Sefer Shemos begins with again listing the names of Yaakov’s children. Explore the importance and influence of a name, and other intriguing curios on Jewish names. For example, why don’t we find reference to anyone being named Gad and Asher – names from the Shevatim – throughout the entire era of Mishnah and Gemarah?
Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, Director of Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, Ontario, and Chaplain of the York Regional Police Service, shares a compelling theory on the origin and meaning of the name Mendel.
VIDEO:
Almonds grow very quickly, as Rashi noted in Parshas Korach.
Thanks, but what does almonds have to do with zrizus?
Many Yiddish names that are attached to Hebrew names actually mean the same as, or are a translation of, the Hebrew
Eg. Tzvi Hirsh, Aryeh Leib, Dov Ber, Zeev Volf
So mendel might very well mean comfort
I heard
That Mendel is a translation of Tzemach
And that both words means to grow
For those asking, his theory is that Mendel = Mandel = almond = zrizus. So Menachem Mendel = May our comfort come swiftly.
However, the straightforward explanation for the name is that most Yiddish names were not considered proper names until recently, and were originally considered nicknames for one’s proper Hebrew name. Yiddish nicknames typically take the first 2-3 letters of a Hebrew name and add a diminutive Yiddish suffix conveying affection. So, in this case, we have the first letters of Menachem (Men) with a Yiddish diminutive suffix (del).
Why today do we need everything summed up in three words or less?? Take the time and learn
The last few minutes of the video contain the very interesting theory of the name Mendel. Hard to sum up in 3 words. Next time, COLlive, please tell us where to find the “gold nugget” if you mention it in the headline. Thanks very much.
didint watch the vidieo, but want to know where mendel comes from. what does he say in short?
Mendel is usually connected to Menachem. but in its earlier version it is a spanish name. the name Menachem Mendez was fairly common.
it seems that mendel is Yidishised Mendez (kind of like Faivel is Yidishised Faivish, which is Jewishised Phoebes – hence the common Shraga (Candle) Faivish (Sun/Light)
so we should research the meaning of the name Mendez
Please
What is the three word answer for the origins of name Mendel?
http://www.chabadflamingo.com/donate