Below is a copy of the thoughts that came to my mind around 6am today, that due to who knows what I was not able to share with everyone:
This week is a fitting week for a bris. We read yesterday Avrahams ordeal with Melaih and the fact that he was circumcised at 99.
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4 ‘As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations. |
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5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. |
A covenant was made between Avrohm and Hashem and his name was changed. For Avrahom, a Hey was added. The medresh in bereshit rabbah points out that it was simple for hashem to create the world, it was effortless like pronouncing the letter Hey. The medresh goes on to point out that the work Behbaram – when they were created has the same letters as bavrohom – for the sake of avroham, thus alluding to the purpose of avborhom by him being granted a new name.
If one letter can signify a world of difference, kal vchomer a complete name has inherent significance.
Our son’s middle name – is Levi, in memory of my grandparents, Paul and Revela Pressel who were both Levim.
As to our son’s first name Eliyahu – The Noam Elimelech in Bamidbar advises naming the a child after a deceased tzaddik. When a child is named after a deceased tzaddik this perpetuating the tzaddik’s memory the result is a two-fold blessing for both the child and the tzaddik. When this is done a special affinity is created between the child and the tzaddik who is in the Olam Haemt. Additionally the neshama of the deceased is raised. That explains our son’s first name, Eliyahu, the name of the GR”A.
We want to that so many people. First of all my parents and mother in law. My bubby. Our siblings and family who are with us today, especially Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Pat who drove through the night to be here. The Rabbi and Chaviva for all of their help, our neighbors the Pudells for opening up their home and for all of their assistance, Nechama and Steven, thank you. Thank you to the Fisher’s and Haglers for your tables!!! And to everyone else who is here to join in our simchas, may we be zoceh for many more simachos in the future.
Cshem snicnas lbris, ken nichnas ltorah l’cupoah o’lmazim tovim.
For some more pictures go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17803&l=c9d08&id=566122092
Amen.