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Help[Opinions] Israel... (M)
What are your thoughts on the name Israel [Iz-Rah-El] & [Iz-Ray-El]?
Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness!!!
Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness!!!
This message was edited 1/5/2020, 4:08 AM
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I remember liking it as a preteen during my evangelical phase.
It has a great sound and story/meaning but way too much baggage for me.
It has a great sound and story/meaning but way too much baggage for me.
This message was edited 1/5/2020, 6:35 PM
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I like it in theory, but I wouldn’t actually use it.
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It's fine, but I don't really understand why/how people would want to actually use it for a baby in the US (where I live) right now. Seems like there must be some kind of statement behind it - religious, ethnic, political? I don't think I could know, nor do I really care nor mind. It's kind of like Zion: I'm not sure what it's supposed to be alluding to, it might "mean" different things to different people and I won't assume anything ... but it seems unlikely that people would choose that name over all others, only because they thought it sounded nice. I can't totally discount the possibility that they did, though.
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Do you think Zion is as readily associated with Zionism as Israel is associated with the country? I’m ask genuinely, as a non-American. I feel the context/history could pass people by here.
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That's the thing about it that I meant to emphasize - I truly wouldn't be able to tell easily what association was intended. By some people it would be readily associated with Zionism (which itself could have a variety of different positive connotations, for different people). But I think a lot of other people have other associations too. So it's probably loaded with some meaning, but you just can't be sure what meaning ... and ultimately I think it doesn't matter except to the parents. That's how I feel about Israel as a name, too.
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There's a lot of churches in the US called Mount Zion ______ Church, and it's mentioned in the Old Testament as a sacred place, while in the New Testament, it's used as a metaphor for heaven; I'd guess that use of it as a name is mostly inspired by those associations and that people who use it don't know much about Zionism.
This message was edited 1/5/2020, 6:56 PM
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There was a professor at my old university, born into a Jewish emigre family in a little South African country town, whose given name was Ben-Zion. This was long before the Second World War, let alone the founding of the state of Israel. And, given that Ben means 'son' or 'son of', I think the message was pretty clear and that his parents knew rather more about Zionism than anyone needs to in today's world, where it has become synonymous with right-wing Israeli nationalism. For the record, he was a lawyer and specialised in ethics, opposing the apartheid government with such skill that they could never lay a finger on him.
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I like it, I seem to be in the minority but I don't mind the being used by non-jews, specifically Christians (though it would be weird if Hindus, Buddhist or atheists used it for their child.)
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I had an Israeli friend who pronounced his name Iz-ray-el in English and Iz-rah-el in Hebrew. It suited him, but it would be very inappropriate on a non-Jew.
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Uh, no. It's more like saying Christian is inappropriate on non-Christians, even though Christian derives from 'anointed one'...because Israel and "Children of Israel" have been used to refer to Jews. I've only seen Israel used as a name by American Christians, but I do think it's a bit strange when people disregard cultural context completely.
Anneza's not American.
Anneza's not American.
This message was edited 1/6/2020, 8:37 AM
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Not very usable due to the current political climate.
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It's a country but a name.
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It was a name WAY BEFORE it was a country. The country is named AFTER the person.
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It's basically like using America as a name. America's named after someone, but now it's a country plus a couple continents, and it's the places that people remember.
Israel was a place long before the 20th century. Yes, the ancient country was named after Israel the person, but even fundamentalist Christians refer to the original Israel as Jacob 99.9% of the time.
Israel was a place long before the 20th century. Yes, the ancient country was named after Israel the person, but even fundamentalist Christians refer to the original Israel as Jacob 99.9% of the time.
This message was edited 1/5/2020, 6:28 PM
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But it's not now and unless you're a religious Jew it sounds stupid.
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Wow. Your stupidity is STAGGERING!
Clearly you've never picked up a book in your life. That explains the serious cognitive impairment in your comment. Religious Jew. Stupid.
Clearly you've never picked up a book in your life. That explains the serious cognitive impairment in your comment. Religious Jew. Stupid.
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Judaism is technically an ethnicity and to be technically Jewish, you need a Jewish mother, not to practice and follow the religion. You can not be considered religious as a jew, even be a atheist, but call yourself Jewish due to that.
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Have you never heard of secular Jews?
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On the contrary I think it's one of those names that sounds stupid to use if you are from that area. Like an asian naming their kid Asia.
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I tried to imagine a Jewish kid named Israel and failed.
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I dated someone who was Jewish and his Hebrew name was Israel.
The Israels I've known have either been black or Christian.
The Israels I've known have either been black or Christian.
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I know quite a few young ones actually and none are Jewish.
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Actually, it’s used quite a lot as a name. I’ve met several. It looks like it’s in the top 300 in the U.S., which is nothing to sneeze at.
I agree that you would have to be Jewish to use it though, and even then I probably wouldn’t due to the fraught (and likely unresolvable in our lifetimes) situation in that region.
It does have a nice sound, but if you used it you’ve have to be prepared for it to trigger strong assumptions, associations and emotions every time. That’s a lot to bestow on a little person.
I agree that you would have to be Jewish to use it though, and even then I probably wouldn’t due to the fraught (and likely unresolvable in our lifetimes) situation in that region.
It does have a nice sound, but if you used it you’ve have to be prepared for it to trigger strong assumptions, associations and emotions every time. That’s a lot to bestow on a little person.
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I find it unbelievably pleasing in both sound and appearance, but I feel it is too marred by the situation in Palestine.
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