Your Name Is Your Blessing: Hebrew Names and Their Mystical Meanings

by Benjamin Blech, Elaine Blech

Overview

Your Name Is Your Blessing: Hebrew Names and Their Mystical Meanings represents the first time that the secrets of the Kabbalah, the mystical teachings of Jewish spiritual leaders, were introduced to the general public for the purpose of explaining the profound meanings hidden in every person’s name. Your Name is Your Blessing remains alone in its application of Kabbalistic teachings to the choice and understanding of one’s name. A name tells a story that captures a person’s character and personality, and in Your Name Is Your Blessing, Benjamin and Elaine Blech provide a guide to understanding what your name says about you and your life. The Blechs give the gematria—the total numerical value of a word, which is the starting point for kabbalistic analysis—for hundreds of names, as well as Biblical words, phrases, and blessings associated with this numerical value.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765709677
Publisher:	Aronson, Jason Inc.
Publication date:	12/06/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Rabbi Benjamin Blech is a nationally recognized educator, religious leader, author, and lecturer. He served for almost four decades as a congregational rabbi while concurrently serving as Professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University. He has lectured to Jewish communities around the world and his previous books, including Understanding Judaism and Secrets of Hebrew Words–as well as his articles, both scholarly and popular–have enjoyed international distribution and acclaim. For the first time his wife, Elaine Blech, who has always shared his interest in Jewish scholarship and mysticism, joins him in this collaborative effort.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

With All of These Features, This Book Is for You If xi

Introduction 1

Are Names Really That Important? 3

Names Don't Just Name-They Create 3

Your Name Is Your Neshama-the Key to Your Soul 4

Your Name Is Your Character, Your Destiny, and Your Mission in Life 5

The Secret of Gematria 6

The Two Kinds of Gematrias 7

A "Perfect" and a "Simple" Name Gematria 9

Your Word, Your Phrase, and Your Blessing 10

Using This Book 13

To Find the Right Name for Your Child 13

Other Ways to Use This Book 13

Feminine Names 15

Masculine Names 133

Appendix 257

Naming a Baby after a Relative-the Mystical Alternative 259

The Custom 259

How to Name after Someone 260

Alphabetical List of Names 295

Feminine Names 297

Masculine Names 305

Editorial Reviews

This edition, with a new introduction, is one of many resources that can help in the Jewish naming process. It is unique in that it covers the mystical, or kabbalistic, meaning of each name, the premise being that a name is a book and can predict the type of person the child will be. More than 700 names are featured, in Hebrew and English, from ancient biblical to modern Israeli. This book would be useful for traditional (Orthodox) Jewish families in unlocking mystical teachings. The personal qualities in the names and “the blessing” (what lies ahead for the child) will be of interest. Recommended as needed for public and congregational libraries.

Booklist

The usefulness of this volume is.. . [for] those interested in Kabbalah and/or gematria.

Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews

This edition, with a new introduction, is one of many resources that can help in the Jewish naming process. It is unique in that it covers the mystical, or kabbalistic, meaning of each name, the premise being that a name is a book and can predict the type of person the child will be. More than 700 names are featured, in Hebrew and English, from ancient biblical to modern Israeli. This book would be useful for traditional (Orthodox) Jewish families in unlocking mystical teachings. The personal qualities in the names and “the blessing” (what lies ahead for the child) will be of interest. Recommended as needed for public and congregational libraries.

Booklist