Speaker Series: Cohen, Levi, Yisrael: Jewish Names Around the World
April 14, 2019 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
What makes a name Jewish? How do Jews around the world select names for their babies? Did
immigrants change their names at Ellis Island? Dr. Benor explores the origin and meaning of Jewish surnames, from patronymic names like Abramovitch, Isaacs, and Yaghobian; place-
origin names like Ashkenazi, Dardashti, and Shapiro; and profession names like Hakim, Melamed, and Kramer. Together we discover what changes in American Jewish baby names
throughout the 20th century and beyond teach us about the evolution of American Jewish identities.
What makes a name Jewish? How do Jews around the world select names for their babies? Did
immigrants change their names at Ellis Island? Dr. Benor explores the origin and meaning of Jewish surnames, from patronymic names like Abramovitch, Isaacs, and Yaghobian; place-
origin names like Ashkenazi, Dardashti, and Shapiro; and profession names like Hakim, Melamed, and Kramer. Together we discover what changes in American Jewish baby names
throughout the 20th century and beyond teach us about the evolution of American Jewish identities.
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