Living Torah Archives

A talk in honor of the 32nd yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s brother, Reb Yisrael Aryeh Leib. In Jewish law, if someone has both a Jewish and secular name, the Jewish name comes first in legal documents. Similarly, if parents wish to give their child a Hebrew name together with its Yiddish equivalent, the Hebrew name customarily comes first.

This special collage shows individuals coming by the Rebbe, and receiving a lesson about the meaning and power of their Jewish names. (Collage)

Rabbi Zvi Hartman is an esteemed Chassidic mentor in Beit Shemesh, Israel. In the 1960s, he served as Principal of Bet Sefer Lemlacha for vocational training in Kfar Chabad, Israel. After being married for some five years without being able to have children, he and his wife decided to ask the Rebbe for a blessing. They carried out the Rebbe’s instructions in New York but seemed to hit a wall. But everything would change after they met a doctor that the Rebbe referred them to in Tel Aviv.

Dr. Yechiel Lasri is the mayor of Asdod, Israel, and a former member of the Knesset. After his mother lost her first three children within hours of their being born, the family sought the advice and blessing of the Rebbe.

Naming a baby is done exclusively by the parents. Blessings and L’chaim to the Brit - ritual circumcision.