All Questions
Tagged with names sources-mekorot
46 questions
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Is there a source that names in the Torah may not be the person's actual name
Some of the name given in the Torah are frequently explained by Chazal to mean something about the person. For example the Gemorah (Sanhedrin 82B) says that the real name of Cozbi bas Tzur was ...
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Are Feiga and Tsiporah the same name
I was told that Rav Moshe Feinstein wrote how the names Feiga and Tsiporah are not the same name; and that neither of them mean "bird".
I know Feiga is a Yiddish name which means fig. With ...
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What's the source that Eretz Yisroel has another name- Eretz Hakodesh
I am looking for an answer for the following question: Where do we find the source in the Tora that Eretz Hakodesh is another name for Eretz Yisroel? if you know the source I will greatly appreciate ...
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How does Saadia Gaon explain עדה וצילה?
אבן עזרא על בראשית ד׳:י״ט:א׳ implies that Saadia Gaon has an explanation of the names עדה וצלה. Do you know where I could find that?
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Source for Rava's first name
According to Wikipedia and Encyclopedia.com, Rava's real first name was Abba and "Rava" is a portmanteau of R' Abba. However, both claims are sourceless (Encyclopedia.com refers to Eruvin ...
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Is there significance in the Torah calling Yaakov "Yaakov" at the start of Miketz, then switching to "Yisrael" in the middle
In parsha Miketz, in chapter 42 Jacob is referred to by the name יעקב several times. then in chapter 43, starting in sentence 6, it switches to ישראל and uses that a couple of times. Is there any ...
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Names of Ishmael's 1st and 2nd wife
It seems there is a dispute regarding the names of Ishmael's 1st and 2nd wife.
According to Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer 30:6, Ishmael's first wife is Ayesha עישה from the daughters of Moav. ibid 2nd wife ...
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Where are the 24 places that Kohanim are called Leviim?
In numerous places the gemara quotes Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi as saying there are 24 places that Kohanim are called Leviim, but the gemara only ever quotes the pasuk in Yechezkel 44 15. See for ...
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What was and who were Bath-Sheva's or Bath-Shua's Name and Children with David and Uriah?
What was and who were Bath-Sheva's or Bath-Shua's Name and Children with David and Uriah?
Divrei Hayamim I - I Chronicles - Chapter 3:5 And these were born to
him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, ...
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Did Nathan HaNavi exaggerate the numbers of captains invited?
Did Nathan HaNavi exaggerate the numbers of captains invited?
In 1 Kings 1:19, Bath-Sheba (under the coaching of Nathan HaNavi) reported to King David that Adonijah invited, among others, "the ...
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What is the significance of leaving out the suffix-"vav" and/or adding it to אֲדֹנִיָּה?
What is the significance of leaving out the suffix-"vav" and/or adding it to the name אֲדֹנִיָּה?
Of the 15 times the name of the antagonist or bad character is mentioned in 1 Kings 1, three ...
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What became of Chileab ben David HaMelekh?
What became of Chileab ben David HaMelekh?
Shmuel II - II Samuel - Chapter 3:3 And his second, Chileab, of
Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the
son of Maacah the ...
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Who is this person named "Rei" in the Haftarah of Parashat Chayei Sarah?
Who is this person named "Rei" in the Haftarah of Parashat Chayei Sarah?
Melachim I - I Kings - Chapter 1:8 And Zadok the priest and Benaiahu
the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, ...
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Did Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi learn the Angel of Death's personal name?
I recently heard that when Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi was in Paradise he learned the personal name of the Angel of Death/Satan. Can anyone provide a source for this claim?
In Ketubot 77b it is written:
&...
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Why is the name "Tre Asar" in Aramaic?
All the books of Tanach are either named after a person, or are given a Hebrew name, except for Tre Asar, which is Aramaic. One would have expected the Hebrew title Shinem Asar, and indeed it is ...
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Discussion of Hagar's name
Avraham first has a child with Hagar -- the same Hagar who was giften as a maid servant by Par'oh after the events in Egypt. The only discussion of her name that I saw was in the Chizkuni (on ...
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Rav or Rebbi Acha Sar HaBirah?
R' Acha Sar HaBirah is mentioned in a few places in shas. Rashi tells us that 'Sar HaBirah' was his nickname. However, in some places his title is רב, while in other places he is mentioned as רבי. ...
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The usage of the title HaShem instead of other titles [duplicate]
One doesn’t pronounce יהוה, but with so many titles to be found in the Tenach for referring to יהוה, why would we refer to Him as ‘HaShem’ then? Why not stick with Adonai, Anochi, El Shadai etc. like ...
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Choosing the Name of a Sefer
Is there a kabbalistic preference for the author of a sefer to create a title alluding from a posuk alluding to his name? If so, why?
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Does anyone comment on the name Reu'el for Eisav's son?
In Vayishlach (Ber. 36:10) Eisav has a son named Reu'el. While the meanings of/reasons for the names of those in Eisav's line are not provided, it seems to me that this name sticks out because it ...
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Source for forgiveness at a Bris Milah for those who share the baby's name
I have heard many times that if one is present at a Bris Milah and the baby receives the same name as them, they receive forgiveness for all of their sins and/or some sort of special Beracha.
Is ...
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Source for parents having ruach hakodesh when naming a child?
I remember hearing that parents have Ruach Hakodesh when choosing a name for their child.
What's the source for this idea? And do the sources discuss what this actually means? (If a parent gives a ...
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Is the name אזולי/אזולאי based on the verse of אשה זנה וחללה לא יקחו
In this answer to Which surnames are Kohanim's and why?, Azulai (however you choose to transliterate it) is a Kohanic surname, based on the the fact that the Rashei Teivos seem to be those of the ...
