Aviva Kayla

The naming of a Jewish child is a most profound spiritual moment. Naming a baby is a statement of her character, her specialness, and her path in life. For at the beginning of life we give a name, and at the end of life a "good name" is all we take with us. (see Talmud - Brachot 7b; Arizal - Sha'ar HaGilgulim 24b)

Naming a Jewish baby is not only a statement of what we hope she will be, but also where she comes from.
Ashkenazi Jews have the custom of naming a child after a relative who has passed away. This keeps the name and memory alive, and in a metaphysical way forms a bond between the soul of the baby and the deceased relative. This is a great honor to the deceased, because its soul can achieve an elevation based on the good deeds of the namesake. The child, meanwhile, can be inspired by the good qualities of the deceased -- and make a deep connection to the past. (Noam Elimelech - Bamidbar)

Aviva Kayla - to be called "Kayla", is named after my dear husband's grandmother. She was an "Isha Chashuva", from a family that was strong in it's Yiddishkeit and service of the Klal. She also enjoyed Arichas Yomim, outliving all of her siblings and her only son. She left this world at age 97 with no fanfare, nobody to sit shiva for her and a GOOD NAME.



Hat tip: aish.com