An indispensable "how-to" guide for creating lasting memories and special ceremonies as you welcome your new Jewish daughter. When a son is born, every Jewish parent knows what ceremony will welcome him into the community and signal his part in the Jewish people--the brit milah. What to do when a girl is born? How can you welcome your new daughter in a truly Jewish way, and celebrate your joy with family and friends? In the past, parents who wanted a simchat bat (celebration of a daughter) ceremony for their new daughter often had to start from scratch. Finally, this first-of-its-kind book gives families everything they need to plan the celebration. History & Tradition--The roots of simchat bat in Jewish tradition, how it has evolved and how the past can be used to bring today's dynamic ceremonies to life. A How-to Guide--New and traditional ceremonies, complete with prayers, rituals, handouts to copy and step-by-step instructions for creating your own unique ceremony. Planning the Details--What to call your daughter's welcoming ceremony, when and where to have it, setting it up, how long it should be, how to handle the unexpected, how to prepare a program guide and more. Ideas & Information--Practical guidelines for planning the event, and special suggestions and resources for families of all constellations.

This reference examines the history of Jewish forenames and surnames, tracing the origin of each name and the changes that have occured over generations.

Say you want to give your baby and Irish name-either because you of Irish descent or because you simply like the sound of Sinead or Finnega. But where do you find an Irish name? Sprinkled throughout most naming dictionaries are names that seem to be Irish, but it's difficult to tell: A name that one book calls Irish might be called Scottish in another, or simply Celtic. And it's even harder to find Irish names beyond the usual Kevin and Kathleen and Kelly. Instead of a handful of Irish names within a universal name book, this book offers a universe of Irish names from which to choose. Using the same innovative structure that made its parent, Beyond Jennifer & Jason, the reigning authority on baby names-and written with just as much flair and wit-Beyond Shannon & Sean provides the most comprehensive guide to Irish names ever published in America: From Annie to Aine, from Seamus to James-the most popular names in Ireland today, and why there are no Irish girls named Erin or Colleen. From Murphy Brown to the hills of Donegal-melodious place names and family names, and why no one (not even an O'Kane) ever uses Gofraidh. From Finn MacCool to Sinead O'Connor-names inspired by Irish legends and literature, and real people who have made their names famous. Plus a much-needed guide book to obscure Celtic pronunciations, and more...

The perfect name is one of the first and most important gifts parents can give their children–and often one of the most challenging decisions of parenthood. Expectant parents who want their child’s name to be meaningful will find Classic Biblical Baby Names a unique and invaluable resource. Drawing from both the Old and New Testaments, here are hundreds of history’s most enduring names, carefully selected to appeal to contemporary tastes yet outlast trends. Organized alphabetically by gender, and complete with fascinating background information, each entry includes: • Scriptural stories surrounding the name • Meaning and spiritual connotation • Citation of where the name appears in the Bible • Proper pronunciation • Cultural origin • Alternate spellings, related names, nicknames • Famous namesakes From Adam to Zeph and Abigail to Zia, Classic Biblical Baby Names will enrich your understanding of familiar names and invite you to discover lesser-known possibilities. Names are an integral part of our identity and this one-of-a-kind guide will help you choose a name that reflects your hopes for the future and instills a sense of self in your child.

"This book shows the roots of more than 1,200 Jewish personal names. It shows all Yiddish/Hebrew variants of a root name with English transliteration. Hebrew variants show the exact spelling including vowels. Footnotes explain how these variants were derived. An index of all variants allows you to easily locate the name in the body of book. Also presented are family names originating from personal names."--Publisher description.