It is true that a little light disperses a lot of darkness, but it cannot reach eyes that are tightly shut.
(H:A TYwARB) ‰...HLYL ARQ VwXLW OWY RWAL OYHLA ARQYW‰
“G-d called the light, ‘day,’ and the darkness was called, ‘night...’” (Beraishis 1:5)
In the beginning, when Hashem created light, it mixed with the existing darkness, like some sort of viscous liquid perhaps, but Hashem made a separation so they not exist in the same space at the same time. Then, He took the additional step of naming this new creation, as well as the existing on, and assigned the names of “day” and “night.”
The question is, why did Hashem have to name these creations? Some comment that Adam would name all the animals, so Hashem named these things. But even so, there was no one else in the world yet. Hashem knew what they were, so why did they need a designation? And if they needed one for Mankind’s benefit, let Adam name them later?
There is an opinion that Man would not have been able to name certain things because we cannot fathom their entirety. Only Hashem could understand their essence, so He named them. Interestingly, one of these things Hashem named was “Man,” himself. This would imply that we, ourselves, don’t grasp the greatness or ability of Man.
Another explanation given by the meforshim is that by assigning a name to something, Hashem was creating boundaries for it. The light would operate during the day, and the darkness (which, by the way, was an actual creation, not merely the absence of light) would operate at night time. They had set guidelines for their use, which helped identify the purpose Hashem had in mind for them in Creation. For them to be used any other way, if it were possible, would be a corruption of Divine Purpose and of Creation itself.
That is why the naming could not be left to Adam later on. He would not be able to grasp the Divine plan of the cosmos, and come up with a name which captured all the necessary aspects. Rather, Hashem had to do it Himself, in order that it be done right. Additionally, this sets a precedent for everything else Hashem put into creation.
Coming after Sukkos, when we celebrate the ingathering of our produce, while simultaneously recognizing that all we have comes from Hashem, and not from the efforts of our hands, this provides another key message. The gifts Hashem gives us: the health, the family, and the financial wherewithal we have to whatever extent, are given to us for a purpose.
When the angel brings each soul before Hashem prior to birth, and it is decreed whether it will be tall or short, smart or foolish, rich or poor, it’s not a question of being lucky and catching Hashem in a good mood. What is happening is that Hashem gives each soul the tools it needs to fulfill its cosmic purpose. Like the light, these must be used for their intended purpose, or else they are tainted and perverted.
Klal Yisrael is compared to the stars, of which it is written (Psalm 147), “He counts the numbers of the stars, calling each one by name.” We each have a name which outlines why we are here on earth and sets the parameters for our existence. We may have to work to discern the purpose associated with the name, but that is how we will be partners in completing Hashem’s Creation, and maximizing our impact on the world.
R’ Zusia of Hanipoli was once hurrying down the road when a fellow stuck in a ditch called out to him, “Help me get my wagon upright!” R’ Zusia was involved in a specific matter just then and felt he could not delay his mission. He replied, “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.” The man shouted back to him, “Yes, you can. You just don’t want to.”
R’ Zusia said to himself, “Zusia, you have just been given rebuke from Heaven. There are many things you should be doing but you are too lazy. You excuse yourself by saying you can’t. The truth is that you can do them, Zusia, but you just don’t want to.”
©2025 – J. Gewirtz
