandchildren, who were listed in Genesis (46:08), are not mentioned here. Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno of Rome, writing circa 500 C.E., says that this is because Jacob's sons were able to follow in their father's path, but the succeeding generations would have a difficult time resisting the corruption of Egyptian life.

While the second of the Five Books of Moses is called Exodus in Latin and English, it is called Shemoth (Names) in Hebrew because of the listing of Jacob's sons.

Jacob's grandchildren's generation succumbed to the pleasures of Egypt and the parasha does not name them. The Midrash speaks of the Tribe of Levi as being the only tribe to remember the covenant of Abraham, to teach the laws of the Patriarchs, as well as keep their Hebrew names and not assimilate. The Midrash also says it was the Tribe of Judah who alone established schools to keep our traditions alive during our time in Egypt.

In this Torah portion (Ex. 3:11) and Sephardic Haftarah (Jer. 1:6), we see both Moses and Jeremiah state to God that they are not suited for the tasks that God is asking them to do. We all shy away at times from challenging tasks that we know are proper to do. Although they are typically not on as grand a scale of being a great leader or a prophet, our obligations are important nevertheless.

Like Levi, we have an obligation to teach our children our traditions. As modern Jews, we may not feel we are obligated to observe (shomar) the Torah, but we are obligated to remember (zachor) the Torah. Here is a short test for you and your children to take and see how well we are doing in the task to teach our traditions.

A1. Name Jesus' Mother: _________________________________

A2. Name Jesus' Father: __________________________________

B1. Name Moses' Mother: ________________________________

B2. Name Moses' Father: _________________________________

A3. Name the three parts of the Trinity:

______________________________________________________

B3. Name the three Jewish Pilgrimage Festivals:

______________________________________________________

A4. Name any 5 of Jesus' 12 disciples:

______________________________________________________

B4. Name any 5 of our 12 tribes:

______________________________________________________

A5. On what mount did Jesus preach? ________________________

B5. On what mount did Moses die? __________________________

A6. What did Jesus do on the Sea of Galilee? ___________________

______________________________________________________

B6. What did Joshua do on the Jordan River? ___________________

______________________________________________________

A7. Name the three wise men:

______________________________________________________

B7. Name Abraham's three wives:

______________________________________________________

If you or your kids scored more A answers correct than B answers, perhaps it is time for more Jewish study. Take an active role in your children's Jewish education and your own. Consider attending adult education classes. Read the weekly Torah portion at home. Support your synagogue's religious school. Perhaps it is time in your life for Jewish Spiritual Renewal. Try not to be like Moses or Jeremiah and shy away from your obligations as a parent or as an individual Jewish person.

The debate over patrilineal versus matrilineal descent continues. The true answer to "who is a Jew?" is "he or she who will have Jewish grandchildren."

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal
Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA, USA
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Hilton Head Island, SC;Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA

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Rabbi Arthur Segal

Saturday, January 10, 2009

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:SHEMOTH:EXODUS:

"The Name Game"