The Secret of a Person's Name: The Power and Mission of Yirmiyahu the Prophet

Class No. 22 | Class 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 (Princes of the Tribes), we discover how a name draws down lofty souls and how the tzaddikim (righteous ones) flee from even the slightest trace of honor.

The verse states: > "And this House will be supreme; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, 'Why has Hashem done such a thing to this land and to this House?'"

The prophet of the destruction was Yirmiyahu. He received the most dreadful 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 Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple). However, in Lashon HaKodesh (the Holy Tongue), the name Yirmiyahu means to be uplifted. Yirmiyahu was the prophet of the final moment, and his role was to act through his prophecy and prayers so that the Beis HaMikdash would be elevated and they would be unable to burn it. He had to pray that Hashem would magnify the House, that it would continuously ascend until it detached from the earth and hovered in the air.

Even as a six-year-old child, Yirmiyahu played with Nevuchadnetzar (who was a descendant of the Queen of Sheba). At that young age, Yirmiyahu already saw through Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) that Nevuchadnetzar was destined to destroy the House. Nevuchadnetzar 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 was destined to occur, 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 from the womb I sanctified you; I appointed you a prophet to 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 humility (shiflus).

A person prepares their list of names even before they get married, and according to the names they prepare, so the souls descend, bringing joy to all the spiritual worlds.

The Tzaddikim Fleeing from Honor

In the book "Heichal HaBerachah," a wondrous insight is brought regarding the Nesi'im (Princes of the Tribes). In Parashas Nasso, regarding Yissachar, the word "hikriv" (he brought an offering) is written twice: > "On the second day, Nesanel ben Tzuar, prince of Yissachar, brought an offering (hikriv). He brought his offering (hikriv)..." 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 bear having words of greatness written about me in the Torah."

Therefore, regarding Nachshon ben Aminadav and Calev ben Yefuneh, the title "Nasi" (Prince) was not written, so as not to cause them distress with unnecessary honor. The sons of Yissachar attained the greatest wisdom, as it is said, "Men who had understanding of the times." The Hebrew letter Yud alludes to Chochmah (Wisdom). When Nesanel ben Tzuar 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, it is written the second time as "hikriv" without 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 must seek only 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, who was called "B'tzel E-l" (In the shadow of God)—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 accomplish wondrous things and rectify the world.

When a son was born to Yirmiyahu the Prophet, the moment he emerged into the air 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 infant answered her: "Sira in Gematria (numerical value) is Yirmiyahu (271). I want to be named after my father who merited tremendous spiritual heights, and Sira hints at my being a 'minister over all ministers' (sar al kol hasarim)."

The mother insisted and could not understand how a newborn baby could determine his own name. Ben Sira answered her: "My father, Yirmiyahu, did the exact same thing!"

Waiting for Eliyahu the Prophet

And so, Ben Sira told his mother about the moments of his father's birth: At the time when Yirmiyahu's mother was kneeling to give birth, he opened his mouth from within her womb and began to shout: "I am not coming out into the air of the world until you decide what name to give me! I need to see that the name fits me."

His father suggested naming him Avraham, but Yirmiyahu refused: "Avraham did 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, Yehudah—but he did not agree to any name.

Yirmiyahu declared from within the belly: "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 the Prophet descended from heaven and told him: "Your name is Yirmiyahu!" Only then did he agree to emerge into the air of the world, in order to begin his mission to elevate the Beis HaMikdash.

Part 1 of 5 — Class No. 22

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