At first glance I also thought that but I couldn't wrap my head around because even an uninformed individual (clearly the couple involved) but a normal dose of common sense would find that fishy. "So you're Henry? OK, from now on you'll be Avrohom."
Therefore I assumed that the couple, who would seem to have not been that religious, presumably did not have Jewish names and so the "rabbi" was "assigning" Jewish names and then filled in their newly given Hebrew names in the document (get) as opposed to altering their given names to fit the predetermined ones. Again, even an uninformed Jew would be skeptical if a rabbi told them by whim "OK, were going do away now with Jacob and instead call you Abraham."
My impression was that the "rabbi" was conning them. He had gotten hold of a get document, and convinced these ignorant people that it was kosher b/c he was changing their names.
But honestly, the whole story is hard to believe. Even non-religious people would not simply change their Jewish names at the whim of some rabbi, especially people of an earlier era. Most Jewish names have sentimental meaning for their owners.
His (great) grandfather wrote the same thing in divrei chaim. (Look up in index, America.)
ReplyDeleteTranslation or a brief synopsis of what the Rebbe zt'l is saying above about American gittin (and why), please?
ReplyDeletewhat's peshat in the story?
ReplyDeletepshat is that American gittin can be very problematic - because of Rabbis who either don't know what they are doing or don't care.
ReplyDeletei got that much. but what's the deal with the changing names? what did he think it accomplishes?
ReplyDeletethe rabbi thought that by changing the name of the husband and wife to fit that which was on the document the get was kosher
ReplyDeletedid you delete my comment on this post? Or did I forget to click submit?
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I also thought that but I couldn't wrap my head around because even an uninformed individual (clearly the couple involved) but a normal dose of common sense would find that fishy. "So you're Henry? OK, from now on you'll be Avrohom."
ReplyDeleteTherefore I assumed that the couple, who would seem to have not been that religious, presumably did not have Jewish names and so the "rabbi" was "assigning" Jewish names and then filled in their newly given Hebrew names in the document (get) as opposed to altering their given names to fit the predetermined ones. Again, even an uninformed Jew would be skeptical if a rabbi told them by whim "OK, were going do away now with Jacob and instead call you Abraham."
My impression was that the "rabbi" was conning them. He had gotten hold of a get document, and convinced these ignorant people that it was kosher b/c he was changing their names.
ReplyDeleteBut honestly, the whole story is hard to believe. Even non-religious people would not simply change their Jewish names at the whim of some rabbi, especially people of an earlier era. Most Jewish names have sentimental meaning for their owners.