It is standard among Jews writing in Hebrew to attach the honorific כמר before introducing one's name. This custom is actually quite old dating back at least to the days of the earliest Acharonim, and possibly even earlier than that. But does anyone know what it means? This word has always baffled me. מר in Aramaic means "Lord" (or the English Mister), but why is there the letter כ in the beginning? A literal translation in Aramaic would yield "like the lord", which really makes no sense as an honorific or title. Any insight?
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4For something that is "standard among Jews writing in Hebrew", I have never seen this honorific. Could you please give some examples of its usage?– robevCommented Jun 16, 2021 at 20:25
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1Might it be an abbreviation? כבוד מעלת רב– Solomon LightCommented Jun 16, 2021 at 20:59
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It's not likely to be an abbreviation. I've never seen it with quotation marks. It seems to be a complete word/idea.– BachCommented Jun 16, 2021 at 22:38
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1Like robev, I have never seen it either; so I seriously question calling it a "standard". A "komer" (whether spelled malei כומר or chaseir כמר) is a pagan priest, so I don't find this likely.– Micha BergerCommented Jun 16, 2021 at 23:53
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4Some suggestions here– b aCommented Jun 17, 2021 at 0:14
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2 Answers
https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10386-mar
I always understood that the word "Mar" was used in the Talmud to refer to someone on the caliber of Rav (see article above) and later generations used the word "Kemar" meaning "like a Mar" but not exactly a Mar since that's reserved for earlier generations.
Just a thought.
You often find this used on a chasuna invitation, but im not to sure its an honorific in context it is used "the praiseworthy pious chosid K'mar" seems to me it is saying "like the master" as in the previous honorifics in the sentence are appropriate for this individual
