Names

This week’s Torah portion begins the saga of the Jewish people in Egypt. We hear of the birth of Moses and the suffering of our People. The name of the portion is Sh’mote or names.

We are known in the household of Israel by our Hebrew name. When we are called up to the Torah the Cantor asks us to ascend to the bima by our Hebrew name, when we are sick and our name is mentioned it is with our Hebrew name, and then finally when we are called back to God at a funeral, in the El Male Rachamim prayer those leading the service invoke our Hebrew name.

It is the tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews to name a child after a deceased relative. It is to honor those who came before us and to remember our past. The Sephardic Jews do not have that tradition and name their children after those who are still living. That is why there are some Jews who are juniors. Our Hebrew name is very important it connects us to our people. It is our special name. Our given name is then paired with the Hebrew names of our parents. So our full name is our given name, Bar/Bat son or daughter then the Hebrew names of our parents. This once again connects us to our families. This week let us recall our Hebrew names and remind our children of their names and who they are named after.