It has become very fashionable to wear Jewish name necklaces in the past couple of decades.
We would like to explore the significance of Jewish names in order to explain what makes the necklaces such special and unique presents.
How does Judaism relate to Jewish names? It is related in Midrash Rabbah on Leviticus 32:5 that the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt on account of four virtues.
The first of these four is that they didn't change their names.
Judaism views Hebrew names of objects and people as the channel through which they receive Divine energy.
In fact, a person's name, according to the Arizal, is the conduit through which the soul's vigor reaches the body.
In Sefer Hagilgulim it is related that when parents name a child they do so through Divine inspiration.
When are Jewish babies named? Baby boys are named at their circumcision at the age of eight days.
In the case of a delayed circumcision, some hold that the name is given when the father is called up to the Torah which happens before the circumcision.
In the case of a firstborn son, a special ceremony is held in which he is "redeemed" and some hold that he should be named then.
Baby girls are named at the Torah reading after her birth.
Some will wait until the Sabbath day in order to name the baby before the greater community.
The naming is customarily accompanied by a feast, celebrating the entrance of the soul into the body.
Who has the right to choose the baby's name in Judaism? Several customs exist regarding who chooses the baby's name.
In some communities the father will name the first child, the mother the second and from thereon will alternate.
As a matter of fact, the Lubavitcher Rebbe advised people with no specific family customs regarding naming children to follow this practice as it originates in ancient sources.
It goes without saying that the final name must be mutually agreed on and the order is of who suggests a name.
Do Jewish people name their children after relatives? There are those who will name children after deceased parents, especially in the Ashkenazi community.
In the Ashkenazi community, it is not acceptable to name a child after a living person.
The reasoning behind this is that it is considered a merit for a deceased person to have someone named after him/her and if their name is given when they are still alive, this will no longer be possible.
According to Sephardic custom, it is a great honor to name children after relatives who are still alive.
We would like to explore the significance of Jewish names in order to explain what makes the necklaces such special and unique presents.
How does Judaism relate to Jewish names? It is related in Midrash Rabbah on Leviticus 32:5 that the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt on account of four virtues.
The first of these four is that they didn't change their names.
Judaism views Hebrew names of objects and people as the channel through which they receive Divine energy.
In fact, a person's name, according to the Arizal, is the conduit through which the soul's vigor reaches the body.
In Sefer Hagilgulim it is related that when parents name a child they do so through Divine inspiration.
When are Jewish babies named? Baby boys are named at their circumcision at the age of eight days.
In the case of a delayed circumcision, some hold that the name is given when the father is called up to the Torah which happens before the circumcision.
In the case of a firstborn son, a special ceremony is held in which he is "redeemed" and some hold that he should be named then.
Baby girls are named at the Torah reading after her birth.
Some will wait until the Sabbath day in order to name the baby before the greater community.
The naming is customarily accompanied by a feast, celebrating the entrance of the soul into the body.
Who has the right to choose the baby's name in Judaism? Several customs exist regarding who chooses the baby's name.
In some communities the father will name the first child, the mother the second and from thereon will alternate.
As a matter of fact, the Lubavitcher Rebbe advised people with no specific family customs regarding naming children to follow this practice as it originates in ancient sources.
It goes without saying that the final name must be mutually agreed on and the order is of who suggests a name.
Do Jewish people name their children after relatives? There are those who will name children after deceased parents, especially in the Ashkenazi community.
In the Ashkenazi community, it is not acceptable to name a child after a living person.
The reasoning behind this is that it is considered a merit for a deceased person to have someone named after him/her and if their name is given when they are still alive, this will no longer be possible.
According to Sephardic custom, it is a great honor to name children after relatives who are still alive.
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