WHAT’S YOUR NAME?
by Zev Steinberg
Dedicated to the baby who was to be named at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Shabbat morning, October 27, 2018.
Little boy, what’s your name – do you have one? Sweet baby, just eight days old, what should we call you?
#TreeOfLifeSynagogue
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Is your name Raphael? Our broken hearts and bleeding souls need healing. I hope you are Raphael. You should have been carried high into the congregation on Shabbat morning - past from loving hands to loving hands - on a cushioned pillow to receive your Jewish name.
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nstead your elders fell and were carried out on stretchers in plastic bags. Their names on tags. Is your name Moshe? Our unbearable anguish and rage demands justice. I hope you are Moshe.
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Is your name Ariel? We need the ferocious strength of lions to protect our people. I hope you are Ariel. Is your name Barak? We need courageous warriors to vanquish our enemies. I hope you are Barak.
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The blood on Shabbat morning was supposed to be covenantal not sacrilegious, sacramental not sacrificial, sacred not unholy. The tears were supposed to be of boundless joy not bottomless sorrow. The cries were supposed to be “mazel tov” not the mourner’s kaddish.
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Is your name Simcha? We need an end to sadness by bringing joy into our world. I hope you are Simcha. Is your name Yaron? We need an end to mourning by bringing song into our lives . I hope you are Yaron.
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o little boy, what’s your name? Take them all if you will. Take a thousand names. Be peace and Comfort and Healing. Be Justice and Strength and Courage. Be Joy and Song and a Gift to the world. Be every good name and every good thing.
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And, Sweet baby, take one more name if you will – because I hope you will be blessed with a long, blissful, beautiful and meaningful life… I hope you are Chaim.
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End of conversation
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