The Itamars I know are exceptional people

"Nir's weekly Parasha" - Parashat Pekudei

The Itamars I know are exceptional people. Perhaps the origin of the name influences and obligates them to be so special?

Parashat Pekudei is the eleventh and final weekly Torah portion in the Book of Exodus. Its main focus continues the theme of building the Tabernacle. Moses, together with his nephew Itamar the Priest and the heads of the construction team, Bezalel and Oholiab, count the contributions of the Israelites, summarize them, and allocate them to the various tasks. This is a good opportunity to spotlight the name: Itamar.   

Here are a few words about Itamar the Priest and the name Itamar in general: Itamar was the fourth and youngest son of Aaron the Priest. He served as a priest alongside his brother Eleazar and was responsible for the work of the Levites. During the Israelites' journey in the desert, he headed the sons of Gershon and Merari, who carried the Tent of Meeting. The family of Eli the Priest are his descendants.   

At the beginning of the portion, it is mentioned that Itamar was responsible for part of the Levites' work in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple: "These are the accounts of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Itamar, son of Aaron the priest." (Exodus 38:21).   

Itamar the Priest was responsible for the family of Gershon of the sons of Levi, whose task was to carry parts of the Tabernacle vessels during the Israelites' journeys in the desert: "This shall be the service of the families of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting; and their responsibility shall be under the direction of Itamar the son of Aaron the priest." (Numbers 4:28).   

And I found this on the "Etim" website: "The word Itamar is phonetically linked to the word 'Tamar' [date palm] and thus gives a sense of uprightness and height. In Aramaic, the word 'Itmar' expresses statement, speech. "The origin of the name is in the Bible, in the figure of the son and successor of Aaron the Priest: 'And Aaron took Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Itamar' (Exodus 6:23). The name Itamar expresses the uprightness of the date palm, the power of speech and creation in the Aramaic word 'Itmar,' the high priestly status of the biblical Itamar, and the courage and determination of the family of the first Hebrew child."   

A pleasant weekend and Shabbat Shalom to all the Itamars, and to all of us in general,

Nir