Questions tagged [names]
Questions about the purpose, meaning, halachos (rules), etc. of names.
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Is it true that saying someone's full Jewish name is helpful for a long life?
Someone told me that in their family they have the minhag (practice) that at least once a day everyone is called by their full Jewish name.
For example, a girl is Chana Ester Riva. People call her ...
4
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0answers
79 views
Who is Rav Tzvi HaLevi?
Below is a ketuba for a bride name Chaya bat Yehuda, and Yehuda's father is shown as Rav Tzvi HaLevy.
I know for a fact from people who knew him and from multiple original source documents including ...
2
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1answer
183 views
Intentional mangling of God's name
I have seen G-d in many English translations of a siddur, bencher, or other religious text but have trouble understanding why. The best answer I have received is that if God is recognized by another ...
0
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1answer
203 views
Correct usage of “Ashkenaz”/“Ashkenazi”/“Ashkenazic”/“Ashkenazim”?
...Also, of course, Sefard/Sefardi/Sefardic/Sefardim.
I see these terms used interchangeably, and use them myself that way, but would rather use them correctly.
All are, at least marginally, ...
4
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3answers
155 views
“Ashkenazim” and “Sephardim,” for example
Please excuse the crossword-puzzle-clue style of the title...
What is a or the technical name for the distinction between Ashkenazim and Sephardim, and/or the class or category that both of these ...
3
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2answers
394 views
Source for spoon, feather, and candle used in bedikas chometz?
What is the original source for the Ashkenazic tradition to do--as is popularly taught--the final search for chometz with a spoon, a feather, and a candle?
It may not have an official source; in that ...
2
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2answers
69 views
what is the etymology of “Nebat”?
Brown Driver Briggs, usually unabashed at offering extra-canonical etymology, offers only "proper name" as the etymological parse of נבט, given that it is only ever found in the phrase " יָרָבְעָ֣ם ...
4
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1answer
271 views
Why is “An'im Zemirot” called “Shir Hakavod”?
In most Siddurim (Nusach Ashkenaz and Sefard) the hymn that starts with the words "An'im Zemirot" is denoted in the Siddur as "Shir Hakavod" - sometimes translated in English in the Siddur (such as ...
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2answers
190 views
Why is Korech said during the seder if it means to wrap and hard matzah can't be wrapped?
Korech according to Jastrow (see image below) means to wrap. The Rambam mentions wrapping the Matzah during Korech (Laws of Chametz Umatzah 8:6), and indeed most Talmuds describe the act of Korech as ...
3
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1answer
176 views
Explain two “types” of Tikun Chatzot
Some people have a custom to arise at midnight and recite verses of mourining and repentance for the destruction of the temple. This is called Tikkun Chatzot.
I was browsing the version on my "Smart ...
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2answers
139 views
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,...
4
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1answer
528 views
Haman's daughter's name
Masechet Megilah says that Haman's daughter threw the garbage on him. Does the gemoro mention her name anywhere?
I looked in Gemora Megilla 16a where the story is but it does not mention a name. Does ...
4
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1answer
50 views
Why did Naphtali name his first son Yachtzeal (יַחֲצִיאֵל)?
Why did Naphtali name his first son Yachtzeal (יַחֲצִיאֵל)?
The name is mentioned (as יַחְצְאֵל) in Bereishis 46:24 and Bamidbar 26:48, and (as יַחֲצִיאֵל) in Divrei Hayomim I 7:13, but is there any ...
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1answer
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Don't know name of a sick person's mother [duplicate]
I suspect that this is a fairly common problem, particularly in Orthodox schuls: one knows someone who is unwell, but comes the מי שברך לחולים, they don't know the choleh's mothers name.
In these ...
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2answers
111 views
What is the hebrew name verse for the name טלי (Tali)
What is the hebrew name verse for the name טלי (Tali), there isn't one in the artscroll
7
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2answers
580 views
Why is it called Even HaEzer?
The session of Tur that deals with laws of marriage and divorce is called Even HaEzer (the stone of help). Does anyone know why did he called this session like this? What does it mean?
