My Boy Has a Name
November 17, 2005 | Aussie Dave | Comments 13
My son finally has a name. Say hello to Zachariah Chaim [my surname here]. You can call him Zach for short.
As I explained at the meal after today’s brit milah (circumcision), we named him Zachariah not just because we love the name, but also because history’s most famous Zachariah is someone we won’t mind our son emulating. He was one of the minor Prophets around the time of the Babylonian exile, just as the Jews were beginning to return to Israel. He urged the Jews to repent and rebuild the temple, and himself worked on building it. He also stressed the need for true piety, mercy and righteousness – not just ritual observance. In other words, he was a proactive Zionist who led by example and by deed.
Zachariah’s middle name, Chaim, was the Hebrew name of my wife’s paternal grandfather, who passed away this month, last year. But there is some additional significance. Chaim means “life,” and his birth is a symbol of a new life. It also comes at a time when my father-in-law, Marty Roberts, has just completed his final round of chemotherapy. He has waged a tough battle against his stage 4 cancer, and is so far, G-d willing, prevailing. When he heard we were having a boy, he was sure that it would be named after him (i.e. that he would die before my son’s birth). But he is still here, and a witness to our precious miracle.
Filed Under: My Charmed Life
About the Author: An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.
Beautiful boy. Mazal tov, once again
Hi Zach
so they named you Zachariah Chaim
cool name
and you look like a cool kid
you’ll probably grow up to be a major trouble-maker like your dad.
welcome to the world.
Dry Bones
Israel’s political comic strip since 1973
What a wonderful name,for your adorable son…..may he live a life a life of happiness and love!
“Zach” as in “Zak” or as in “a gutten zach”?
Shy Guy
Zec. 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for hiim, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Congratulations! What a beautiful little boy you’ve got
Zach!
Welcome to the world!
Becuase you have such a cool father, you already have a fan club
Mazal Tov!! Been waiting for the latest Podcast announcing this and just saw it … we drive often into NYC and always listen to a couple of your entertaining Podcasts on the road. My wife always says … “how did you find this guy?”
Anyway, keep up the good work.
Mark (from West Hartford, Connecticut, USA)
Ooh, he is so delicious! Enjoy him! I loved the birthcast. I used to be a doula (birth coach) as well, so the part about the ball over the drain had me in stitches. And Erica’s voice when she saw him brought tears to my eyes remembering the births of my own two beautiful baby boys.
AND I’m a member of Hadassah–hmmm, wonder if we can get the podcast mentioned in the next issue of their magazine? How cool would THAT be?!
Mazal tov
-Jack
Mazal Tov – I had a great time on Thursday.
Mazal tov! We all know it’s “Zach” as in “Braff,” but the secret’s safe with me. [Oops.
]
Mazel Tov Dave and Erika!! xx
What a fine Youngling!
Tsafan