"And G-d spoke unto Moshe, and said to him, I am Hashem. And I appeared unto Avraham, unto Isaac, and unto Yaakov, by El Shaddai, but by my name, Hashem, was I not known to them." (Shemot, 6:2-3)
Parascha Vayera opens with Hashem identifying Himself and, in so doing, intimating His Purpose in Creation.
Last week's parasha left off with Moshe asking, effectively, why do the good suffer? "Why did you send me? For since I came to Pharoah to speak in thy name, he has done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all."
Hashem cannot answer him without blowing his cover: "I am Hashem. And I appeared unto Avraham, unto Isaac, and unto Yaakov, by El Shaddai,"-'When I spoke to the Patriarchs, I spoke as G-d who saves them from personal trials. Now you see the stakes are raised.' "…but by my name, Hashem, [G-d of Israel,] was I not known to them."-'I am bringing a whole People under my wings; in time, the nations will follow: My Name is One and My world is One. I will not save instantly, for what of My Glory; but know that I save.' (Author's words.)
El Shaddai has been variously translated as G-d, "G-d Almighty," and He Who is Sufficient. It depicts G-d is a provider who protects us and our kin in a harsh world. He is the G-d of justice and punishment, of "nature, red of tooth and claw." "Hashem," on the other hand, is the G-d of the Jews, the Lord, "the Eternal," known by the four-letter name in your siddur as Y-H-V-H. This name suggests mercy and transcendence.
Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik, zt"l., describes Hashem as having entered into two Covenants with Israel. By the Covenant of Fate, Klal Yisrael stands together through adversity; it is a covenant of shared responsibility and survival. The Covenant of Destiny points to a higher objective, that of a mission of the Jewish People: revelation of Torah in the world and a Messianic Age.
G-d as E-l Shakkai, according to this view, brought the Covenant of Fate to us. This is a more basic-level G-d, (re-) introduced to the world by Avraham Avinu. He is G-d of all the nations. G-d as Hashem/the Eternal, however, formed the Covenant of Destiny specifically with us. This signifies Israel as possessing a unique relationship to Him, defined by an historic role. (Avraham began to approach this side of G-d when he negotiated with Hashem to save the righteous in S'dom, and in his famed kiruv work.)
G-d did amazing things for the Patriarchs. As a family, they became renown as an epitome of salvation through righteousness. But in leading Israel through Yetziat Mitzraim, coming out of Egypt, Hashem brings us to a whole new level of serving Him: redemption on a global scale through the designation of a Holy Nation.
Empires come and empires go. One value system is replaced by another. The standard is judged by the dominant culture which, in turn, is determined by the current military power. Ethical systems are disposable, and visions for redemption mutate with the millennial seasons.
By introducing Himself with a name denoting the Eternal, Hashem reveals his lofty plans for us. In preparing us to accept the Torah-an eternal ontological code and key to systemic healing-He is designating us as an Eternal Nation. Only in our eternal nature can we be the unchanging ethic in history around which cultures can orient. Only by serving as a benchmark of values can technological advance be grounded in real progress.
How many nations caved in the face of adversity? And of the few that resisted empire, how many had a code of sustainability based on righteous conduct and spiritual growth? Our sages advise us, "Where there is no man, be a man." Perhaps we can say, 'where there is no nation, be a Nation.'
Shemot means "names," and Hashem means "the Name." A name confers an essence, an inner identity, an unchanging value. From the beginning, Hashem the Eternal desired us as His Eternal People. That is why we had to receive His Torah. When Moshe introduced us to Hashem, we found, through His Torah, a place to realize ourselves, our own unchanging essence-Israel, who "strove with G-d and man" to constantly define ourselves through intense relationship with G-d and man. And in this process of continually refining, we burn a light so intense it shines throughout the world, changing it forever.
May we be blessed to know G-d beyond fate, beyond our coming together in survival mode. May we come to know Hashem as our destiny, in our coming together in love, in intense appreciation for His People, His Law, His Land, and His Creation, for life itself.