Second Reading: Marital Harmony
The letters yud (as a suffix) and hei (as a prefix) were added to all the names of the families of the tribes. As above, the Chanochi family, which is the name Chanoch with a hei added at the beginning and a yud added at the end. Rashi explains that this is a testimony to the kosher family status of the Children of Israel, even when they were enslaved in Egypt, as the verse calls them the “The tribes of Kah [yud hei], a testimony to Israel.” The holy Name yud-hei seals their names as a testimony.
This sign appears on all the names of the families, since it is a testimony that despite the brutal servitude, the mothers in each family did not give in to the Egyptian masters and remained faithful. However, this special “seal” also appears on the names of three of the tribes: Reuben, Shimon, and Zebulun. Why did these three tribes, specifically, need the seal of kosher family status?
On the surface, the marital relations from which Reuben was born were flawed, not blemished but flawed. There are 9 categories of flawed relationships between a husband and wife that impact the holiness and purity of their offspring. One such category is the woman who is exchanged or mistaken for someone else. When Jacob married Leah, Reuben’s mother, his intent was seemingly to wed her sister Rachel, for whom he had served Laban for 7 years. But knowing Laban’s treacherous nature, Jacob surrendered himself to God and accepted that he would have marital relations with whomever God had decreed he should, however God would have the events play out, including a situation in which Laban would exchange Rachel for Leah.
Shimon received the two letters yud-hei because he was born after Leah had said that she was hated, another category of flawed relations between husband and wife, which would have blemished Shimon. However, God testifies that this was not at all the case and therefore, Shimon too was not the product of a flawed relationship, God forbid.
Zebulun was the last of the six sons that Jacob had with Leah. It is true that throughout their marriage, Jacob still preferred Rachel, but he also loved Leah. God testifies to this by placing the seal of His name on the sixth and last son, Zebulun. The sons of Leah are all quintessentially kosher and part of Jacob’s family.
Now for some beautiful allusions to the love between Jacob and Leah expressed in these three names. The sum of the numerical values of “Reuben Shimon Zebulun” (ןֵאוּבְר ןֹעוְמִׁש לוּןֻבְז) is the same as “Love your fellow as you love yourself” (ָתְּבַהָאְוָךֲעֵרְלָךֹמוָכּ). The average value of the first letters of the three names, “Reuben Shimon Zebulun” (ְראוּבֵןִׁשןֹמְעוְזלוּןֻב) is 169, the square of 13, which is the value of “love” (הָבֲהַא). Enumerating these three tribes, Reuven is Jacob’s first son and thus corresponds to the letter alef, Shimon is the second and thus corresponds to the letter beit, and Zebulun was Jacob’s tenth son, corresponding to the letter yud. These three together 1, 2, and 10 once again equal 13, the value of “love” (הָבֲהַא).
