One of the most precious presents a person receives is given to her when she’s born: her name
We all love receiving gifts. Some gifts accompany a person throughout her lifetime. One of the most precious presents a person receives is given to her when she’s born: her name. One’s name is one of the quintessential factors that will influence a person throughout her lifetime.
When parents name a child, they’re blessed with a measure of ruach hakodesh. Chofetz Hashem adds that the name a parent gives will be the same name that Hashem calls this neshamah. Accordingly, when we refer to a wicked person, we say “yemach shemo” (may his name be erased), indicating that the neshamah’s relationship with Hashem has been severed.
By giving their child a name, parents are also bequeathing specific character traits to their child. Berachos (7b) teaches that “shema garim,” the name influences a person. The meaning of the name, or the person for whom the person is named, will influence the potential character of the child.
A child called Avraham or Sarah will be drawn to chesed, and one named Yosef will have the quality of providing for others. Tzaddok HaKohein explains that when we want to wake up a person, we call his name and he wakes up. Calling a person’s name awakens his essence.
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