Our Jewish names tell a story. Mendel BAT Avi v’ Rachel nearly shouts a familial connection between Mendel and parents Avi and Rachel. BAT means ‘daughter of’ and BEN means ‘son of’. Our names immediately demonstrate that no Jew lives in isolation. Every person is part of a greater whole. Our own names describe a fact too common to consider but never to be ignored; we all come from someone else. Without parents we would not be. In a broader framework –without each other we would not experience the significance which emerges from relationships. Relationships with others are as essential to our personal identities as are our own names (which remind us of our interconnectedness).
In last week’s Torah reading, Forefather Jacob flees from his controlling father-in-law (Lavan) but Lavan pursues, overtakes and complains that he did not get the chance to properly say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren. “All of these daughters and sons are mine and the sheep are mine too.” (Gen. 31:43)
It seems to me that Lavan is more concerned with property and quantity than he is with feelings and relationships. He lumps daughters and grandchildren into
the same category as sheep and goats; property. Rather than seeing the children as part of his identity he views them as goods to value. They are only important because the bigger numbers testify to his own importance. Value grows or diminishes dependent upon volume alone.
Sadly, we see a dramatic diminution in the worth of humanity by and through despicable acts of terrorists. Life is no longer cherished. Terrorists only desire to eliminate as many infidels as possible. Extremists only view the world through the lens of how large is our group and how small is their group.
How terribly cruel and myopic it is to view people as disposable and valueless, only as a result of beliefs gone amok. Narrowness of mind begets true fear of others and sets the stage for destruction. Those who are more open-minded can appreciate the beauty and value which exist in our world due to the complexity of human life and belief. It is this very appreciation of others which is apparent in how we name ourselves and those who will follow us. May we continue to take stock of those around us thereby granting and receiving a true sense of meaning in life.
Shalom.
Rabbi Steve Silberman
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