What's In A Name?- I had already performed the circumcision, bris milah, on the eight-day-old infant; the prayers entering the child into the Covenant of Abraham had been recited and now the long-anticipated moment had arrived -- the name of the new infant was… More »
Adopted Children – Parents’ Names- I was not raised by my biological parents and was adopted as a baby. For my Jewish name, am I considered the son of (“ben”) my biological parents or my adoptive ones? I’m very close to the latter and feel… More »
Baby Girls- I just got back from the hospital where my wife gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl! My question is: If it had been a boy, I know we would given the name at his Bris. But in this case,… More »
Changing One’s Name- We named our daughter (now four months) Linor. She is happy and healthy, but her name has always been a source of upset for me. I suffered from terrible post-partum depression, and her name always reminds me of that difficult… More »
Determining Relative’s Hebrew Name- Our father passed away recently and we want to determine his Hebrew name for his tombstone. He was entirely secular and none of us know if he even had a Hebrew name. What should we do? More »
Hebrew Name – Non-Jewish Father- A new member in our synagogue has a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father. I know he is legally considered Jewish. My question is how to call him to the Torah where a person is usually called as X the son… More »
Last Names- When my grandparents came to America in the early 20th century, they changed their last name from Yosselovitch to Kerry. Now that I’ve become more interested in my roots, it bothers me to have this “made-up” last name, and I’m… More »
Naming Baby After Relative Who Died Young- My uncle passed away from cancer at 59. A grandchild was just born in the family and the parents would very much like to name him after our dear uncle. He was a wonderful human being and we feel it… More »
New Hebrew Name- I am 22 years old and starting to take my Judaism more seriously. The problem is that I don’t have a Hebrew name. I’ve asked my parents and they can’t recall what name I was given at birth. So my… More »
No Hebrew Name – Writing Ketubah- I grew up in an entirely secular family and was never given a Hebrew name. My son will be married God willing in about two weeks, and his future mother-in-law wants to know his and his father’s Hebrew name for… More »
The Name "Eliezer"- My Bar Mitzvah is coming up in a few months, and I have to prepare a speech to say in front of the whole congregation. The rabbi suggested that I talk about the meaning of my Hebrew name, Eliezer. Can… More »
Whose Side to Name After?- We are God willing expecting our first child, a boy, in about two months. My husband and I are not able to come to terms on the name. We would both like to name after our own grandfather. Mine passed… More »
Identifying as a Jew
