The father of the Jewish people
Of our three patriarchs—Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov—there is a special connection between the Jewish people and Yaakov.
The reason for this bond is because Yaakov was the only one of the patriarchs who was a father exclusively to the Jewish people. Avraham fathered another son, Yishmael and Yitzchak fathered Esav.
It is due to this, that concerning Yaakov it states, that all the Jewish souls of all the generations are included in his soul, and that for all eternity the Jewish people are called by his name—“Am Yisroel.” (“The People of Israel,” i.e. Yaakov.)
Though all of the characteristics of the Jewish people are included in Yaakov’s soul in a general manner, their specific attributes are revealed through the various traits of the twelve tribes.
Being that Rochel and Leah mothered the tribes, it is understood that differences amongst the tribes were inherited through from their respective mothers. Rochel and Leah each had distinct personalities and these differences were passed down to their children.
It is for this reason that it was specifically the matriarchs who named the tribes. Being that each name was expressive of the tribe’s specific identity, and these characteristics were developed through their mothers, it was therefore Rochel and Leah who assigned the fitting name to each of their children.
Tanya, Iggeres Hakodesh, Epistle 6.
