Remember the Name

Aaron, the High Priest wore a vestment with stones that had the names of the tribes of Israel engraved on them.

“And you shall take two shoham stones and engrave upon them the names of the sons of Israel….And you shall put the two stones upon the shoulder straps of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall carry their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders as a remembrance.” -Exodus 28:9,11

Aaron wore their names close to him,”L’Zikaron”, to remember them. 

In Pirkei Avot, Aaron is described as the one that cared and loved each individual, and we are instructed to emulate Aaron, to learn from his example. 

So what’s in a name? Why is it important that Aaron remembered the names? 

Appreciate what makes them special, respect their identity, embrace them as they are. Create a sense of belonging and care. Be like Aaron.

– Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu

The name symbolizes each person’s individuality. Remembering a person’s name and what makes them unique shows that we care. That we appreciate them.

Remembering a person’s name is a skill that can be developed and honed. Each of us has so much to remember, so we tend to disregard information that is unimportant or we don’t care about. In networking, leadership, and personal relationships we should appreciate the significance of making the effort to remember each person and what matters to them.

When we care, we go out of our way to make others feel seen, feel heard, and show that they are important to us.

Go the extra mile, make an effort to remember the people you meet – appreciate what makes them special, respect their identity, embrace them as they are. Create a sense of belonging and care. Be like Aaron. Remember their name.