Reuben

Today’s name is ‘Reuben,’ the first son of Leah and Jacob.

You may remember what happened before the birth of Reuben. Jacob, who wanted to marry Rachel and worked for 7 years to win her, was cheated by her father, Laban, who gave him at the wedding night his other daughter, Leah, instead of Rachel. He was forced to serve Laban for 7 more years for the right to marry Rachel, whom he loved. Embarrassing to say, but Jacob was far from loving Leah:

“And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, ‘Surely the Lord has looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me’”

The English text does not explain the meaning of the name Re•u•ven.

Leah, the deprived wife, trying to gain the love of her husband cries with joy: ‘reu ven!’ (see, [it’s] a son!). This is the complete meaning of the name Reuben, and its derivatives, such as ‘Rubin.’