We are going to use this space to find out more about our names.
Where are they from? What do they mean?
Parents, please add in why you chose that name for your child. Simply hit the + button, choose comment, and go! See email for login information.
שרה Sarah
Sarah means "princess." Sarah appears in the Bible as a great prophet, the first of the matriarchs -- wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. (Genesis 17:15) (variations: Sari, Sarit, Sarita)
Chana
Chana means "grace." This name is associated with the ability to create beautiful prayers; Chana appears in the Bible as praying to God, and then giving birth to the prophet Samuel. (1-Samuel ch. 1) (variant spellings: Hana, Hannah)
Gavriel
Gavriel means "God is my strength." Gavriel appears in the Bible as the angel who foretold the birth of Isaac (Genesis 18:10), who overturned Sodom (Genesis ch 19), and who appeared to Daniel (Daniel 8:16). Traditionally, this angel stays by our left side as we sleep at night. (variation: Gabriel)
Rafael
Rafael means "God heals." Rafael is the angel of healing, who visited Abraham after his circumcision (Genesis ch. 18). Traditionally, Rafael stays behind us as we sleep at night. (variations: Raphael, Rafoel)
Moshe
Moshe was the greatest prophet ever, who led the Jewish people in the Exodus from Egypt, and at the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Moshe means "drawn out [of the water]" (Exodus 2:10), for in a deeper sense, Moshe's destiny was to draw the Jewish people out of slavery. (variations: Moishe, Moses)
Meir
Meir means "one who gives light." Rabbi Meir appears in the Talmud as a great 2nd century sage. (variation: Meyer)
Liya - Liya means "I have God."
Tuvia
Tuvia means "God is good." The name Tuvia appears in the Bible as one who returned to Israel from the Babylonian Exile (Zechariah 6:10). In kabbalah, Tuvia has the same numeric value (32) as Lev, heart, and it is traditionally one of the names of Moses. (variations: Tovia, Tobiah, Tevye)
Yehuda
Yehuda means "God will be praised." The English word, Jew, is derived from Yehuda (Judah). Yehuda appears in the Bible as one of the 12 tribes, who is blessed with the role of kingship (Genesis 29:35). The royal line of King David, Solomon and the Messiah all descend from Yehuda. The name Yehuda also appears as a leader in the Chanukah story -- Judah the Maccabee.
Betzalel
Betzalel means "shadow of God." Betzalel appears in the Bible as the builder of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary which accompanied the Jewish people during their 40 years of wandering in the desert. (Exodus 31:2).
Eli means "ascend" or "uplifted." Eli appears in the Bible as a High Priest, and the last of the judges in the days of Samuel (1-Samuel ch. 1).
Rav Hilkiya bar Tuvia and Rav Huna bar Chiya were sitting together.
(כא) (ג"פ:) בְּשֵׁם ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִימִינִי מִיכָאֵל, וּמִשְּׂמֹאלִי גַּבְרִיאֵל, וּמִלְּפָנַי אוֹרִיאֵל, וּמֵאֲחוֹרַי רְפָאֵל, וְעַל רֹאשִׁי שְׁכִינַת אֵל:
Meir
Meir means "one who gives light." Rabbi Meir appears in the Talmud as a great 2nd century sage. (variation: Meyer)
The Meir in Tobya Meir was in honor of our son Toby being born on the first day of Hanukkah and having his bris on the last. - Alex and Ting
Tuvia
Tuvia means "God is good." The name Tuvia appears in the Bible as one who returned to Israel from the Babylonian Exile (Zechariah 6:10). In kabbalah, Tuvia has the same numeric value (32) as Lev, heart, and it is traditionally one of the names of Moses. (variations: Tovia, Tobiah, Tevye)