Western Jews ‘go Hebrew’ in Palestine, Putting Biblical Tone into Modern Names

Why do people change their names? All possible theories on that subject are proven and refuted in the latest list from Palestine, published in the Palestine Gazette for April 13. Some there are who “go Hebrew” on their arrival in Palestine, turning Rose into Shoshaunah, and Jacob into Yacob. But why, then, should a nice, proper, traditional Hebrew name like Batia be changed to Betty? If simplification is the motive, what does Mutaza Zamail, a Persian, gain by becoming Mordekjai Menashe Efrayimi, a Palestinian?

Almost all of the restless namechangers are Jewish, and they cast off the names they bore as Dutchmen, Poles, Roumanians, Latvians, Americans, Russians, for appellations more appropriate to the clime, and spelling habits, of Palestine. But there are Palestinians, too, who find new designations for themselves.

Here are some whose motives in affecting the changes may provide occupation for puzzle-solvers. Menasze Krac, Polish, becomes Menashe Ben Shalom in Haifa. All the Kracs, in fact, go Ben Shalom. Helena Borkowska repents and changes her first name to Yehudith. But Batia Cohen, of Jerusalem, is now Betty Bowden! Charles Lazar, an American, wants to be known henceforth as Haiyim Eliezer. Ilia Matar, of Haifa, counters by becoming William Phillips. Devora Shakhter, Palestinian, is now Devora Rosenthal. Eleazer Schepschelevitch feels better as Eliezer Shabtieli, and Wolf Szczpior thinks Zeev Shefer an improvement. But the Russian, Ovsey Vikesman likes Yehoshua Tsimhi better. Owazej Gottlieb takes the affectionate name of Yehoshua Yedidya. But here is something simple: Sura Sigal becomes Sara Segal.