This week we begin reading the second book of the Torah, which shares the same name as the Parashah: “Shemot,” literally meaning “names.” These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob) who went down to Egypt with him, and it constitutes the second book of the Pentateuch, in which Jewish destiny and identity are forged. It alludes to the formation of the Jewish people from a sociological perspective, with the formation and maintenance of a common identity, and with the ability to transcend the environment. This book is also known as Exodus and deals with some of the most crucial events in Jewish history, such as the exile in Egypt and the exodus that marks the birth of the Jewish people with the giving of the Torah and the construction of the Sanctuary, which represents the Shekhinah in the physical world. The central figure in all these events is Moses, chosen by HaKadosh Baruch Hu for his high spiritual level to be the redeemer and leader of the Jewish people. From Abraham to Moses, seven generations pass. Moses is the 26th generation counting from Adam.