This article by Rabbi Maor Greene, associate chaplain for Jewish Life, was originally published in "The Wisdom Daily," The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership's outlet for political, cultural and spiritual commentary, analysis and inspiration. CLAL is a leading Jewish organization focused on innovation and belonging.
We often approach our identities, particularly our professional identities, as something that we carefully and intentionally construct. But what if our professional identities are less determined by our own passions, personality, and choices, and more by the demands of the present moment?
This week’s parsha famously recounts Jacob’s name change. After wrestling with a shadowy divine opponent all night, Jacob demands that his angel opponent bless him. It does so, renaming Jacob Israel. Jacob’s new name reveals to all who encounter him a core part of his identity: he has struggled and prevailed against human and divine opponents (Gen 32:29).
For all that this encounter reveals, much remains hidden. Exactly who was Jacob’s shadowy divine opponent? Jacob makes inquiries, asking, “Pray, tell me, what is your name?” The divine being demurs, asking Jacob, “Why have you asked me this – for my name?” (Gen 32:30)
I had always understood Jacob’s question to be evidence of his impudence. Unsatisfied with having received such a powerful blessing of a new identity, Jacob pushes for more. Manoach has a similar conversation with an angel who elaborates, “My name is [too] wonderful.” (Judg 13:18). Manoach cannot know it.
Bereshit Rabbah reveals that Jacob’s question and the angel’s response may not reflect Jacob’s impudence, but rather his ignorance. Rav in the name of Rabbi Yosei Bar Dostai teaches a midrash about the nature of angels’ names based on two other biblical verses.
In Psalm 147:4, [God] appoints the number of the stars, gives names to each. Here, stars are understood as angels, part of the heavenly host. However, in Isaiah 40:26, the prophet asks his audience to Lift up your eyes high and see, who created these? The One who sends out their host by number, who calls each by name.
At first glance, these verses appear to be saying the same thing: God gives names to the angels / stars / heavenly hosts. However, the wording of these verses is slightly different: in Psalm 147:4, God gives names (plural) to each, but in Isaiah 40:26, God calls each by name (singular). Because God has given both a name and names to each divine being, the only logical rabbinic conclusion is that each angel must have multiple names.
This midrash concludes that the angel couldn’t tell Manoach (or Jacob) its name because the angel itself did not know what its name would be changed into. Rashi further clarifies, explaining that angels have no fixed names. Instead, angels’ names change depending on the service God has sent them to perform. Angels themselves do not know their future names nor, by extension, their future identities.
This unusual feature of angel names has me thinking about how we approach our own professional identities. In my work mentoring college students, I often encounter students trying to figure out what career they wish to pursue. We often tell college students to follow their passions. However, what if our professional identities were less determined by our personal passions and more by what the present moment demands of us?
Like Jacob, we can find real power in struggling and coming to know who we are more deeply. However, there is also power in not knowing our own identity. An angel’s lack of a fixed identity is what allows it to adapt to each new moment of service.
Our world will continue to change in profound ways we cannot anticipate. Rather than knowing exactly who we are, not having a fixed identity may allow us to serve the world better. Like angels, we can adapt who we are to meet the moment in blessing.
Views expressed in this column are the author’s own and not necessarily those of Elon University. The original article appears The Wisdom Daily.