What’s in a name?
Most of us remember Juliet answering her own question: “That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” She was of course trying set aside the conflict of dating someone from a family house at war with her own.
Judaism actually says names are really important. They can tell us a lot about where we came from and who our parents hope we will be.
Often our first names are chosen to remember someone (living or dead, depending on your family background) about whom our parents felt strongly. Perhaps they hoped we would grow to develop similar positive traits as our namesakes. And of course a Hebrew name includes the names of our parents, declaring our connection to our families.
The world of marketing also says that names are very important and need to be chosen with some care. That a name is a central part of developing a brand identity and making sure people remember to buy YOUR product. In the 2016 film The Founder, Michael Keaton plays Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s. He is explaining to Dick McDonald, one of the brothers from whom he bought the original company what he was paying for. “It’s the name. That glorious name, McDonald’s. It could be, anything you want it to be...it's limitless, it’s wide open... it sounds, uh... it sounds like... it sounds like America.”
When we change the name of something, we should be very certain about our reasons for doing so. In our religious school, we have referred to our classes in the same way as they are in most non-religious settings: Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade and so on. Nothing wrong with that. Kids know what grade they are whether they are at their five day a week school or at TBT.
What if we could change that in a way that sends the message that they are in a different place than their “regular” school? What if we could reinforce the values of TBT a little more just by how we name things?
Our Curriculum Working Group is moving into phase two of our work. Hebrew is at the top of our agenda. (If you would like to join us, please call or email me!) And our Education Committee has taken the first step.
Beginning this fall, we will use Hebrew names for our classes – although we will have a “soft-open” beginning now. Click here to see a chart of the new names!
It will teach a little more Hebrew, declare that we care about Hebrew as Jewish value AND it may make this place a feel even more distinct from “regular” school.
The picture on this page is the clock on the roof of the Jewish Community Building in Prague in the Czech Republic, which is across an alley from a synagogue built in the year 1200. The Hebrew letters on its face make it clear that this is a place operating in Jewish time. If you look closely at the letters, you will realize that it actually works in a counter-clockwise fashion, as Hebrew moves in the opposite direction as English. It sets a definite tone, as will the change in class names. I invite you to change how you refer to our grades at TBT. See if it feels different to you!
L’shalom,
Ira J. Wise, DJRE, RJE
Temple Educator