The Secret of a Person's Name: The Power and Mission of Yirmiyahu the Prophet
Lesson No. 22 | Lesson 1 - Thursday, Parashas Balak, 8 Tammuz 5755 (Continued from No. 21)
According to the esoteric teachings of Kabbalah, a person's name is not coincidental; rather, it defines their essence and mission in the world. Through the stories of Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) the Prophet, Bezalel the builder of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and the Nesi'im (tribal leaders), it is revealed how a name draws down lofty souls and how the tzaddikim flee from even the slightest trace of honor.
The verse states: "And this House which is so exalted, everyone who passes by it will be appalled and will hiss, and they will say, 'Why has Hashem done thus to this land and to this House?'"
The prophet of the destruction was Yirmiyahu. He received the most terrible role that could possibly exist in the world. What is the meaning of the name "Yirmiyahu"? In Aramaic, the word "rami" means to throw, because he saw how they threw down and destroyed the Holy Temple. However, in the Holy Tongue, the name Yirmiyahu means to be uplifted. Yirmiyahu was the prophet of the final moment, and his role was to use his prophecy and prayers to elevate the Holy Temple so that it could not be burned. He had to pray that Hashem would magnify the House, that it would continually ascend until it detached from the earth and hovered in the air.
Even as a six-year-old child, Yirmiyahu played with Nebuchadnezzar (who was a descendant of the Queen of Sheba). At that young age, Yirmiyahu already saw through Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) that Nebuchadnezzar was destined to destroy the Temple. Nebuchadnezzar told him, "I will not have mercy on anyone; I will only have mercy on you and keep you alive when I have the power." Yirmiyahu, who already knew what the future held, immediately began to pray. As it was said to him: "Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you; I have appointed you a prophet unto the nations." Even while in his mother's womb, he saw and knew everything that was destined to happen to him.
The Secret of Naming and Drawing Down Souls
The holy Zohar states that a person's entire power comes from their name. When a child comes into the world, the parents prepare the name even before conception. According to the name they prepare, so descends the soul. If they prepare holy names, souls of awesome tzaddikim, angels, and seraphim descend.
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov writes in "Biur HaLikutim" that he informed Rabbi Nosson and Rabbi Naftali during their lifetimes which angels they would become, and he told them that when a child is given the names of angels, souls of angels descend. In every generation, another spark of Moshe Rabbeinu descends, through the Baal Shem Tov, the Arizal, the Rashbi, and all the tzaddikim. It is impossible to attain the spark of Moshe except through true lowliness and humility.
A person prepares their list of names even before getting married, and according to the names they prepare, so the souls descend, bringing joy to all the spiritual worlds.
The Tzaddikim Fleeing from Honor
The book "Heichal HaBracha" presents a wondrous insight regarding the Nesi'im (tribal leaders). In Parashas Nasso, regarding the tribe of Yissachar, the word "hikriv" (he brought an offering) is written twice: "On the second day, Nesanel the son of Zuar, prince of Yissachar, did offer. He offered for his offering..." Why is this?
Hashem knows that the tzaddikim cannot tolerate any praise in the world, even after their passing. As we find with Rav Hamnuna Saba, who said, "It is not our way to take pride in our names." The tzaddikim look and say, "Master of the Universe, I cannot tolerate any praise; I cannot tolerate having words of greatness written about me in the Torah."
Therefore, regarding Nachshon ben Aminadav and Calev ben Yefuneh, the title "Nasi" (prince) is not written, so as not to cause them distress with unnecessary honor. The children of Yissachar attained the greatest wisdom, as it is said, "men that had understanding of the times." The Hebrew letter Yud hints at Chochmah (wisdom). When Nesanel ben Zuar saw that "hikriv" was written about him with the letter Yud, he was distressed and said, "I am not Chochmah, I am only Binah (understanding)." He could not bear having a title of wisdom written about him. Therefore, the second time it is written "hikriv," it is missing the letter Yud. The tzaddikim go crazy when they are praised; it pierces them like needles, because they know they still have endless spiritual work to do. A living person should only seek out humiliation, not honor.
Yirmiyahu's Struggle for His Name
Let us return to Yirmiyahu the Prophet. The name Yirmiyahu is a special name destined to elevate the House. Who would give him this name? His father did not grasp his destiny and wanted to name him after his grandfather or after Avraham Avinu. But Yirmiyahu waited for them to give him his exact name, because he could not fulfill his role in the world without the name for which his soul descended.
As the Zohar explains regarding Bezalel, whose name means "in the shadow of God" (b'tzel El) — the name itself caused him to build a Mishkan for the Shechinah (Divine Presence). Mentioning the name with the mouth draws down a power of holiness. Only through his name is a supernal power awakened upon a person from above, and with this power, he can do wondrous things and bring tikkun (rectification) to the world.
When a son was born to Yirmiyahu the Prophet, the moment he emerged into the airspace of the world, he began to shout, "Call me Ben Sira!" His mother asked him in astonishment, "Who is Sira? Are we inventing new names?" The baby answered her, "Sira in gematria (numerical value) is Yirmiyahu (271). I want to be named after my father who attained immense spiritual heights, and Sira hints at my being a 'prince over all princes' (sar al kol hasarim)."
The mother insisted, not understanding how a newborn baby could determine his own name. Ben Sira answered her, "My father, Yirmiyahu, did exactly the same thing!"
Waiting for Eliyahu the Prophet
And so Ben Sira told his mother about the moments of his father's birth: When Yirmiyahu's mother was kneeling to give birth, he opened his mouth from within the womb and began to shout, "I am not coming out into the airspace of the world until you decide what name to give me! I need to see that the name suits me."
His father suggested naming him Avraham, but Yirmiyahu refused: "Avraham accomplished great things, but we need something that belongs to this generation and the tikkun (rectification) of this generation." They suggested Yitzchak, Yaakov, and all the names of the tribes—Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yehuda—but he did not agree to any name.
Yirmiyahu declared from within the womb: "You do not understand what I am saying to you. I am not coming out without a name that I know belongs to me!" The name Yirmiyahu did not yet exist in the world. He waited in his mother's womb until Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) descended from heaven and told him: "Your name is Yirmiyahu!" Only then did he agree to emerge into the world, to begin his mission of elevating the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple).
Part 1 of 5 — Lesson No. 22
All parts: Part 1 (current) | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5