"And it came to pass, as her soul was departing"

Synopsis

Although the soul may depart the body and return during one's lifetime, Rachel's soul did not return and she died. Before she died, she named her last-born child Ben-oni, because of the severe Judgment against her. Jacob then renamed his youngest son Benjamin, in order to bind him to the right side, just as he attached Rachel to Mercy.

Relevance

This section helps deepen our understanding of the importance of names, and of their influence on our destiny through the attraction or deflection of the Light. We achieve a greater connection to our own name and the particular influences that it radiates.

Body Death Death and the Afterlife Heart Rachel Samuel Soul, The

198. "And it came to pass, as her soul was departing for she died." Rabbi Aba asks, If the words, "as her soul was departing," mean that she died, WHY DOES THE VERSE CONTINUE WITH THE WORDS, "FOR SHE DIED?" HE REPLIES, THE WORDS, "FOR SHE DIED," were necessary TO INDICATE THAT THE SOUL did not return to the body, and she died bodily. THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOUL IS NOT AN INDICATION OF BODILY DEATH, for there are people whose souls departed and later returned to their places. This is the meaning of the verses, "And his spirit returned to him" (I Shmuel 30:12), "And their heart departed" (Beresheet 42:28), "My soul departed" (Shir Hashirim 5:6), and, "until there was no soul left in him" (I Melachim17:17). But when RACHEL'S soul departed, it did not return, and she died.

198. וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ כִּי מֵתָה. אֲמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא, וְכִי כֵּיוָן דַּאֲמַר וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ, לָא יְדַעְנָא כִּי מֵתָה. אֶלָא אִצְטְרִיךְ, בְּגִין דְּלָא אַהֲדָרַת לְגוּפָא יַתִּיר, וּמִיתַת רָחֵל מִיתַת גּוּפָא, בְּגִין דְּאִית בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, דְּנָפְקֵי נִשְׁמָתַיְיהוּ וְאַהַדְרָן לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ, וּכְד"א, וַתָּשָׁב נַפְשׁוֹ אֵלָיו, וַיֵּצֵא לִבָּם, נַפְשִׁי יָצְאָה בְּדַבְּרוֹ, לֹא נוֹתְרָה בּוֹ נְשָׁמָה. אֲבָל הַאי, נָפְקַת נִשְׁמָתָהּ, וְלָא אִתְהַדָּרַת לְאַתְרָהּ, וּמִיתַת רָחֵל.

Benjamin Chassadim Jacob Judgment Nukva Rachel West

199. "That she called his name Ben-oni," because of the severe Judgment decided against her. Jacob, however, turned him to the right, NAMELY, TO CHASSADIM, to bind the west, THE NUKVA, to the right. And though he is Ben-oni (lit. 'the son of sorrow') OF THE NUKVA from the aspect of rigorous Judgment, NEVERTHELESS he is the Son of the Right, because THE NUKVA became attached to the right. HE THEREFORE CALLED HIM 'BENJAMIN,' THE 'SON OF THE RIGHT,' BECAUSE HE ATTACHED RACHEL TO THE RIGHT, TO CHASSADIM.

199. וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ בֶּן אוֹנִי. דְּקַשְׁיוּ דְדִינָא דְּאִתְגְּזַר עֲלָהּ. וְיַעֲקֹב אַהֲדַר לֵיהּ, וְקָשִׁיר לֵיהּ בִּימִינָא, בְּגִין דְּמַעֲרָב אִצְטְרִיךְ לְקָשְׁרָא לֵיהּ לִימִינָא, וְאַף עַל גָּב דְּאִיהוּ בֶּן אוֹנִי, סִטְרָא דְדִינָא קַשְׁיָא, בֶּן יָמִין אִיהוּ, דְּהָא בִּימִינָא אִתְקַשְּׁרַת.

Death Death and the Afterlife Leah