Shemot, or the book of Exodus, begins “These are the names of the children of Israel,” or the children of Jacob who came out of Egypt, the opening words of parasha Shemot.  In Torah, Jacob speaks to his humanity although Israel speaks to the special covenant connection between God and Jacob, with his children becoming the names of the tribes of Israel, first called a “people” this week (see Ex. 1:9).

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