
Have you ever wondered about the profound mystery of calling someone’s name? Names are magical, aren’t they? They’re more than just sounds—they’re connections, bridges between hearts and souls.
In our Jewish tradition, we find something wonderfully intriguing about God’s name. When Moses encounters the burning bush, he asks, “What shall I call You?” And God’s response? The enigmatic “Ehyeh asher Ehyeh”—”I Will Be Whom I Will Be.” It’s like a divine wink, a reminder that some mysteries are meant to be embraced, not completely understood.
Think about how we begin our prayers: “Baruch Atah”—”Blessed are You.” We’re not just reciting words; we’re opening a conversation. It’s an intimate moment of connection, reaching out to something greater than ourselves.
The beauty is that God’s name isn’t a simple label. It’s fluid, complex, changing. Some traditions call God “Elohim,” others “Adonai,” some “Shaddai.” Each name carries a different whisper of understanding—justice, mercy, eternity, creation. It’s as if the Divine is saying, “I’m not just one thing. I’m everything.”
Our human languages make this even more fascinating. Hebrew, English, German—each language colours the pronunciation differently. Some sounds we can’t even replicate perfectly. It reminds us that our understanding of the divine is always partial, always evolving.
What matters most isn’t getting the pronunciation exactly right or understanding every theological nuance. What matters is the conversation. The reaching out. The willingness to connect.
This Shabbat, I invite you to embrace the mystery. Speak to the Divine in your own words. Listen in the quiet moments. Remember that connection matters more than perfect pronunciation.
Shabbat Shalom, dear friends. May your weekend be filled with wonder, peace, and open-hearted conversation.
Rabbi Adrian
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