Dear Rabbi,

What is the meaning in English of the name Aaron ("Aharon")?

Dear Ronald Schnur,

According to the Otzar Midrashim, during Yocheved's pregnancy with Aharon, Pharoah decreed that all male Jewish babies should be thrown in the Nile. G-d performed a miracle and did not let even one of them die.

In recognition of this miracle that happened during her pregnancy she called her son Aharon, from the root, harah, which means "pregnant."

Perhaps the A, or aleph at the beginning of the word is indicative of the fact that not even one, (aleph = one) died.

Source:

• Otzar Hamidrashim, "Moshe" Paragraph 4