INSIDE

helping Jewish families grow'

Name Your Gift

The meaning behind famous names in the Torah,
and how they can help your child grow.

• Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

om and Dad already
are on their way to the
hospital, and still no

name you like, or one to honor
relatives long gone, here's a col-
lection of names that combine

both past (they're all from the
Torah) and present (Michael has
consistently remained one of the
most popular names for boys,
among both Jews and gentiles).

Actors Daniel Day-Lewis and

Danny Glover, Daniel Boone,
Daniel Webster.
David: Means "beloved."

Israel's second king, David was
both a poet and a military leader
extraordinaire. Famous Davids:
Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-

Garden of Eden. Famous Adams:
Actor Adam Arkin, Beastie Boy
Adam Horvitz, weird singer

Adam Ant.

Benjamin: Means "son of
my right hand." Benjamin was
the youngest of the 12 sons of
one in the family agrees on what
Jacob and Rachel and the only
to call the new baby.
one who did not agree to sell
Mom would like to name her
his brother Joseph into slavery.
after Aunt Gladys ("She was like a BOYS
Famous Benjamins: Israeli Prime
Aaron: Means "messenger" or
mother to mel") — but Gladys?
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
"mountain." First mentioned in
Dad would like to honor his
Benjamin Franklin, comedian
Exodus, Aaron was spokesman for
favorite sports star, but would you
Benny Hill, mobster Benjamin
his brother, Moses, before
really want to tell beautiful Denise
"Bugsy" Siegel, musician Benny
Pharoah. He founded a dynasty
that she was named. after Dennis
Goodman, U.S. Supreme Court
of priests. Famous Aarons: Israeli
Rodman?
Justice Benjamin Cardozo, artist
author Aharon Appelfeld, poet
Big Sister prefers a more trendy
Ben Shahn.
Aaron Zeitlin, TV mogul Aaron
selection, maybe: Morgan-Carly -
Means "God is my
Daniel:
1
Spelling, composer Aaron
Tori-Lexi-Ma rly-Kelsey-Bria nna,
judge." Daniel
while Big Brother would be happy Copland.
was a prophet.
Avraham: Means "icrher of a
with something a touch more sim-
Famous Daniels:
great nation." Avraham was the
ple — Pam, for Pamela Anderson.
first patriarch of the Israelites. So
According to Jewish tradition, a
Right:
devoted to God was Avranam
child's name will help define the
Another Daniel:
that he was ready to
kind of person he or she
"Beloved" star Mr.
sacrifice his son,
becomes. A
Glover.
Isaac. Famous
girl named
Avrahams: politician
Below:
Shira ("song")
Abraham Ribicoff,
will be like a
Danny Boy:
author Abraham
Daniel Day-Lewis.
lovely melody,
Joshua Heschel,
while one
gangster Abe "Kid
named
Twist" Reles.
Elisheva
Adam: Means
("beloved of
"man" or "earth."
God") may be
God created
especially spiri-
Adam on the sixth
tual.
day, and he was
Whether
responsible for
you're simply
Adam Horvitz with his Beastie
care of the
looking for a
brothers.

A tale of two
Davids: David
Letterman, top,
and David
Schwimmer

Gurion, former teen
heartthrob David
Cassidy, David
"Mickey" Marcus (high-
est-ranking American vol-
unteer who fought with
Israeli forces during the
War of Independence),
violinist David Oistrakh, actors
David Schwimmer and David
Duchovny, David Letterman,

Davey Crockett.
Isaac: Means "laughter."
Avraham's son and Jacob's father,
Isaac was the second patriarch.

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