| I recently had the opportunity to conduct
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| | positive spiritual message. For girls,
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| a short but fascinating print interview
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| | the names were Dannah, Ivah, and Zaccai.
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| with Judith Tropea, author of the
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| | For boys, Asher, Barak, and Jakim. I
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| recently-published book, "Classic
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| | grabbed my copy of her book to see what
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| Biblical Baby Names - Timeless Names for
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| | the meanings and spiritual significance
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| Modern Parents."
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| | of these names might be.
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| At the outset, I was struck by a
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| | The name Dannah literally means
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| quotation from the book's introduction --
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| | "judging." It signifies a woman who
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| a quotation from Proverbs, 22:1, "A good
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| | stands for justice and fair play. Ivah
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| name is to be chosen rather than great
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| | means "overturning," and it is a reminder
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| riches." Rather a bold statement, I
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| | that faith can move mountains. Zaccai
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| thought, especially when many of us hold
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| | means "just," or "seeker of justice." I
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| "great riches" in such high esteem!
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| | was beginning to understand what the
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| What is there to say about a biblical
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| | author meant about names affecting our
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| name, or any name for that matter, that
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| | self-perception.
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| could make it so important? After all,
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| | The boy's name Asher means "happy" or
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| isn't a name just a name? As Shakespeare
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| | "blessed." Barak, a name currently very
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| said, "what's in a name? A rose by any
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| | prominent because of the senator from
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| other name would smell as sweet."
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| | Illinois, means' "flash of lightning,"
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| But would it?
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| | and the spiritual connotation is "powered
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| In her book, Judith Tropea notes that
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| | by God." Jakim means "God lifts up," and
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| "Names are an integral part of our
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| | it symbolizes a man who lives his life as
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| identity. A child's name affects his or
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| | an example to other people.
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| her self-perception and reflects the
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| | Quite a remarkable group of names.
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| parents' beliefs and cultures. A name
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| | "Classic Biblical Baby Names" is filled
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| pays tribute to the individual spirit and
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| | with examples of names like these,
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| is one of the first wonderful gifts you
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| | spelling out their literal and spiritual
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| can offer your child." When I asked her
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| | meanings, and how the names crop up in
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| about this during our conversation, she
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| | different biblical stories. Some of the
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| said "A biblical name gives a baby a
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| | names are quite well known, such as Adam,
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| connection to spirituality that may be a
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| | Paul, or Elizabeth; others, like Darius
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| springboard to finding spirituality later
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| | or Calah, are much more obscure. After my
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| in life."
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| | conversation with Judith Tropea, I found
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| I think that's a pretty good reason for
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| | myself wanting to dig into her book more,
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| prospective parents to consider the names
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| | to see what other little-known names and
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| in the bible. and see what a treasure
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| | meanings are lurking in there.
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| trove of names might be between the
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| | I also found myself in the odd position
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| covers.
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| | of having to disagree with Shakespeare.
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| At my urging, Judith Tropea came up with
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| | Much as the great Bard knew his stuff, on
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| 3 suggestions each for boy's and girl's
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| | this point I think he was mistaken -- a
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| names from the bible that are a little
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| | rose, by any other name, sometimes may
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| out of the ordinary, and that carry a
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| | not smell as sweet.
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