When you ask a male it’s the question on the left; just add Mah and it’s the question on the right for a female. I mention this because the word for “name” is Shem, and I’ll get to that later.
I’ve always used Hebrew names when speaking to religious school kids, especially during the Bat/Bar Mitzvah year when our time together is at a maximum. As a matter of fact, there was one time when we were at a restaurant and ran into the family of one of them. The young lady came over to say hello, and I said, “Shayndl! How are you?” For the life of me, I couldn’t recall her secular name (it should be noted that Shayndl is not Hebrew but Yiddish. I implore parents to use Hebrew equivalents for Yiddish names since Hebrew is a living language, and while Yiddish is being taught more than before, it’s life-span is questionable). I whispered to the mom (at whose Confirmation I officiated), “What’s her name?” and was told. “It’s Shannon.” Ahhh, Shannon, straight out of the Torah!! (In fact, a colleague’s son’s name is Sha’anan which IS a Hebrew name)
I’m planning on discussing my issue with anything-but-pure Hebrew names another time, but let’s say there’s more to it than just the dying language matter.
Someone asked me why I use their Hebrew name. My answer, “Who else will?” and usually followed up with, “And will they ever remember it if I don’t use it?” and then, “Will they ever hear it again?” We’re given a Hebrew name as a link to the past, to honor a deceased relative. That’s for Ashkenazic Jews (from Western Europe and countries in the former Soviet Union); Sephardic Jews from Spain, Portugal, Mediterranean countries and North Africa, name after the living. I know I’ve mentioned this before in a previous “My (Something) Word!” column, but there’s an additional point….and there are those who don’t read these articles anyway!
The word shem means more than “name.” It means reputation and has its roots in extremely old theology. You’ll recall my recurrent point that the God in the early part of our Torah was recognized as the “God of Israel,” territorial, whereas the other peoples had their own deities. When we speak of a “jealous” God, in part it is true. Only when God was proclaimed the ONE God did the jealousy end; there were no more competitors in our more evolved theology. But until then phrases such as, “for the sake of Your Name,” were encouragements to God to remember the reputation to be achieved.
We, too, must connect shem to both name and reputation for, indeed, isn’t it obvious that our “good name” implies we are remembered for good, and the opposite as well? As Ecclesiastes tells us, “A good name is more precious than the finest oil.” Just switch “reputation” for “name” and you know how important that good name is. But you know that already for sure!
(Speaking of names, in this case not human, more observant grandparents wanted to remind their wayward Harvard U. grandson that the Day of Atonement was coming. They sent him a text: “YOM KIPPUR STARTS TOMORROW!” He responded, “THANKS FOR THE TIP. BET FIFTY FOR ME – WIN, PLACE AND SHOW!”)