Isseroff/Goldberg Twins Carry on the Memory of Their Grandparents
What are their names? Who are they named for?
These questions have come my way since my daughter Elisheva Goldberg and her husband, Judah Isseroff were blessed to become the parents of two tiny people, who were born one minute apart. These two babies spend their days and nights, sleeping, drinking milk, pooping and for short periods of time, looking around at their surroundings. They are precious and I’m grateful to be able to have traveled to New York for the Bris (circumcision ceremony) and Zeved Habat (daughter’s naming) and to help for a few weeks.
Most friends and family gathered for the ceremony by zoom, but a few of us lucky ones, were present on Judah’s mother’s rooftop for the ceremonies. We waited patiently for the names to be announced. Then the moments came:
Baby girl will be known as Chava Lena – in English Evelyn Lena.
Baby boy will be known as Shmuel Chaim – in English Samuel Vidal.
The Ashkenazik Jewish tradition is to give children the name of a deceased relative. The child will carry on the name and hopefully, the blessings of that person’s life. These children are named for two remarkable grandparents.
Evelyn Lena (Chava Lena) is named for Judah’s maternal grandmother – Evelyn Wolf. Before her death, Judah had a close relationship with his grandmother Evelyn. Judah described his grandmother as “stubbornly self-reliant,” and someone who was always striving for justice in the world. At the end of her life, she suffered from Parkinson’s and Judah was presented with an example of how to accept needed care with “extraordinary dignity.”
[image error]Evelyn Wolf with Judah
Samuel Vidal (Shmuel Chaim) is named for Elisheva’s paternal grandfather, Sam Goldberg. Readers of this blog know Sam well – his early years on the family farm, his struggles for survival, the loss of his entire family at the hands of the Nazis, his ingenuity, his heroism. In her remarks, Elisheva focused on how people loved her Zeidi and how he “greeted all with a kind and friendly smile.” In later conversations with Shlomo and his two sisters, they all said – “we hope Sammy gets Daddy’s good luck.”
[image error]Sam and Esther Goldberg, with their children – Shlomo, Ray Molly and Fay
When the names were announced, I felt my heart constrict and then expand. At first it hit me that Sam, Esther, and my father, Irwin Treier, are not here to see the birth of these great-grandchildren and I miss them (Ok, I’m crying as I write this). I also realized that I will never have the honor to meet Judah’s grandmother Evelyn.
But then my heart swelled and felt like it was going to burst with pride as my daughter and son-in-law looked into the computer camera and told the 120 people on Zoom and the ten of us present on the rooftop about what it feels like to bring these babies into the world and their hopes and dreams for them and the reasons they chose these names. Tears welled in my eyes as I listened to them explain how they hope that the traits of their grandparent will manifest in this new life. I am proud that they chose to name these babies for someone they loved and that they hope thereby to honor their grandparent’s life and memory.
I read somewhere that we live as long as there is someone alive who remembers us. When Sammy is older, he will tell his friends and then (please G-d) his own children that he was named for his alta Zeidi who was a resilient hero of the Treblinka Uprising and a man who people loved as soon as they met him. Evie will let her friends and (please G-d) her kids know that she is named for her great grandmother who strove to make the world a better place.
These are big names to live up to. As soon as they finish their next bottle, I’m sure they’ll get started.
