NAMING OF CHILDREN

Orthodox:

The choice of a name is the first Jewish decision parents are called to make. For Jews living all over the world, a name is a complicated gift. It bestows not only personal identity but also familial and religious connection. Once Abram and Sarai accepted the covenant with God, they became different people with different names: Abraham and Sarah, the parents of the Jewish people. There are 2,800 personal names in the Bible, fewer than 5% are used today. Throughout history, Jews have given their children names from many sources, reflecting the fashion and culture of their time as well as their own unique tradition. Since the founding of the state of Israel, the lexicon of Jewish names has expanded with the introduction of biblical names that had not been heard for generations, such as Amnon, Yoram, Avital and Tamar. Israeli also translate names from Yiddish to Hebrew, so for example, Gittel (good one) becomes Tovah. Inspired by the land of Israel children are named Kinereth, ( a sea), Arnon, (a wadi), Barak, (lightning) and Ora (light).

"In the merit that our people had not changed their Hebrew names.... during their 210 years stay in he Egyptian exile, they were worthy to be redeemed from slavery." (Vayikra Rabba 32)

A male child is named during the circumcision ritual, a female is named in the synagogue a week after her birth. The father is called to the Torah and a prayer of Mi-SheBerakh is made for the health of the mother and baby, and the name is publicly proclaimed.

There are no Jewish laws pertaining the naming of Jewish children, there are only diverse customs. For example, the widespread custom is to name the children after someone, relative or non-relative, whose memory one wishes to honor and perpetuate. Still there are differences, Ashkenazi Jews --from European decent-- do not name their children after living people, while some Sephardic Jews -Jews that come originally from Spain- and other groups, like the Jews from Yemen do name their children after living parents, grand-parents or other tzadikim (righteous people).

In Orthodox and Chasidic Judaism, giving children a Hebrew or Yiddish name is considered very important, as a sign of identification with the Jewish people. Chasidic and Orthodox Jews, usually only give a Hebrew or Yiddish name. More modern Jews, however, give also a gentile name to the children, so they have no problems in the secular world.

The actual naming ceremony is not considered a mystical or magical rite, through which the child is introduced to Judaism. In other words, it does not render the child Jewish . Other factors are necessary (See conversion of a newborn, in adoption of a non-Jewish child).

Other more Chasidic rituals or traditions (also performed by some Orthodox) are: Shalom Zakhor (welcome to the boy-child), a gathering held on a boy's first Sabbath which both celebrates his arrival act and to a lesser extent, mourns the loss of all the Torah he is said to have known in uteru, and Shem Arisah (crib naming), a custom in which children circle the cradle of a newborn saying the Shema Israel and reciting Psalms. Leil Shimmurim (eve of watchfulness), a study vigil/party held the night before circumcision to comfort the baby boys over their impending surgery. Zeved Habat (gift of a daughter), the Sephardic prayer for baby girls, recited in the synagogue upon a daughter's naming, during the first Torah service which a mother attends after the birth.

Reform:

Welcoming children into name and covenant is, an apt phase. It describes the purpose and tone of a distinct passage, includes both boys and girls, and takes account of three separate, though related, components:
Welcoming, naming, and entry into religious covenant.

Traditionally, a variety of rituals for infants accomplished some combination of these three. Practices, more-or-less-commonly observed, include Shalom Zakhor (welcome to the boy-child), a gathering held on a boy's first Sabbath which both celebrates his arrival act and to a lesser extent, mourns the loss of all the Torah he is said to have known in uterus; Leil Shimmurim (eve of watchfulness), a study vigil/party held the night before circumcision to comfort the baby boys over their impending surgery. Shavu'a/Yeshu'ah Haben and Shavu'a/Yeshu'ah Habat (week/ salvation of son and daughter), ambiguous phrases describing an imperfectly remembered custom, probably a week long celebration after a birth; Shem Arisah (crib naming), an Azhkenazic custom dating from the fourteen century, in which children circle the cradle of a newborn, lift it three times, and pronounce the baby's secular name; and Zeved Habat (gift of a daughter), the Sephardic prayer for baby girls, recited in the synagogue upon a daughter's naming, during the first Torah service which a mother attends after the birth