A gutn joidesh!
I want to ask you a question about my name. As I grow up, everybody in school called me with a yidishe nomen, all the way until high school. My family called me with my goyishe nomen. So when I got married, I put my yidishe nomen on my k´suba as I thought it was the right thing to do. I got married in Monsey where everybody knew me that way. Years later and after moving back to my familys city- where everybody knows me with my goyishe name, my mother told me that I was NEVER given a yidishe nomen!! My question is if I am supposed to do something about it: Either change my name, or maybe write another k´suba?? I am already married for 25 years.
Thanks!
Answer:
No, you don’t have to be concerned about this.
A name that everybody calls you by is a true name, even if you were never officially “given” the name at your Bris.
Of course, for purposes of a Get document you would have to mention the non-Jewish name, too, but for the Kesubah having your common Jewish name written is sufficient.
Best wishes.
My children are bothered that I do not have a jewish name, specially that, as their mother, they have to give my name to their friends for davening for shiduchim… Also they are worried that after 120 they won’t have a nice yidishe nomen to give to their daughters after me…Is better to change it for a yidishe name that sound similar?? Or is playing with the mazl.
This is a very personal question. If you are happy with your name as it is, and you don’t feel a desire to change it, then I don’t know if the considerations you mention are sufficient. Your children should be proud of you irrespective of your name, and your changing name “for them” might give a wrong message. The fact is that many Gedolei Yisrael had non-Jewish names, and you don’t have anything to be ashamed about in this.
Thank you for answering to my question.
Good morning,
I have been married around 30 years so my question is somewhat odd.. Believe it or not I noticed just the other day that my kesuba has only half my name. My full name is Leah Hentcha and only Leah appears. I am only called Leah. No one has ever called me by both names. Would I have to get it rewritten at this time?
Thank You
Leah Elefant
No, there is no need to rewrite the kesuba.
If nobody has ever called you by the name Hentcha, then this is not really your name (a name is what you are called by), and there’s no need to have it on the kesuba document.
Best wishes.
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