Parshas Shemos

Our Pasha this Shabbos is Parshas Shemos and starts the Second Book of HaShem of Moses in the Torah.
The word 'Shemos,' means 'Names.'This sounds like a strange name for such an important book.As with all things in the Torah there are deeper reasons.
The verse goes,'Ve' Eileh Shemos B'nei Yisrael Haba'i'm Mitzraima Eit Yaakov Ish Uveito Ba'u ,' - ' And These Are The Names Of The Children Of Israel Who Were Coming To Egypt With Jacob,Each Man And His Household Came.' The Torah here enumerates the tribes that came into Egypt.Now the Jews were in Egypt for a long time and the story of our slavery and freedom began by the Hand of HaShem,through Moshe our leader and teacher.
This first verse can have a deeper meaning,if we take into account that the word 'Mitzraim,' means 'borders' and Yaakov's name became Yisrael. So looking deeper into this verse,we might get ,'And these are the names of the Children of Israel who came within the border of Yisrael,each man and his household came.'
So,this means ,that we acquired and also deserved being called our 'Name' as the 'Children of Israel,' when we came into the border of Yisrael our Father,in reference to the belief of G-D's Laws which Yaakov followed with his heart and soul.We as Jews are a people chosen as the 'Children Of Israel' to continue teaching and following HaShem in the way we are asked to do,by HaShem.Then,are we deserving of our chosen Name 'Shemos' of being called 'Israel.' HaShem Blesses us with being called Jews,but it is not just a gift we are to take for granted.We are to work at earning this gift every day,every hour,every moment of breath,that HaShem gives us.HaShem put us as a light to the nations and this means that we are to act as such,to be a light-house,to lead all ships home to HaShem.Standing up and saying we are Jews,yet doing nothing to lead people to the right and true path to HaShem and not following HaShem's Laws of Torah (Chas Ve Shalom),is like having the body without the soul.To be truly deserving of being called 'Shemos B'nei Yisrael,' is more than just being born Jewish or converting to Judaism according to Halacha.We need to 'Be Jewish,' which means to follow in the way of Avraham,Yitztchak and Yaakov,our Holy Forefathers.It means following the holiest prophet we have ever had, ,Moshe Rabbeinu,to truly fulfill what is a Jew.Our verse tells us this, for it says that to be given the name 'Shemos B'nei Yisrael,' we are to come with Yaakov into the border of HaShem's Laws and Path.Being born Jewish or converting to Judaism,according to Halacha ,is beautiful,but to BE Jewish,.we need to follow HaShem the way HaShem instructs us to do,otherwise,we will end up going away from HaShem and the Torah precepts of what is the path of being a Jew (Chas Ve Shalom).We are not only to just be Jews in name.We are to be Jews where our very border is the way of Yaakov,the way HaShem in His Torah wants us to be.Not just us,but our entire households,are to follow Yaakov and be as HaShem instructed us to be.This is the way and path of 'Shemos B'nei Yisrael,' the 'Name' of the 'Children of Israel.'
Within the word 'Shemos,' is the word 'Shemah,' which means 'Hear,' so with the words 'Ve'Eileh Shemos,' at the beginning of our Parsha, HaShem says to us ,' And this is what we are to hear,' to be true to following the Laws like true sons of Yaakov and then we will be deserving of the 'Shemos' - 'The Name,' of the 'B'nei Yisrael,' - 'Children of Yisrael.'
Don't ever take for granted the gift of being Jewish just because you were born so.Work at it every day and with every breath HaShem gives you,in the way HaShem asks you to do ,making sure to do it -HaShem's Way.
The 'Ve' at the beginning of our Parsha, suggests a link with what came before.Yosef had died and was embalmed in Mitzraim.That generation that went into Egypt,would continue to become the 'Children Of Israel ' that kept their Jewish Names 'Shemos' and did not take foreign names.They thus showed a desire to stay apart from foreign ways that are not from HaShem.A lesson that is also important today.
HaShem gave us a precious Jewish gift that needs to be Blessed with how HaShem sees us act.Let us always be faithful to our Jewish Names 'Shemos,' of HaShem's Yiddishkeit in Torah and remain faithful always to the ways and Laws of HaShem. 
I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.