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Questions and Answers on Jewish Names
The Hebrew name is a conduit through which G‑d provides the individual's vitality, energy and sustenance.
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It functions as a conduit, channeling spiritual energy from G‑d into your soul and your body. That’s why a critically ill person is sometimes given an additional Hebrew name—sort of like a spiritual bypass operation.
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We just had a daughter, and my rabbi told us that we should name her at the first possible opportunity. Why?
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The Jewish name is a keystone of Jewish identity for all Jews. It is customary to give a Jewish name when the baby is born.
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How do I choose a name? Do I need to confirm it with a rabbi or something?
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The practice of not marrying someone with the same name as one’s own parent is a tradition mentioned in the Testament of Rabbi Yehudah HeChassid.
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My daughter was pregnant when her father-in-law passed away. Is it okay for them to name the baby after his grandfather?
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Ashkenazi Jews do not name their children after someone who is alive at the time.
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I’ve heard that one should not name a baby after an individual who passed away young. Is this true? And what if that person was killed during the Holocaust?
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A Jew’s spiritual essence is inherited via his or her mother. When praying for another, we want to emphasize their essential and eternal link to G‑d, as derived from their mother’s side.
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The art of baby naming
Choosing a name is a big deal. A person’s name is not a mere label; it expresses the essence of its bearer . . .
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The sages of the Midrash wondered the same, and here are their answers . . .
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What influence does your name have on you--on your personality, on your behavioral
patterns and on your life choices? Or does it?
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There are four general customs regarding how to pronounce this name.
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This seems strange, since the sages place great significance on a
person’s name.
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Is Ishmael (Yishmael) a Jewish Name?
Don't
we have a custom not to name a child after a wicked person?
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You may have noticed that when we call someone by his or her Hebrew name, there are two variations. Why?
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Programs
Sinai Scholars
Sinai Scholars Society integrates the study of classic Jewish texts, social programming, and national networking opportunities to provide a fresh and exciting context for Jewish life and learning on the university campus. Sinai Scholars invites students to engage in an open community of study and self-discovery that will help them to become passionate, informed Jewish leaders on campus and in their respective communities.
