A woman from France who had begun the journey back to her Jewish roots once went to the Rebbe for yechidus. Her parents had never given her a Jewish name, and one of her requests was that the Rebbe choose a name for her.

The Rebbe responded: “Your French name is Jacqueline. That is the feminine form of Jacque. Jacque resembles the Hebrew Yaakov. You should choose the name Yaakovah.”

The woman thanked the Rebbe, but he sensed a certain apprehension. “You don’t understand Hebrew,” he continued. “Don’t worry, I will write it down for you so that you will not forget.” And the Rebbe wrote the name Yaakovah on a small piece of paper and gave it to the woman.

She appreciated the gift, had it encased, and wore it as a pendant.