Etc,  Living a Jewish Life Class

Journal Entries, Spring 2021

Life Cycle – Birth

What do you think it means for Jews to receive a given Hebrew name in addition to their English name?

I think it is about maintaining cultural identity. It’s a practice that goes back to the Middle Ages, at least the 11th or 12th Century. Taking a name in the local native language to go along with you Hebrew name. Honestly it’s almost the reverse of the modern practice. It was quite common for someone to go by different names depending on what country they were in. Ambrose in Germany was Ambrogio in Italy. It was about blending in to the local culture.

Jews of the time engaged in a very similar practice. You had your Hebrew name for in-community things and the name your neighbors called you. Blending in. Some of the translations were honestly very clever. Judah became Leon, Berichayah became Benedict. (This is called a kinnui, a “calling name”). This tended to be the practice even into the 20th C with American Jewry. I’m not sure where it stands with contemporary conservative or orthodox Judaism.

I think today the practice is more about connecting back to the Jewish community and connecting to God and religious service. Most people get English names by default and the Hebrew name says “these are my people too.” It is about having a separation from secular culture (or Cultural Christianity). It feels very similar to Asian immigrants having different names in English vs. their parents’ native language.

Rabbi Levy talked about the Hebrew name being a signifier of one’s Jewish identity, especially in the case of converts, and that rings true for me. It’s how you are called to Torah, it’s what goes on your certificates, ho they call you to b’nei mitzvah. This is how God knows you as part of his covenant and part of the community.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *