Russian names of Jewish origin. Traditions of translating Russian names into Hebrew

In modern Russian, there are very few actually Slavic names. Most come from Greek, Latin or Hebrew. You don't have to look far for examples. Michael, Gabriel, Yeremey, Benjamin, Matvey, Elizabeth and even Ivan are Jewish names in origin.

Yes, of course, they were Russified, and it is difficult to see Joseph in Osip, Joachim in Akim, and Shimon (Simeon) in Semyon, as well as Hannah in Anna ... But their etymology is just that.

In the era of pogroms and persecutions, mass repressions, it became more and more difficult to be a Jew in Russia, Poland, and Ukraine. And so there was a reverse trend. People who had Jewish names willingly replaced them in documents with those that sounded “Russian” (in Polish, in Ukrainian). So Baruch became Boris, Leiba became Leo, and Rivka became Rita.

Traditionally, boys receive Jewish names during the Brit Milah (circumcision) ceremony. Girls are traditionally in the synagogue, on the very first Saturday after birth. Later, the naming of newborns began to be practiced during the Bat Shalom ceremony, which usually takes place in the evening, on the first Friday after the completion of the first month of the child.

Jewish names are used in the synagogue (in documents),

along with the mention of the father's name (for example, David ben [son] Abraham, or Esther bat [daughter] Abraham), although it is increasingly possible to observe the indication of the mother's name. Already in the twelfth century, a ban was established on naming children by the names of living family members. Ashkenazim generally observed this prohibition, but not. Among the latter, there is a tradition to name the first son by the name of the paternal grandfather, and the second - by the maternal grandfather. Likewise with the naming of daughters. The eldest received the name of her grandmother on her father's side, the second - her grandmother on her mother's side.

Spiritual practices associated with anthroponyms are also interesting. According to tradition, it is believed that the name carries a special existential essence, a message. That it determines not only the character, but also the fate of the baby. For this reason, naming a Jewish newborn is a responsible matter. Parents choose, but it is believed that the Almighty endows them with the gift of prophecy. After all, the name given by them, a person wears forever.

This will be said, honoring the boy with the honor of reading the Torah when he is 13 years old, and he begins to keep the commandments of God. The same name will be registered in ktube. He will be called by his wife and relatives. Interestingly, according to tradition, if a disease threatens a person's life, one more is usually added to his first. For men, the name Chaim or Raphael is usually added, for women - Chaya. Such a change affects the fate of the patient and gives hope. After all, it is said: "Changing the name, changes the fate."

In total, it is possible to make a classification of five main groups. The first includes biblical Jewish names that are mentioned in the Pentateuch and other sacred books. To the second - the names of the prophets of the Talmud. The third group consists of anthroponyms from the natural world - and here the true scope for creativity opens up. For example, the Hebrew names of boys and girls with the meaning "light, clear, radiance": Meir, Naor, Uri, Liora, Ora, the name Uri is very beloved. Borrowings from the world of plants and animals are also popular, emphasizing beauty or a positive quality. Ilana and Ilan (tree), Yael (gazelle), Oren (pine), Lilah (lilac). The fourth group includes names that coincide with the name of the Creator or praise him. These are, for example, Jeremiah, Yeshua, Shmuel. This is Efrat (praise), and Hillel (praise), and Eliav, Elior (the light of the Most High). And, finally, the fifth group is made up (Raphael, Nathaniel, Michael), who are perceived as human.

Have you ever wondered how Tatyana, Valery, Irina, Sergey and dozens of other names used by their Russian-speaking speakers will sound in Jewish?

We bring to your attention a "dictionary" compiled by our colleagues from the website of the Great Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg () and from the magazine.

Often people who are looking for a Jewish name for themselves want it to be consonant with an existing non-Jewish one. This table shows the Hebrew analogues of the most common names in the Russian-speaking space, which have something in common with them in sound or meaning.

From the Hebrew Abraham, the father of many (nations); the name of the biblical patriarch, from whom the people who settled Palestine descended.

ALEXANDER

Sasha, Sanya, Shurik - a Greek name from two roots Alex- and Andr-, literally a courageous defender. From this we can conclude that all the "semantic" advice given by us about the names Andrei and Alexei is quite applicable here. If you love your name and would like to keep it, in this case, you can tell the Israelis that your name is Alex, and they will easily learn it (of course, the bearer of the name Alexei can do this if he does not want to be called necessarily a Jewish name). The name Alexander has been adopted among Jews at various times in history, beginning with the conquests of Alexander the Great, who is known to have favored the Jewish population of the Middle East. If you are often called Shura or Shurik and you are relatively young, you can take the name Shir, which means “song” or “poem”, according to the principle of consonance. Who is often called Sanya, you can choose another consonance - Nisan (the name of one of the Jewish spring months when Passover is celebrated. In Israel, this name is most often given to boys born in this particular month, and this circumstance is worth considering). Which of the biblical heroes became famous as a courageous defender of his people? First of all, the heroes of the book of Judges are Gideon and Shimshon (the same as Samson), and the latter is a bit like "Alexander" in sound.

Alyosha is a name of Greek origin. Means "protector". A direct translation into Hebrew is possible - Magen - “shield”, “protection” (hence the well-known word Magen-David or Mogendovid - the shield of David, also one of the names of the Almighty). But the name in Israel is given very rarely, and if you are not a fan of the exotic, it is preferable to turn to consonances. - Elisha - the name of one of the most famous biblical prophets, a disciple and associate of Eliyahu (Ilya), who is described in great detail in the Book of Kings - sounds very similar to "Alyosha". In a religious or traditional environment, such a name is quite accepted. It will suit an elderly person, regardless of religiosity. For secular youth, a modern name can be offered - Eshel, also partly consonant with "Alyosha", with the meaning "tamarisk" (a beautiful Mediterranean tree, mentioned more than once in the Bible).

The etymology of the name is unknown. We offer consonances: Ela (in Hebrew it is written in the same way as Alla) - the name of the tree, Ayala (another version of the same name - Ayelet) - "doe".

The exact meaning of this name is not clear. In Hebrew there is a very close consonant - Aliza, which means "cheerful."

ANATOLY, TOLYA

An inhabitant of the ancient eastern country of Anatolia. Since the meaning is not nominal, it will not be possible to translate it, so it is better to turn to consonances. You can, as well as instead of "Anton", take the name Nathan, Nati, or you can (especially for a young or middle-aged person) - Tal (in Hebrew "dew", a very fashionable name in Israel, both male and female), sounding similar to Tolya. Perhaps another consonance - Naftali - the name of one of the sons of Yaakov. If this was the name of one of the deceased ancestors (and among Russian Jews the name Naftali was often found), then this is the best option, although today this name does not sound very modern.

ANGELINA OR ANGELA

From the word "angel". You can take the female version of one of the names of angels known in Jewish tradition - Gabriela, Michaela or Rafaela.

Greek name meaning "male", "courageous". Of the Jewish names, the closest in meaning is Gavriel (the same as Gabriel or Gavrila) from the roots - “man” and “Gd”. The accepted diminutive is Gaby. In addition, you can choose any name with the meaning "strength", "courage", for example: Oz or - Uzi (strength), - Eyal (strength, courage), but the latter is not suitable for older people, because. it came into use relatively recently. Perhaps (again, mainly for young people) the name is Adir (powerful, strong). This name is quite rare, but it is similar to "Andrey" both in meaning and in sound. In addition, you can offer the original "translation": Reuven (in the Bible, the eldest son of Jacob). This Hebrew name is made up of two words: "look" and "son." In all likelihood, the foremother Lea, who gave this name to her first-born, wanted, in particular, to emphasize that it was the son, the man, who was born.

Anya is a European version of the Hebrew name - Hana. That was the name of one of the people's favorite biblical heroines - the righteous, the mother of the prophet Shmuel (Samuel). You can read about it at the beginning of the First Book of Samuel. The accepted abbreviation is Hani, and for a young girl, especially a secular one, this option is preferable. As an alternative, a popular name in Israel, Anat, can be proposed, simply by consonance.

In Greek, "entering the battle", "competing in strength." In terms of meaning - the same recommendations as for the names Alexey, Alexander. Sounds like Nathan, one of the most famous biblical prophets. The accepted abbreviation is Nati. Another, close option is Jonathan. This name is one of the most beloved among both secular and religious Israelis. In the Bible, Jonathan is the son of King Saul (Shaul) and a friend of King David. It is worth reading about this courageous young man in the book of Kings, then you will understand why the Israelites loved his name so much, and besides, why it looks like “Anton” not only in sound, but also in meaning.

ANTONINA, TONYA

Feminine to "Anton". Let's think about which of the biblical heroines was inclined to join the battle. In fact, this occupation is not typical for Jewish women. Even the prophetess Deborah was engaged exclusively in "political enlightenment", that is, she called her compatriots to war, but she herself never entered into battle. But Yael became famous precisely for the fact that she personally sent Sisera, the king of the Philistines, to a better world. You can read about it in the book of Judges. By consonance - Anat.

Inhabitant of Arcadia. Like the name Anatoly, it cannot be translated. In Israel, the name Arik (usually a diminutive of Arye) is very common, as a rule, our Arkadi are called that way.

ARTEM, THEME

It comes from the name of the Greek goddess Artemis. Artemis in Greek mythology is the goddess of the hunt, and in the Jewish tradition, hunting is not particularly revered, so the path of finding consonances will, apparently, be more effective. We offer the following names: Itamar (the same set of consonants) - the name of a tree, in the Bible the name of one of the sons of the high priest Aaron, Tomer - a modern name (i.e. suitable for youth and middle age), meaning one of the varieties of palm trees, Rotem - also the name of the plant, and this consonance is perhaps the closest, or Yotam - the name of one of the kings of Judea.

Anastasia, Nastya, Asya - in Greek "resurrected". It can be translated as - Tkhiya - "resurrection", "revival". This name is suitable for a woman of any age and circle. In consonance with “Nastya”, we suggest the name - Nisana (from the name of the month Nisan, especially suitable if you have a birthday in Nisan). A word of warning to those who wish to keep the name Asya unchanged: the Israelis will pronounce it as Asiya, and in Hebrew it is the name of the continent "Asia". The closest consonance to "Ace" (by the way, accepted among the new repatriates) is Esti, short for Esther.

Hebrew names are common and are based on Jewish literary sources or come from Hebrew, Yiddish, and other Jewish languages. Many names are formed from the biblical interpretation. In ancient times, while the book of Genesis did not exist, borrowed names came into use among the Jews.

Borrowed names

The source of the names was the Hebrew language, from the words of which the female Hebrew names Menuuch, Nechama, etc. were formed, and also the male plural names took their origins from it. Borrowed names of the name are both Babylonian in origin (Mordechai), and Greek (Sender), which was converted from Alexander. Many Jewish male names came into use by borrowing from the Chaldeans (Altai, Bebay, etc.)

Borrowing of the names of Jews is present in our time. This is especially noticeable in the example of those representatives of this nationality who live in other countries. Often they take a second nickname for themselves in relation to the area where they live, but at the same time they make sure that it is combined with the main name and has a pleasant meaning when translated into their language.

For Jews living in Georgia, it is considered quite normal to have a middle name Yitzhak (Irakli), Geshron (Guram). For representatives of Jewish nationality living in the Central Asian zone, it is quite acceptable to use names of Tajik or Hebrew origin, while the Tajik national component is added to the latter, and you cannot confuse such a name with anything (Rubensivi, Bovodzhon, Estermo).

How did the Jews name their children?

• One of the main elements of Jewish names is “ruf nomen”, they name a male baby, and sometimes a female one, even at birth, and it is used in the synagogue, during prayers. The “ruf nomen” is taken from religious books, therefore it is always biblical and is used during religious ceremonies and rituals.
• The tradition is to name children with beautiful female and male names that were already present in this family. For some, it is acceptable to name newborns by the names of deceased relatives, while others use the names of only living ones. But both cases are associated with the Jewish names of relatives who have achieved fame or success. In the old days, the name of the same name was a sign of a certain surname and was associated with the Book of Life, in which all relatives of a certain dynasty entered.
• Among the Hasidim, the traditional name was in honor of saints or rabbis., the names of their wives were often used (Menachem Mandl, Khaya-Mushka, etc.).
• In some nationalities (Ashkenazi and Sephardim), along with “ruf nomen”, consonant worldly names or such additional Jewish names were used that fit in meaning with the original name or supplemented it. Today, this state of affairs is normal, and parents often choose second beautiful borrowed names for their children, not combining them in meaning with “ruf nomen”.
• During the Middle Ages, Hebrew names for girls were borrowed more than for boys. This happened due to the fact that women did not need to have a rigid biblical name, because they were not called to the Torah and did not take part in religious rites. Therefore, it was quite normal if they were named once and did not use additional nicknames. Such names were Zlata, Dobra, etc., they were of Slavic origin, as well as Liebe, Golde, which also came into use from other languages.
• It should also highlight a small part of the names that were called in honor of holidays or significant dates. And also those that were given to Jewish girls or boys as an omen of their future fate. So, for example, a seriously ill baby could be called Chaim in order to deceive the spirits, which, in turn, were supposed to give the baby life.

Religious ceremony after birth

Every newborn Jewish boy is assigned in strict order the biblical original name "ruf nomen", which is used in the synagogue during ceremonials. For girls, this procedure is not particularly important, but despite this, very believing parents also call their daughters "ruf nomen", although there are not so many female Jewish names in religious books. After that, the whole ritual is carried out, which consists in mentioning the newborn in prayer when reading the Torah, and after that, all relatives and friends are notified about what has been done. This state of affairs is considered correct, since the preservation of their names was one of the conditions by which the Almighty helped the Jews to leave Egypt. Therefore, this rite is strictly observed in our times.

Popular names of Jewish origin

Choosing Jewish names for boys and girls, modern parents want them to be not only national, but also beautiful and popular. In addition, Israel is not the only country using such names, there are Jewish diasporas all over the world, where, to a greater or lesser extent, they revere their ancestors and the laws established by them.

Yana is popular among Russian Jews. In the Israeli view, the modern beautiful name sounds: Daniella, Avital, Naomi, Sharon, Ilana, etc. Of the male beautiful, popular names, one can distinguish: Abraham, Shmuel, Shimon, Yosef, Benjamin, Aaron, Nathan, etc. The naming does not go out of popularity children Chaim, Chaya or Chava, as they have the eternal meaning of "life".

If you are a practicing Jew or want to highlight your Jewish roots, what name would you choose for your son or daughter? Undoubtedly, I want it to be sonorous, and for a girl - melodic. So that it is easily pronounced and normally perceived in the area where you live, so that the child does not subsequently feel like a “black sheep”. And at the same time, you probably want your children to have original Jewish names, with a special meaning that gives them some qualities. So this article is meant to help you. Below we will talk about how the names of the Jews arose, reveal their meaning, and also touch on the issue of surnames.

Ancient borrowings

Now, in order to emphasize national and religious affiliation, Jews choose names for their children from the Old Testament or the Talmud. But in ancient times, these holy books did not play such a huge role in naming babies. Therefore, the borrowing of names was widespread. They were chosen for reasons of euphony or because of an interesting etymology. In the first case, such words migrated to the list of Jewish names intact. Alexander is an example of this. This name gained popularity in the Hellenistic period. Among the Sephardim, it gradually transformed into a more consonant word - "Sender". The name Mordechai came from the Babylonian captivity, and the Chaldeans added to the vocabulary of the Jews such anthroponyms as Bebai and Atlai. Hebrew-sounding names such as Meir (radiating light), Nechama (comforted by God) and Menuha were no less popular.

Borrowings in the time of the great dispersion

Both Sephardim and Ashkenazim, living side by side with their non-Jewish neighbors, used their names to name their children. However, it is no longer the same as in ancient times. It was not a simple borrowing. The meaning of the name was translated into Yiddish or Hebrew. This was especially true for girls. Jewish female names from such borrowing were replenished with Golda (from the Slavic Zlata), Libe - (Love) and Husni (beautiful). Along with this, the girls were called without translation into Yiddish or Hebrew: Charny, Kind. Unlike women's names, men's names had a double sound. That is, they were not translated from the local language into Hebrew, but vice versa. So, the Greek Jews called their sons Aristons, which corresponds to Toby (the best), Theodors - Matitya (God's gift). Names in Central Asia experienced a particularly interesting metamorphosis. They remained Jewish, but a Tajik derivational component was added to them. This is how Estermo, Bovojon, Rubensivi and others appeared.

In Jewish tradition, it is customary to give a boy a “ruf nomen” at the birth of a boy. This is his name before God. It is he who says the rabbi, calling the believer in the synagogue to read the Torah. This name is also mentioned in prayers. It is clear that for cult ceremonies the ruf nomen is chosen from the Holy Books. However, in everyday life the boy may be called differently. And here parents are given complete freedom of action. In order for the child not to become a victim of ridicule and manifestations of anti-Semitism, the boy was often given a name characteristic of the area where the family lived. Sometimes it corresponded to the ruf nomen. For example, Leib-Lev. But sometimes Christian and Jewish male names were connected only by the initial letter. There are many examples. In Georgia, this is Yitzhak-Irakli or Gershon-Guram. Sephardim in North Africa as the second, "household", choose Muslim names - Ghassan, Abdullah.

All parents of the world, regardless of nationality and religion, want their daughter to grow up to be an unsurpassed beauty. That is why for the girl they always chose a name either with a gentle melody, or with a meaning that “encodes” its bearer for the acquisition of certain qualities. Women did not participate in Jewish religious ceremonies, and therefore they were not given a ruf nomen. And therefore, parents were free to choose any names. Including from the dictionary of neighboring peoples. Pious Jews, especially rabbis, gave their daughters Hebrew names from the Bible. There aren't many of them. These are Miriam, Bat-Sheva, Judith and others. But much more popular are Roses, Rebecca (Queens), Gitas (good) and Giles (joyful). As already mentioned, female names were often borrowed. Among the Sephardim, Leyla (black-haired), Yasmin are not uncommon, among the Ashkenazi - Grace, Isabella, Katharina.

Purely Jewish Tradition

Christians had a tradition of naming a child by the name of godfather or godmother. The Jews, on the other hand, believe in the Book of Life, where God enters all people. To emphasize belonging to the “knee”, genus, babies were often named after their ancestors. The branches of Judaism interpret this tradition in different ways. Some believe that it is necessary to give the child the Jewish names of the now living grandparents. Others believe that it is better to give the child under the protection of an ancestor who has already died, but glorified his kind. Say, so his qualities will pass to the baby. One way or another, but this tradition has led to the fact that the number of Jewish names used in everyday life has been reduced to a couple of dozen.

Jewish superstitions

In ancient times, when someone fell ill, he was temporarily called Chaim. This was done in order to deceive the Angel of Death. Sometimes the magic worked. And the baby, who was born stunted, sickly, began to be called Chaim. After all, the meaning of this name is “Life”. Even later, during the great dispersion, for greater fidelity, such weak boys began to be called "Chaim-Vital." The second name also means "life", but in Latin. From the same motives, weak children were given such Jewish names as Alter (old), Dov (bear) or Leib (lion). There is evidence that earlier every baby was called with a similar nickname in the first month of his life. But gradually, such a life-affirming meaning of Jewish names began to be assigned to a person for life. Especially successful, according to the Jews, was to be born on a holiday. In this regard, the name Pesach (male) and female Liora (light for me) appeared - for girls born on Hanukkah.

Surnames

For a long time, Jews added to their names only the name of the locality or city where they were born. So, by the way, did Christians of simple origin. But, since the Ashkenazim had a custom to name children in honor of their parents or grandfathers, and in tsarist Russia there was a Pale of Settlement, Jewish names and surnames that had a “geographical” origin began to get confused. To clarify among the numerous Moses from Berdichev and Abramov from Mogilev, they began to call people by their father. In Russia, the Slavic endings of surnames were added: -ov, -in, -ev. Moiseenko, Abramovich and the like appeared in Ukraine. According to this principle, the anthroponyms Davidzon, Itzhakpur, Gabriel-zade and Ibn-Chaim were formed. But even these Jewish names and surnames were often repeated. Then they began to call people by profession. They were simply translated into Yiddish. So the names Schumacher (shoemaker), Schneider (tailor) and Bayer (miller) arose.

The Torah often compares the Jews to the stars (Genesis 15:5). Just as the stars shine in the darkness of the night, so the Jews must bring the light of the Torah into the dark world; just as the stars show the way to wanderers, so the Jews are called to show the way of morality and morality. And just as the stars keep the secrets of the future, so the future of mankind depends on the actions of the Jewish people, the approach of final liberation.

The choice of a Jewish name is very responsible - the name affects the fate of a person. What advice does the tradition give for choosing a name?

Meaning of the name

Choosing a name for a Jewish child is of the utmost importance. Our sages say that the name reflects the essence of a person, his character and destiny. The Talmud says that at the moment when parents name a newborn, their souls are visited by a prophecy, a heavenly spark. But even though the Almighty Himself gives us a hint, many couples find it difficult to decide on the choice of a name for the baby.

How to choose the right name? Why don't Jews name their sons after their father? Is it possible to name a boy after his grandmother or announce his name before Brit Milah (circumcision)?

Jewish customs

The name contains not only the future, but also the past. Ashkenazim traditionally give a name in honor of a deceased relative. It is believed that a certain metaphysical connection is formed between his soul and the soul of a newborn. The good deeds of the namesake elevate the soul of the deceased, and the good qualities of the ancestor protect and inspire the new owner of the name [another explanation: there is hope that the child will show all the good qualities of the relative after whom he is named].

What if you want to name a child in honor of a deceased relative, but someone from the now living relatives already bears this name? The answer depends on the child's degree of relationship to a potential living namesake. If this is a close relative (one of the parents, siblings or grandparents), then it is better to find another name. If the relative is distant, then everything is in order.

There is also a custom to name children in honor of the great rabbis and sages of the Torah, as, for example, Yisrael-Meir - in honor of Chofetz Chaim ...

Sometimes the name is chosen according to the holiday during which the child was born. For example, if a boy was born on Purim, he is called Mordechai, and a girl is Esther. A girl born on Shavuot can be called Ruth, and children born on the Ninth of Av can be called Menachem or Nechama.

It is also customary to give names that appear in the Torah section of the week in which the child's birthday falls.

As a rule, boys are given a name when they are circumcised on the eighth day, and girls are given a name on the first Shabbat after birth, when they take out a Torah scroll in the synagogue [read the material on the website about Reading the Torah].

Hidden meaning

In the holy language, a name is not just a set of letters, it reveals the essence of its owner.

Midrash ( Genesis Rabbah 17:4) tells that the first man, Adam, gave names to all living beings in accordance with their essence and purpose. The purpose of the donkey, for example, is to carry a heavy material load. Donkey in Hebrew "hamor". This word has the same root as the word "homer"- "matter", "substance".

The same principle applies to human names. Leah [wife of forefather Jacob. Note ed..] named her fourth son Yehuda. This name is from the root meaning "gratitude", and if you rearrange the letters in it, you get the Holy Name of the Most High. So Leah wanted to express her special gratitude to Him ( Bereshit 29:35).

Esther, the name of the heroine of Purim, is derived from the root meaning "concealment". Esther was known for her beauty, but her hidden inner beauty surpassed her outer beauty.

Another example is the popular name Ari, Hebrew for "lion". In Jewish literature, the lion is compared to a self-confident, purposeful person who pounces on every opportunity to fulfill the commandment.

There are, of course, bad names. You probably don't want to name your son Nimrod, because it is from a root meaning "rebellion". King Nimrod rebelled against the Almighty by throwing our forefather Abraham into a burning furnace.

If you want to name a boy after a woman, try to keep the maximum number of letters the same. For example, Brach can be replaced by Baruch, and Dinah by Dan.

Some more useful rules

For many of us who want to change our name to a Jewish one, an additional question arises - how to “link” our non-Jewish name with a Jewish one?

Some translate their name into Hebrew verbatim - for example, "Mila" is "Naomi" in Hebrew.

Some choose a Hebrew name by consonance: Anatoly - Nathan, Yuri - Uri, Victor - Avigdor, etc.

In any case, the choice of a name is a very responsible step, the name of a person influences his fate and qualities of character, and we advise you to contact your local rabbi with this question ...

If the family lives outside Israel, try to give the child a traditional Jewish name that also sounds familiar in the language of this country. For example, Jacob or Dina in Russia, David or Sarah in English-speaking countries. You should not give one, "Jewish", name "for the synagogue", and the other - by which the child will actually be called. A real Jewish name is a good remedy against assimilation.

Midrash (Bemidbar Rabbah 20:21) says that the Jews were miraculously freed from Egyptian slavery, in part because they did not adopt Egyptian customs, but continued to give their children Jewish names.

Many parents are reluctant to name a child after a relative who died young or unnaturally, fearing that misfortune might "pass" to the new owner of the name. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein gives several recommendations on this matter.

If a person died young, but by natural death, and left behind children, then this is not considered a bad sign, and the child can be named after him. Prophet Shmuel and King Shlomo died at the age of 52, and their names have always been and remain popular among our people, i.e. it is no longer considered that a person died young.

If a person died from unnatural causes, then Rabbi Feinstein recommends changing the name a little. For example, Jews name their sons Yeshaya after the prophet Yeshayahu, who was killed.

Rabbi Yakov Kamenetsky believes that the transition from "youth" to "old age" takes place at the age of 60. The Talmud (Moed Katan 28a) tells that when Rabbi Yosef was 60 years old, he arranged a celebration on the occasion of the beginning of longevity.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not forbidden to announce the name of a newborn before circumcision, although many do not. In full, however, the boy only receives a soul during the Brit Milah, and therefore, in a metaphysical sense, has no name until that moment. This is deduced from the fact that the Almighty gave a new name to our forefather Abraham after Brit Milah, when he was 99 years old ( Zohar - Leh-Leha 93a, Taamei Minhagim 929).

Names all the stars...

During circumcision "aGomel" read before those invited to the ceremony. If a girl is born, then a special minyan of men is collected in the house, or the mother visits the synagogue on the day when the husband names the girl over the scroll. The women present in the women's part of the hall respond to her blessing.

Reply to "aGomel" So:

"Amen. Whoever rewarded you with good will continue to reward you with good!”

The Hebrew text is given in the siddur - a collection of Jewish prayers (see "Reading the Torah").