Rebbetzin Chava Kuperman
The Tribe of Judah
The tribal leader Nachshon—“a little snake.” He was the first to enter the sea before it had parted. Interestingly, in analyzing this name, Rashi uses a familiar rule: Hebrew has groups of related letters (letter families). Within each family, letters can be interchanged. The word is thus preserved, while its meaning acquires an additional nuance. If, following Rashi’s method, we replace the final “n” with “l,” we get Nachshol—an enormous wave breaking on the shore.
The Tribe of Issachar
The leader was Netanel, son of Tzuar. In Hebrew, Netanel can be understood as two words meaning “the Almighty gave.” This refers to the Torah, which the Almighty gave to the Jewish people and which the tribe of Issachar studies more than any other tribe.
The name of Netanel’s father, Tzuar, means “trouble” in Hebrew. If a person wants to study Torah, he must be able to deny himself many things and be prepared for suffering and deprivation for the sake of Torah.
The Tribe of Zebulun
The leader was Eliav, son of Chelon. Eli av means “G-d is my father.” The tribe of Zebulun assumed financial responsibility for the tribe of Issachar. The name of Eliav’s father, Chelon, comes from the word chol—the everyday or mundane, which is, of course, the opposite of holiness. Ordinary work is done on weekdays. Zebulun engages in business. He lives on the coast, where there is plenty of sand (from which he also profits). In Hebrew, sand is also chol.
The Tribe of Reuben
The leader was Elitzur, son of Shedeur. Elitzur is also made up of two words: the Almighty in the sense of “rock,” and the Almighty Who brings healing (from tzuri—healing). Reuben sinned, and the Almighty gave him healing from his wrongful actions
The Tribe of Simeon
The leader was Shelumiel, son of Tzurishaddai.
The name Shelumiel, divided into two words, means “the Almighty paid.”
The Almighty always repays Simeon for his wrongful deeds: for initiating Joseph’s sale, Joseph puts him in prison; Simeon’s descendant, who dared to bring a Midianite woman into the tent, is killed on the spot by Pinchas, a zealot for G-d… Retribution comes quickly, sometimes immediately.
The name of Shelumiel’s father, Tzurishaddai, can be translated as “the Almighty said enough.” That is, enough punishment. Simeon does not remain in prison forever; the plague caused by his descendant’s act ends as soon as retribution has been carried out. G-d does not wipe out the entire tribe. Tzuri—my rock (meaning the Almighty); Dai—one of the Creator’s names, through which, at the creation of the world, He said, “Enough!”
To be continued