JK was thrilled to host our first Hebrew Naming Ceremony! This meaningful experience provided families with an opportunity to connect, as parents shared the Hebrew names they had chosen for their children. Before the ceremony day arrived, our JK 105 students were already curious about the origins of their English names.

During the first month of school, we noticed that many students were fascinated by seeing their names displayed throughout the classroom. We overheard conversations centered on names: “My name starts with L!”, “I have six letters in my name!”, “Well, I only have four,” and “Wow, I have six too! We’re the same!”

To build on this interest, we graphed the number of letters in each child’s name and provided various letter manipulatives to match with their written names. The children observed who had the most letters, who had the fewest, and who shared letters in common. To explore the idea of names even further, we asked our JKers, “Why do we need names?” and were impressed with their responses:

• “You need names so other people who never met you can know what your name is.”

• “So other people can say your name without saying a different name.”

• “Because someone needs to know you.”

As the Hebrew Naming Ceremony approached, we used some of our Jewish Studies time to think about the concept of names. We asked our students, “Where do names come from?” and heard a range of interesting answers:

• “Parents give names from God.”

• “From God’s words in the Torah.” 

• “From my house.”

• “From my parents.”

Next, we introduced the idea of Hebrew names by explaining that we would be holding a ceremony where parents would give a special gift to their children. We read The First Gift, a book that tells the story of a young boy receiving his name and the meaning behind it, while also exploring Jewish naming customs. Once the students understood that this special gift was their Hebrew name, their excitement truly began to build!

After all our preparation, the ceremony day finally arrived! When parents joined us at school, they shared the Hebrew names they had chosen for their children, explaining each name’s meaning and any special stories behind it. Together, they created a special necklace for each child to wear proudly with their Hebrew name, as well as a “name frame” to help them recognize it.

Following this collaborative time, we were joined by Rabbi Benjy from Anshe Emet Synagogue and Mr. Todd, who led us in traditional naming rituals and blessings. The students gathered under a special tallit that they had designed, featuring all their Hebrew names, as parents and teachers held it over them while we sang and danced. Mazel tov to all the JK students and their families on this meaningful milestone as they grow in their Jewish identity. We look forward to continuing this new tradition for years to come!