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Torah Tidbits - Study Judaism with Rabbi Rapport and Rabbi David. Ki Tisa Tetzaveh Pekudei Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)The opening word of Leviticus that gives the book and this first parashah its name is Vayikra Tazria Metzorah Achrei Mot Emor B’har B’hukotai Sh’lach L’cha Korach Matot Masei D'varim Va-et’chanan Eikev Nitzavim Chayei Sarah Tol'dot Mishpatim

Sh’mot – שְׁמוֹת (Exodus 1:1−6:1)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Sh’mot – שְׁמוֹת (Exodus 1:1−6:1)

Why does Moses ask God’s name? The rules for Divine encounters are pretty clearly established by this point in the Bible. Asking an angel their name is something you should definitely not do. Asking God’s name would seem unthinkable. And yet, here in Parashat Shemot, immediately after encountering God at the Burning Bush, Moses does just that:

Moses said to God: “When I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is God’s name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh,” continuing, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites:  ‘Ehyeh sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13–14)

Moses asks God’s name, but not directly. It is a more clever ask than, “What is Your Name?”Moses asks what he should say if the Israelites ask him “What is God’s name.” God’s answer is an equally clever response: Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh, “I will be Who I will be.”

There is no record that Moses ever reports this name to the Israelites. Maybe Moses was just asking for himself all along. But, what Moses learned from God’s answer is something each of us can learn as well: Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh, “I am in the process of becoming who I am.”

It is when we recognize our ability to be the best we can be, that we begin to see more fully the image of God within us all.

Parsha Sh’mot – שְׁמוֹת Torah Summary:

The new king of Egypt makes slaves of the Hebrews and orders their male children to be drowned in the Nile River. (1:1-22) A Levite woman places her son, Moses, in a basket on the Nile, where he is found by the daughter of Pharaoh and raised in Pharaoh’s house. (2:1-10) Moses flees to Midian after killing an Egyptian. (2:11-15) Moses marries Zipporah, the daughter of Midian’s priest. They have a son named Gershom. (2:16-22) God calls Moses from a burning bush and commissions him to free the Israelites from Egypt. (3:1-4:17) Moses and Aaron request permission from Pharaoh for the Israelites to celebrate a festival in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses and makes life even harder for the Israelites. (5:1-23) Sh’mot – שְׁמוֹת

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