WHAT’S
in a
Name? LIZ SPIKOL | JE STAFF
t There are few occasions more joyful than the birth of a baby. But in
the nine months leading up to that glorious day, there are many
pragmatic decisions to be made, from which kind of stroller to buy
to which color to paint the nursery.

New parents have to consider so many variables, and there’s no
shortage of advice from experts, friends, relatives and even mommy
bloggers: Should we do cosleeping or let the baby cry it out? Should
we use disposable diapers or cloth? Should we get a standard crib
or convertible? It’s overwhelming.

There is one decision, though,
that’s a bit more personal than
whether to go with Aviary Blue or
Adriatic Sea on the walls — and it also
tends to be more permanent: the baby’s name.

For Jewish parents, the question of a name can get pretty compli-
cated, as many Jewish children have both a secular, American name
as well as a Hebrew name. So aside from the typical choices — such
as whether the child will have a middle name — some Jewish parents
See Name, Page 10
8 OCTOBER 27, 2016
SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM