Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 2/19/2006

Question
Dear Rabbi

My aunt passed away last april and I am now looking for a monument for her grave. What I need is the spelling of her Hebrew name to put on the monument.Her name in english was Mamie Leigh Almes. I think that her Hebrew name was Minna Leah. could you please send me the correct spelling in Hebrew.

Sincerely
Paulette A. Benson  

Answer
Dear Paulette,

Thanks for writing.

From the perspective of teaching, there is not always an exact correlation between the English and the Hebrew names.

Secondly, the Jewish name (in Hebrew or Yiddish) is both a name and the statement of one's father and mother, also in Hebrew or Yiddish. We would also need their English and Jewish (Hebrew or Yiddish) names - and they may already be on their respective tombstones.

BTW your aunt's name may also be on the stones if she were named for her parent's parents.

You are performing a wonderful act of kindness for your late aunt, and I'd like to  help.

The stonemaker who is qualified to make a Jewish tombstone has a lettering chart by which even if he doesn't know Hebrew he can properly prepare the stone.

But, the easiest way for you to have a tombstone prepared is to contact a local Rabbi and provide him/her with the information. All of us have offered our help in such matters to the community.

This will also assure you that after the stone draft is prepared it can be checked by the local Rabbi for accuracy.

If for any reason there is no Rabbi in the vicinity, ask the stonemaker to mail me the form, include the names and while I must tell you that I am guessing at the names "Mina Leah" I can fill them in for you. But, not being there I can't be held responsible for any errors; I hope you understand.

My mailing address is 404 Rices Mill Road, Wyncote, PA 19095.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov Lerner