Did Jew Know That - Hebrew Names

by Rabbi Peg Kershenbaum, Temple Judea Scholar-in-Residence

On January 10th, we’ll begin the book of Shemot, aka Exodus, but literally “Names.” It begins with a slew of names familiar from a similar recap at the end of Bereshit (Genesis, the Beginning) that we just finished. Lists of genealogies—unless they are of your own family—may cause your eyes to glaze over. But seeing your relatives mentioned in an article or book or having your own name show up in print can often be a source of pride.

You may love or hate your name for many reasons. These days, it’s easy enough to change it, at least on some documents! (When it comes to things like passports, as they say, “Don’t try this at home!”) For those of you who have celebrated your children’s b’nai mitzvah, you were asked for the child’s Hebrew name and for your own. Uh-oh. What’s that? Perhaps you never received a Hebrew name. In certain generations and in certain branches of Judaism, the practice sometimes faded a bit.

A Hebrew name—some people call it a Jewish name; others reserve this designation for Yiddish-sounding names—includes two sections: a personal name and your parents’ names. So, the biblical hero with the coat of many colors was Yoseph ben Yaakov v’Rachel, Joseph son of Jacob and Rachel. Moses’ sister was Miriam bat Amram v’Yocheved. When these biblical folks trod the earth, they weren’t necessarily named in honor of someone, but their names would have had meaning. Recently we learned about Joseph’s children whose names meant “he caused me to forget the troubles at home with my family” (Menasheh) and “God made me fruitful in my new home” (Ephraim).

These days, if you come from an Ashkenazi background (roughly, those whose relatives came from Eastern Europe), you may have been named for a [usually] beloved relative no longer alive. If you are from a Sephardi background (roughly, those from the Middle East, Spain or Turkey), you may carry the name of someone who is still alive. In both cases, you have your name plus your parents’ names.

What if you didn’t get a name and you’d like one? Often, people speak with their rabbi about favorite biblical characters or values that they hold dear or names that might start with a sound similar to that of their everyday name. Ellie might be

Elisheva; Jack might be Joshua. If social justice is your passion, perhaps you’d like the name Tzedek or Tzedakah? Were you born in the spring? How about Aviva or Pesach? Then you’ll need your parents’ Hebrew names. If they are alive, you can ask them. If they don’t remember, ask them if they have their Ketubah, their Jewish marriage document. You can often find names there. Suppose they didn’t have Hebrew names? Make it a family project! You might even check the Jewish Genealogy website, https://www.jewishgen.org/. You and your rabbi can decide on the name and even create an opportunity for you to be recognized for your choice. Perhaps being called to the Torah is in your future! If you are new to Judaism through conversion, you “plug into” the Jewish people at the highest level: you become ben or bat Avraham v’Sarah.

So, as we read through the stories in Sefer Shemot, the Book of Exodus, think about your Hebrew name and how you’d like to make it a source of pride among the Jewish people.

Chazak! Chazak! V’nitchazak! Be Strong! Be Strong! And let us strengthen one another.