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2answers
204 views
Is there a source for a man not addressing his wife by her first name?
I know a man who when addressing his wife calls her [for example] Mrs Doe as opposed to 'Jane' or 'Honey' [he does this when he is home too]. This person is very religious and what some might call '...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
posuk for the name “Pearl” to say in shemone esre [duplicate]
I am searching for a possuk beginning with a pei and ending with a lamed, to say in Shemona Esre, for name Pearl. I have found one in tehillim perek 7, but would love a different one if at all ...
8
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2answers
500 views
Is it Rabbeinu Bachya or Bechaye?
Whether people are referring to רבינו בחיי בן אשר or רבינו בחיי אבן פקודה, you will always find people who pronounce their names as either Bachya or Bechaye (Even Wikipedia uses both!). Is there any ...
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2answers
147 views
Are there any prohibitions on naming (baby/convert)?
Trying to determine if names like Kohelet or Job (two of which I have yet to hear of anyone being named in the last century) are just rare names or have a reason not be used.
0
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1answer
169 views
How to write Sheyichye in short in english [closed]
I know that in Hebrew it is written שי'.
How should I write it in English letters in short so that people will understand it?
Maybe she' or shi'?
4
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1answer
101 views
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 ...
2
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2answers
2k views
Using Name of Father or Mother in Prayer
I've noticed that when we daven for someone, sometimes we use their name as ploni ben/bat their mother's name and sometimes we refer to them as ploni ben/bat their father's name. Does anyone know when ...
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1answer
123 views
Do you have to have a dead relative named Alexander to name your child Alexander?
Piggybacking on this question...
I am wondering if there are any names (such as Alexander, or other names for which Jews have a special tradition to name children) that supersede the Ashkenazic ...
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0answers
1k views
What determines whether a man's Hebrew name uses “ben” or “bar”?
I have (obviously) heard a lot of Hebrew names of the form "Ploiny ben Almoiny," where Almoiny is Ploiny's father. But occasionally I see names written with the Aramaic "bar", for example Simon bar ...
2
votes
1answer
202 views
Why was Judah named that: doesn't the name hurt Rachel?
According to Rashi (Genesis 29:35), Leah thanks Hashem after having Yehuda, because she received more than her lot, and that is why he's called Yehuda.
This Rashi always bothered me. If I sue my ...
2
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0answers
209 views
Mnemonic for the names of all parshiot?
Is there a mnemonic device (like an acronym, acrostic, notarikon, poem etc) to remember the Hebrew names of all the parshiot in the order they appear?
1
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1answer
197 views
Numbers of Tannaim and Amoraim
How many names of Tannaim do we know?
How many names of Ammoraim do we know?
(I am asking about the names and not simply asking "how many were there" because I don't know if there were people that ...
4
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1answer
65 views
Why doesn't Yitchak have his name changed? [duplicate]
Avram's name was changed to Avraham; Ya'akov's name was changed to Yisra'el. Yitzchak's name was not changed.
In the case of Ya'akov, we see that his name was changed in association with a specific ...
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1answer
79 views
yud ha'heh -official name
What is the official name of the yud in the heh, and tet in the tuf -
do we say simply yud ha'heh and tet ha'tuf (assuming tuf is vav with a roof, followed by backward-facing script-tet) ? Also, is ...
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2answers
2k views
hebrew names for girl child
I want to name my new born baby girl as Nessa which means miracle but want to know Which verse in the Hebrew bible mentions the word Nessa
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RABA (רבה) Bar Rav Shila or RAVA (רבא) Bar Rav Shila?
On the Talmud (Brachot- ברכות דף ב ע"א) there are a two versions:
RaVa bar Rav Shila (רבא בר רב שילא)
RaBa Bar Rav Shila (רבה בר רב שילא)
What is the right version?
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2answers
180 views
What is the purpose of naming animals?
In Genesis 2,19 it is written that the animals were brought to Adam so that he would name them.
Of course we cannot say what exactly the purpose of living is but there are some 'explanations'. For ...
5
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1answer
205 views
Why is Sefer Tehillim called Tehillim and not Tehillos?
Tehillim is plural of Tehilla (תהלה). Tehilla looks like a feminine noun, which is why there's a word called תהלות.
So why is the sefer called Sefer Tehillim?
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278 views
The names of Gehinnom
Babylonian Talmud, ‘Erubin 19a'
Joshua b. Levi said: The Gehenna/Gehinnom has seven names; Sheol, Abaddon, Beer Shahat, Tit ha-Yawen, Sha’are Mawet, Sha’are Zalmawet, and Gehenna.
What exactly is ...
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0answers
94 views
Tradition for Choosing What to Call a Secular Holiday on a Hebrew Calendar
I received a solicitation for a donation from a well-known and rather large centrist Orthodox Yeshiva/Mesifta/Kollel in Brooklyn. The organization included in the mailing a weekly pocket diary as a ...
0
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1answer
213 views
Exodus Rabbah 1:5 These are the names of the Children of Israel
Parashat Shemot starts with a list of the names of all who came to Egypt, the Midrash Rabba 1:5 rereads all these names, with a new set of meanings reflecting the upcoming exodus.
Searching for the ...
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1answer
90 views
Meaning of Sifra D'Hafkona
Online i found another name for the book of Exodus/Shemot, Sifra D'Hafkona.
What does it mean and how to translate this in English and Hebrew?
5
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1answer
69 views
Are there any alternative titles for Bnei Noach in Tanakh and Rabbinic literature?
I am interested in knowing what the alternative titles/names for Bnei Noach have been in Rabbinic literature. For instance, were the non-Jews who attended Temple korban called Bnei Noach? My memory is ...
1
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2answers
129 views
Unique titles of the ARIzal?
The great mekubal Rabbi Yitzhaq Luria is often referred to as the "Ari" (lion), based on an acronym of his name. I have heard some explain this acronym as Ashkenazi Rabbi Yitzaq, while others explain ...
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1answer
282 views
Names with origins of avoda zara
I gave my daughter a second name after my father's, for which I came up with a female version. I saw that the name does exist, but I never bothered to see the origin for some reason. Now, after five ...
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0answers
348 views
Somebody named “Cohen” who is not a kohen: should he change his name?
My question has to do with deception, and concerns whether or not a person needs to change his name. (I'm not thinking of a specific person, and don't require a psak).
For the sake of an argument, ...
4
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1answer
57 views
Which Rabbi Chanina is stam Rabbi Chanina?
In the Talmud when it says, "Rabbi Chanina says ...", which Rabbi Chanina is it referring to, Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa, Rabbi Chanina ben Hama, etc..
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1answer
115 views
Adah and Tzillah, what is known of them? Could one name daughters after them?
Is there any other information available on Adah and Tzillah, who are mentioned briefly in Bereshit chapter 4? Were they positive or negative role models?
Would it be appropriate to give one's ...
8
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3answers
2k views
Name two kids the same name?
Is one allowed to name two of his children (of the same sex) by the same name, so that the entire Jewish name of one child is the same as that of the other?
I have never heard of any prohibition. On ...
1
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1answer
221 views
Where in Nach Are The Jewish People Referred To As Zion?
Where in Nach (or in the Torah??) are Bnei Israel referred to as Zion? I realize it's mostly used to refer to the place, i.e. Jerusalem/Har Zion/Temple Mount ... and am not interested in references to ...
8
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1answer
205 views
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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1answer
125 views
Bnei Akiva and zionism
Why is Rabbi Akiva the symbol of the world's largest religious Zionist youth organization ("Bnei Akiva")? (maybe even the world's largest zionist organization period.)
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77 views
Why are there only 8 Martyrs in the Tisha b'av kinnos
The kinna on Tisha b'av says there are 10 Martyrs, but only 8 are named.
In the Yom Kippur version, however, all 10 are mentioned. Why are 2 missing from Tisha b'av?
