You can call me Tamara, or….!

Many Jewish children are given a Hebrew name at birth in honor of their ancestors. I wasn’t, and I’m glad because I got to be named after two of my most treasured people who had recently passed, my grandmother, Shirley and my grandfather, Herman.

Grandma Shirley’s Yiddish name was Yaffa, meaning beautiful, and Grandpa Herman’s Hebrew name was Chaim, which means life. So, my new name in Hebrew is Yaffa Chaya, which means “Beautiful Life”! I can’t think of a better name. Can you?

I got a certificate from the Synagogue, signed by the Rabbis and Cantor that documents my new name, and Uncle Richie’s friend Jackie showed me how it is written in Hebrew. Thank you Jackie!

I love my new name!