Sunday, January 15, 2006

I am Yosef, your brother

My writing has suffered the most over the last few weeks giving way to kiddush preparations, preparing the house for the new baby, and of course starting a new job.
B"H, my mother-in-law is staying with us, so the baby and wife are in good hands.

After consulting a Rav in Eretz Yisroel, we named the baby Menucha Liba. Interesting that the name Menucha fell into our heads. It was only after we sort of chose the name that we realized that the Hebrew letters are the same as Nechama.

Having "experienced" the other side of the cycle of life, having a new child has taken on greater meaning. The miracle of having a child is a more consious experience.
It is hard to imagine a rational person who has experienced the birth of a child, yet remains convinced that there is no creator.

We chose the name Menucha, often translated as serenity. Menucha implies someone who is "One with Hashem". If we would recognize that Hashem is watching over us and is doing what is best for us, all worries would disappear. We would feel safe with Hashem as the driver. The bumps in the road wouldn't startle us because we would be confident with Hakadosh Baruch Hu behind the wheel.

Also Menucha was born during the week of Parshas VYigash. Anyone who is following the storyline of Yosef and his brothers can see the difficulties that they encountered. In Pasrshas VYigash ,All of this comes reaches its climatical point when Yosef finally reveals himself. "Ani Yosef -I am Yosef". All the events until that point take on new meaning. Each episode is reevaluated with this new understanding. The pieces start to fall into place. “I am Yosef, your brother.” I am your brother and I love you, as one brother should love another .
But even more, I was your brother the entire time. Every word,every act , I did as your brother who loved you. He then explains to them that everything that happened was ordained by G-d and was for a greater purpose.
Finally…. Menuchas HaNefesh. Clarity. Release from the bonds of confusion.

According to the minhag of the Vilna Gaon, to give the new child the name of the deceased child, we gave the name Liba.

I hope and pray that this child should bring Menucha to our entire Mischpacha and to the entire Klal Yisroel.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

MAZEL TOV! what a gorgeouse name on so many levels.

8:40 PM  
Blogger Alan aka Avrum ben Avrum said...

Dear Glen,

How beautious is all of this? Really and truly!!! Mazal Tov!!!!

I remain,


Very Sincerely yours,

Alan D. Busch

10:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mazal tov!! The inspiration that you have from this birth is catchy. There is nothing as inspiring as seeing another's inspiration.

Having "experienced" the other side of the cycle of life, having a new child has taken on greater meaning. The miracle of having a child is a more consious experience.

Which explains why Shabbos, a day that commemorates Creation, is referred to as a day to recall the Redemption from Egypt.
Why recall the Redemption to commemorate Creation, why not just recall Creation?
Creation and Redemption actually express a synonymous message. But the Redemption carries the message home a lot stronger. That's because the Redemption does so by juxtaposing the Egypt experience with the Redemption experience.
You too are appreciating more now the miracle of birth, when it is juxtaposed with experiencing the antithesis to that.

1:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

mazal tov... and thank you for letting us share in your simcha, as in your sorrow.

Lots of nachas!

10:36 AM  
Blogger uberimma said...

Mazal tov! I have a niece named Menucha. It's a lovely name, and she gets a kick out of it on shabbos when we sing "Menucha v'simcha..."

12:18 PM  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

Mazal tov! May your daughter Menucha Liba be a source of joy to you and to your entire family.

7:58 PM  

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