As I spent her last Shabbos in this world in a cramped and crowded Bikur Cholim apartment, one floor below my husband, on a hard cot, I got to talking with a roommate. We spoke about who and what had brought us there and when I told her about our situation, she said to me, "My daughter in law would never do that for me". I wanted to tell her that she'd never met my mother in law. I don't recall ever arguing with my mother in law. She was sweet. She was loving. She was kind. She personified somebody who is "sameach b'chelkah" (happy with her lot in life) - and believe me - she had in her illness much to potentially complain about. She also did much to give back to her community in her healthier days.
This Shabbos, our dear children named their new daughter Tzipora Chaya.
Tzipora: after my mother in law; a special comfort in this difficult year of aveilus.
Chaya: a tribute to my son in law's grandfather, Chaim.
May we be zoche to dance at her wedding in good health!
14 comments:
Mazal tov yet again. But think bigger G6--may you be zocheh to dance at Tzippora Chaya's children's weddings.
ProfK -
Amen!!!
What an even better blessing :D
mazel tov! you should have nachas from all your children and grand children!
What a beautiful name. It brings to mind the Rashi that tzaddikim don't die- they live on through their descendants. Tzipora Chaya- she lives on.
Enjoy her in good health.
Also brings to mind the Rambam's explanation of techiyas hameisim: that the departed are still "here" in some sense through the actions of their descendants.
A question of protocol: is it not quite soon to name a girl? I thought in KAJ the minhag was to wait longer (Rav Hamburger has sources for up to a month, if I am not mistaken!)
In any case, mazal tov to you and yours once again!
May you all have many simcha's together.
Gavi -
Neither I nor my husband is familiar with the custom you describe.
The accepted custom here has been that the father gets an aliyah the first Kri'as HaTorah after the birth and names the girl then.
See Sorshei Minhag Ashkenaz #1 (If you can find a copy) chapter 15, entitled "First Shabbos that a Woman Who Gives Birth Goes to Shul," were this issue is discussed in detail.
I didn't really know your mother-in-law in her more active years, but I have had the zechut of learning with and from enough members of her remarkable family (present company very much included) to have some idea as to what she must have been like, and Tzipora Chaya has a wonderful legacy to learn from and expand upon. May she continue to provide joy and nachas to her family and a bracha to klal yisrael.
Oh, and thanks a ton for that title: now I've going to have Uncle Moishy songs going through my brain for the next five hours.
Mazal Tov. May she live up to the expectations of her namesakes.
Just like the Tzipora HaChaya (Es HaTzipor HaChaya) brought Taharah to the Metzorah so too she bring a Ruach of Taharah to Kllal Yosroel.
I know, you should have asked me to speak at the kidush. Too late now.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am so excited about starting my new blog.
It will most definitely be a journey.
Gavi, YDL -
I looked it up in Shoroshei Minhag Ashkenaz. I believe he is only discussing the first time the mother goes to shul after giving birth. At that time the husband is a chiyuv to be called up to the torah and then makes his wife a mi shebeirach. In fact, at least at KAJ, in such a case the husband is a greater chiyuv than a person who has yahrzeit. In any case he does not discuss anything about giving the child a name. I actually learned that it is preferable, if possible, for the first place a woman to go when she goes out after giving birth is to shul.
I was told this by Rav Simon Schwab O"bm. My wife actually walked into the Shul in Maimonides - where all 6 of our children were born - with the baby (when possible) on the way out of the hospital.
Regarding naming, my daughter was born on a Tuesday & named on Thursday.
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