For Whom Was I Named?

This question is the first lesson that I am going to ask to my “Downtown Project” families.  I am meeting the 5 kids for the first time on Sunday, September 14 - and that is the question that I want them to be able to answer, “For whom were you named?”

Telushkin writes that we are a story-telling culture, we pass down our knowledge from one generation to the next through the stories that we tell.  He is saddened by how few people know much of anything about the person for whom they are named.  As he says, if we don’t learn their stories, then their stories die with them, and that is such a loss.

Tomorrow I am going to do my first Temple Shalom interview - “Growing Up Jewish” - it should prove to be a very moving experience.  I have no idea where these stories may lead, but I’m hoping that I’ll hear some wonderful stories.  Hopefully, we’ll be able to pick up steam on this…”For whom was I named?” is a question which might lead to so many wonderful stories.