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What is the origin of the naming of Shabbat Shira?
Related to this question (about the reason for the name), what is the source or origin of calling the Shabbat on which we read Shirat Hayam Shabbat Shira?
We don't call the week on which we read the ...
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Not Forgotten Until Name is Forgotten
There is this really thoughtful project, called Stolpersteine of Gunter Demnig, a German artist, to place a cobblestone with an inscribed brass plate in front of houses, where victims of the Holocaust ...
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Why is the day after yom tov referred to as isru chag?
Why is the day after yom tov referred to as isru chag? I assume it has something to do with the possuk in tehillim 118:27, where this phrase appears, but I know no further. Any ideas? The earlier the ...
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Question on Me'am Lo'ez source
In the English translation of Me'am Loez, Shemos, Ki Thisa, Chapter 10, verse 33.11, the Meam Loez explains why Yehoshua was named bin Nun, and not ben Nun. He says that when Joshua's name was changed ...
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Tzarfat and France in Rabbinic Literature
Why does rabbinic literature identify France with Tzarfat? Tzarfat itself is mentioned only a few times, namely 'Ovadia 1:20, along with the only istance of Sepharad (which is identified with Spain) ...
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What was the name of Yiftach's (Jephthah's) daughter?
Do we have any sources for the name of Yiftach/Jephthah's daughter in Shoftim?
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Why is it called "Kiddush Lavana"
Every month we make a bracha on the new moon. In many siddurim where the bracha and nusach is featured it's called "Kiddush Lavana". If one looks in the poskim (See Rema Orach Chaim SIman 426 Sif 1, 2,...
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What is the source: Greater than being called ‘Rabban’ is to be called by one’s own name?
I was looking more into R' Yaakov Chaim Sofer's 'Yishmach Israel' when I came across a unique quote by the Sages.
To explain this, Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer states that since the first
three ...
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Earliest Sources To Avoid Pronouncing the Name 'Samael'
What are the earliest explicit sources that reference the practice of not pronouncing the name 'Samael'?
I ask since I have heard many people doing this. It is referenced here: http://www.yeshiva.org....
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Rebbe Akiva's Name
I heard from someone that the name עקיבא stands for "יש קונה עולמו בשעה אחת."
1) Why is that?
2) What's the source for it?
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Did Prof. Rabbi Umberto Cassuto have any insight behind the biblical character Yehudah?
I am the great grandson of Umberto Cassuto, Benyamin Enzo Rocca, and 5 days ago my wife and I were blessed with a son (3rd child). With his upcoming bris in a few days I would like to know if anyone ...
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"Lamah zeh tish'al l'shmi" -- zeh shmi
Bereishit 32:30
וַיִּשְׁאַל יַעֲקֹב וַיֹּאמֶר הַגִּידָה נָּא שְׁמֶךָ וַיֹּאמֶר
לָמָּה זֶּה תִּשְׁאַל לִשְׁמִי וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתוֹ שָׁם
is usually translated as:
And Jacob asked and said, "Now ...
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Who is Shmuel’s father? & Why is he called by his son’s name?
Many times throughout the Gemara we come across the term אבוה דשמואל "the father of Shmuel".
I was wondering if we know what his real name was? And why he is referred to by his son’s name?
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From where do we know that Yaakov has the spirit of prophecy when referred to as Yisroel?
The Torah frequently shifts in references to Yaakov. I have heard that it refers to him as Yisroel when he is experiencing prophecy, and as Yaakov when his prophetic abilities are lacking, as they ...
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Jacob's Dual Names and Wives
The third Patriarch's birth name was Jacob. He is given another name, Israel, in Genesis 32. Jacob had two primary wives; Leah and Rachel.
I have heard the idea that the Rachel was the betrothed ...
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What's the source for naming children after Alexander the Great?
I know many Jews whose actual bris-given name is Alexander, and this has been a popular name even among great tzaddikim of the past (such as R. Alexander Ziskind). I've heard a legend (mentioned on ...
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Sources for Mashiach's Name
I know that Mashiach's name is mentioned in several sources, perhaps the majority of these sources are Midrashim (correct me if I'm wrong). But anyone know where I can find this subject commented ...
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Does anyone hold that בֵּית לָחֶם is also a person's name?
In Divrei Hayamim I 4:4 Hur is listed as the father of בֵּית לָחֶם.
אֵלֶּה בְנֵי-חוּר בְּכוֹר אֶפְרָתָה, אֲבִי בֵּית לָחֶם
The commentaries I have seen read this as he fathered people who lived ...
user5092
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chassan/kallah signing the kesubah or tenaaim
I have seen bridegrooms and brides sign their names on their kesuba or tenaaim (prenup) before the chuppah (wedding ceremony). It seems maybe to be a chassidish custom, though I'm not sure.
Is there ...
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Saying names of angels [duplicate]
I've heard you shouldn't say the names of angels, except for the four that surround us at night.
What's the source and reason for this? Is it halacha or kaballah?
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Naming a child after two relatives
I once heard Rabbi Shmuel Niman, Mashgiach Ruchani of the Chafeitz Chaim Yeshiva, say that he had "recently learned" that it is improper to give a child parts of the names of two relatives. For ...
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Reciting a Posuk representing your name at end of Shemona Esrei - source?
Many Sidurim mention in the name of the Shela that one should say a Posuk at the end of Shemona Esrei that begins and ends with the same letter as ones name. Does anyone know where in the Shela this ...
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Was the tana Rebbi Meir blind?
I have heard that the name Meir (lit:enlightening) is actually a "lashon naki" because he was actually blind. Similar to "sagi nahor". Is there any source for this notion that Rebbi Meir was blind?
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