15/16 Kislev, 5776 27/28 November, 2015
16 Vayis'u mi-Beit-el vayehi-od kivrat-ha'aretz lavo Efratah vateled Rachel vatekash belidetah.
They journeyed on from Beit-el, and there was still aways for their journey when Rachel began to give birth. Her labor was very difficult.
17 Vayehi behakshotah belidetah vatomer lah hameyaledet al-tire'i ki-gam-zeh lach ben.
When her labor was at its most difficult stage, her nurse said to her, "Do not fear, for this one will also be a son."
18 Vayehi betzet nafshah ki metah vatikra shmo Ben-oni ve'aviv kara-lo Binyamin.
As her soul was departing, for she died, she named him, Ben-oni [son of my sorrow], but his father named him BENYAMIN!
BENYAMIN! Benyamin! Benyamin!
How many times did I hear that NAME over and over and over again when I was a young boy in Religious school studying Hebrew and for my Bar Mitzvah; Mrs Bitechman yelling it out every Monday and Wednesday afternoons, AND Sunday mornings too, as that is my "Hebrew" name!
A little history so you understand where I am going with my proud story:
From this name בִּנְיָמִין (Benyamin) which means "son of the south" or "son of the right hand". Benjamin in the Old Testament is the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob/Israel, and the founder of one of the southern tribes of Israel. He was originally named בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-'oniy) meaning "son of my sorrow" by his mother Rachel, who died shortly after childbirth, but it was later changed by his father, Jacob, aka Israel!
I have had a BIG smile while reading this week's Parsha/Portion, as many years after my Bar Mitzvah and Hebrew school studies, I am again referred to or called BENYAMIN many times once again, and on a pretty regular basis,especially when I study with My friends at my local Chabad, OR IN ANY STUDY GROUP THAT I LEAD.....OR RABBI BARRY!.
Several years back, I was having a discussion/meeting via Skype with somebody living in Bet Shemesh (just outside of Jerusalem), “Hi, my name is Barry,and just at that point, I hear with an excited Jewish Jubilance, “Ah, Your name is “BENYAMIN”! I was floored that he knew my Hebrew name!???! and then, almost every call after that, he called me "Benyamin", or affectionately, Barualach (I love it!)
Ah, you think silently now, ‘Big deal’; he called and calls you by your Hebrew name?!
Such a big deal to ME! I just did not like it (or I should say, “I was a bit uncomfortable” at the time), as my name is BARRY, or please call me BEAR,or Oso, but NOT Binyamin,or even Rabbi Barry....
I really just did not get it…..yet!
Not much after that, I befriended (and now one of my dearest friends), another Rabbi that lives in my neighborhood, and we now meet on a regular basis for lunch,study, Shabbat, etc…, and he also said in the beginning, with a Jewish jubilance,...... “Baruch or Benyamin?” I answer again with amazement, “Benyamin!”
My dear friend hit a grandslam with me,and it really,really hit home finally - I AM Benyamin! (Or Rabbi Barry, or Barry, or Daddy....)
I NOW smile with such pride and now, I want to exclaim, I am Benyamin!!!!
I was so proud that day of my NAME, finally- BENYAMIN! (Not Barry, Not Bear, Not Oso, BUT BENYAMIN!) I finally understood- Part of MY Jewish Legacy and MY story!
So, these two men whom I consider extremely reverent and so very scholarly in Our Heritage, in our faith, and 2 men whom I deeply love and have a great admiration for, taught me a valuable lesson;
What is in a name? And to live proudly and up to the history of your name!
Now, It is homework time - Go home and do a little studying and delve into the history and meaning of your Hebrew name, and see if YOU feel it, you live it.
I am PROUD and happy to be, “BENYAMIN”.
Good Shabbos!!!
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