What is in a name? We all have them, but why are they important? What do they symbolize? For our matriarch Sarah, naming her son symbolized the miracle of being able to have a child in her old age.
When she was told she would conceive she laughed; later in Parshat Vayera when Isaac is born Sarah says, “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” Because of this, they name him Yitzchak, which means laughter. Why would other people laugh? Because of her old age? Maybe, but perhaps they would laugh out of joy for Sarah. This joy could give hope to other couples who are childless and are having trouble starting a family. So Isaac’s name for Sarah represents the Joy and miracle of having a child when she did not think it was possible.
You may have noticed that I have changed my name from Cantor Kowitz to Cantor Diamond, taking my wife’s last name. For me, the name change symbolizes unity and how, now that I am married, it makes me feel connected on a deeper level with my wife. It brings me a sense of grounding in a world where that feels harder to find each day.
The famous poet, Zelda Mishkovsky wrote a poem that became a famous Israeli song called Lechol Ish Yesh Shem-Every Person Has a Name. I wanted to share the text of her poem with you as something to think about as we go into Shabbat:
“Every person has a name that God gave him and which his father and mother gave him. Every person has a name which his height and the style of his smile gave him and which his tapestry gave him. Every person has a name which the mountains gave him and which his walls gave him. Every person has a name which the star signs gave him and which his neighbors gave him. Every person has a name which his sins gave him, and which his longing gave him. Every person has a name which his enemies gave him and his love gave him. Every person has a name which his festivals gave him, and which his work gave him. Every person has a name which the seasons gave him, and which his blindness gave him. Every person has a name which the sea gave him, and which his death gave him.“
As you can see from Zelda’s poem, names are part of our identity, part of what makes us who we are. For Sarah, her laughter was a key part of her story so she named her son for it. For me, changing my name is part of the new chapter of my life. What significance does your name hold?
Shabbat Shalom Cantor Diamond
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Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism