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The names which are given to the tribes of Israel reflect the emotions and feelings of their mothers at the time in which they were born (for example, see: Bereshit 29:32 " Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben- ראובן; for she said: 'Because Hashem has looked upon my affliction- כי ראה ה' בעניי; for now my husband will love me.'" The twelfth son, Binyamin, is born to Rachel in Parshat Vayishlach. Binyamin is brought into the world through a difficult delivery and a tragic event, as his mother, Rachel, dies in childbirth. Bereshit 35:16-18 "They journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still a stretch of land to go to Efrat, when Rachel went into labor and had difficulty in her childbirth. And it was, when she had difficulty in her labor, that the midwife said to her: 'Have no fear, for this one too is a son for you.' And it came to pass, as her soul was departing--for she died--that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin." The name Binyamin has an interesting twist, as it does not only reflect his mother's emotions, but his father's as well.

Rachel experienced much pain in her life, as her sister, Leah, married the man that she was supposed to marry, and she had to wait another seven years in order to marry him. Once they married, she watched her sister bearing children, while she herself was barren. As she is finally giving birth to her second child, she experiences pain once again and dies during this birth. The name she passes on to this child is "the son of my pain," a name very fitting for Rachel's feelings at the end of her life. Whereas Rachel calls her son "the son of my pain," Yaakov calls him, Binyamin, as Ramban explains, "the son on strength," as yemin refers to the right, which represents strength and success. Ramban explains that Yaakov wanted to keep the name which Rachel gave, out of respect to Rachel, but he translated the name into something positive.

Yaakov Avinu experienced something different in his life. He experienced struggles. Yaakov struggled with Esav in the beginning of his life, and later with Lavan, who tricked Yaakov by giving him Leah instead of Rachel. He even struggled with an angel of Hashem, at which point he was given the name Yisrael which again signifies Yaakov's struggle. Yaakov had many struggles in his life, and he is therefore the perfect role model for teaching us how to handle these difficult situations.  Yaakov always felt Hashem in his life as he constantly received encouragement. Yaakov teaches us that in the hardest times one needs faith and strength. That is the only way one can continue living in these situations, and that is the significance of the name, "the son of my strength," as Yaakov would always remember, when turning to Binyamin, that life is difficult, yet we must strive to have faith and strength.