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Help[Opinions] Jewish Character Name in TV series
I'm a big fan of the Power Ranges franchise, and in one of the latest seasons, SPD, there was a character who went by the name Bridge Carson. Bridge is Jewish--the first Jewish ranger in a long line of ethnically diverse ranger teams.
I'm working on some fan pieces regarding the series, but I've run into a snag. I don't know much about Judiasm and Jewish culture, but I am aware that Jewish people have to have a Hebrew name, right? But Bridge is an English word. So, what's his Hebrew name? I've heard that similar sounding names are used, but the only Jewish names I found in the database that sound anything like Bridge are Barak and Baruch.
I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out how Hebrew names are handled both in the faith and legally, and help me sort through what Bridge's Hebrew name would be. Please.
I'm working on some fan pieces regarding the series, but I've run into a snag. I don't know much about Judiasm and Jewish culture, but I am aware that Jewish people have to have a Hebrew name, right? But Bridge is an English word. So, what's his Hebrew name? I've heard that similar sounding names are used, but the only Jewish names I found in the database that sound anything like Bridge are Barak and Baruch.
I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out how Hebrew names are handled both in the faith and legally, and help me sort through what Bridge's Hebrew name would be. Please.
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Sarah has given you most of the information. I'd just add that at least until very recently it was the custom in most Ashkenazic Jewish families for the Hebrew name to be the name of a deceased relative, and for the "American" first name to start with the same letter as the Hebrew name would. So Benjamin, Baruch, Barak, Barzillai, Benaiah, Boaz, or some other Hebrew name starting with "B" would be most likely for a Jewish man named Bridge.
Also, as Sarah pointed out, Carson would be unusual as a surname for a Jewish man. But there are many Jewish families that have "Americanized" their surname to something that was originally very non-Jewish. I even had a friend whose last name was Evans who was Jewish; his grandfather had changed it from something like Eivienski to get away from anti-Semitism.
Also, as Sarah pointed out, Carson would be unusual as a surname for a Jewish man. But there are many Jewish families that have "Americanized" their surname to something that was originally very non-Jewish. I even had a friend whose last name was Evans who was Jewish; his grandfather had changed it from something like Eivienski to get away from anti-Semitism.
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Well, that depends on whether one is speaking Hebrew in the synagogue or is explaining to other Americans what one's "Hebrew" name is. I think that most American Jews whose "Hebrew" name is Biniamin would tell their non-Jewish friends that their Hebrew name was Benjamin when explaining the custom.
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A lot of the surnames in SPD don't make sense. A character with the last name of Landors, for example, is the head of the team, and one of the aliens in the series, who is catlike, has the surname of Manx. You know she picked up that one right off the spaceship! Bridge's surname is surprisingly normal.
In fact, the show has weird names in general. A Jack, Sky, Bridge, Z, Syd, and Sam. The names are all very androgynous with the exception of Jack. Of course, it's set in 2025, so they may be looking at the current naming trend (which seems to be to give girls the ugliest names possible, like my own) and expanding on it.
Anyway, thanks for the input!
In fact, the show has weird names in general. A Jack, Sky, Bridge, Z, Syd, and Sam. The names are all very androgynous with the exception of Jack. Of course, it's set in 2025, so they may be looking at the current naming trend (which seems to be to give girls the ugliest names possible, like my own) and expanding on it.
Anyway, thanks for the input!
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Bridge Carson is a decidedly goyish name.
In America (and other places that aren't Israel), it's common for Jews to have a "Hebrew name" separate from their legal name. A Hebrew name is used for religious purposes and may or may not have any relationship to the legal name (which is used in daily life). However, it's not a requirement; many Jews have a Hebrew legal name, and some have no Hebrew name at all.
Basically, there's no way to know where this character has a Hebrew name, or to figure out what it is if he does have one. If you'd like to give him one, for the sake of your story, any Hebrew name is fair game, from something that would seem to make sense (like Baruch or Benjamin) to something totally unrelated (like Jacob or Amos).
:)
-- Sarah
In America (and other places that aren't Israel), it's common for Jews to have a "Hebrew name" separate from their legal name. A Hebrew name is used for religious purposes and may or may not have any relationship to the legal name (which is used in daily life). However, it's not a requirement; many Jews have a Hebrew legal name, and some have no Hebrew name at all.
Basically, there's no way to know where this character has a Hebrew name, or to figure out what it is if he does have one. If you'd like to give him one, for the sake of your story, any Hebrew name is fair game, from something that would seem to make sense (like Baruch or Benjamin) to something totally unrelated (like Jacob or Amos).
:)
-- Sarah
This message was edited 7/23/2006, 3:59 PM
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Thanks! I used Baruch and Benjamin in two separate preliminary works becuase I was unsure, but now I feel better about the selections I made.
As for his name... it's quite odd, when I saw the name I assumed he was of gentile western European descent. Then I found out he was like Jewish, and I was like "Buh? Irish surname?" I eventually postulated that his father was a gentile and his mother was Jewish, to explain the discrepency, but the fandom doesn't tend to focus on Bridge's origins, so I've never really had a chance to discuss it with anyone.
But thanks again. I'm glad I didn't completely screw up.
As for his name... it's quite odd, when I saw the name I assumed he was of gentile western European descent. Then I found out he was like Jewish, and I was like "Buh? Irish surname?" I eventually postulated that his father was a gentile and his mother was Jewish, to explain the discrepency, but the fandom doesn't tend to focus on Bridge's origins, so I've never really had a chance to discuss it with anyone.
But thanks again. I'm glad I didn't completely screw up.
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