RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
1:1 “ואלה שמות בני ישראל הבאים מצרימה, את יעקב איש וביתו באו” “And these are the names of the children of Yisroel who were coming to Mitzrayim; with Yaakov, each man and his household came.” The posuk is going to recount the names of Klal Yisroel who went down to Mitzrayim. Why did the Torah say “שמות?” The word, “שמות” – “names” seems to be extra here, for the posuk should have said, “ואלה בני ישראל...” – the way the posuk is written, it sounds like the “שמות” came down to Mitzrayim, as opposed to people.
We know that the word, “ואלה” means to add on to something already stated. Chazal tell us that the purpose in Klal Yisroel having to go through servitude in Mitzrayim was to purify and prepare them to be Mekabel the Torah. The Zohar Hakodosh in Parshas Yisro says that the Torah is all Names of Hakodosh Boruch Hu. The Torah is telling us here that the “שמות” – the names – which refers to Hakodosh Boruch Hu, went down to Mitzrayim with Klal Yisroel. “ואלה” - The Torah is teaching us that the golus Mitzrayim was because of the Torah, which is all the Names of Hakodosh Boruch Hu. (While we see words in the Torah, the depth of the letters of the words which see are all the Names of Hakodosh Baruch Hu. When we learn the Torah hakdoshah, we are connecting to Hakodosh Baruch Hu). (דברי ישראל)
Klal Yisroel were about to experience a very difficult time. The servitude in Mitzrayim was intense, and Klal Yisroel was a beaten down nation. Where would they have the strength to endure the pain, and continue on? Why would they want to live?
The Torah is telling us the answer to these questions – “שמות.” The Torah is comprised of the “Names of Hashem.” Hakodosh Boruch Hu went down to Mitzrayim with Klal Yisroel. Through the pain and suffering Klal Yisroel experienced, they needed to know that Hakodosh Boruch Hu is always with them. The extreme pain and suffering was the medicine needed, the purification process, in order for Klal Yisroel to receive the most precious gift in this world, the Torah hakdosha. Klal Yisroel kept their names; they kept to their roots; and they knew that Hakodosh Boruch Hu was with them. While this was true for the Golus in Mitzrayim, it was also true for many other exiles and afflictions that occurred to Klal Yisroel. There were many who went through the greatest atrocities at the hands of the Nazis, yemach yhemom v'zichrom. How could it be that there were any Yidin who survived those horrors, and continued their lives as frum Jews?!
The answer is that they “kept their names.” They knew that Hashem was with them. They may not have understood the reason for the pain they experienced, but they knew that their loving Father, the Ruler of the world, was there with them, ensuring that they only received what was needed. We must strengthen our emunah in Hakodosh Boruch Hu, and know that He is always there with us. One should never know from tza’ar, though one must work on his emunah at all times, so that he knows in the most harrowing times in life, that Hashem is with him. May we be zoche to strengthen our emunah in Hakodosh Boruch Hu and never let go of it.
