What is the reason for adding a name to a critically ill indvidual?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

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A Jewish name isn’t arbitrary. According to Kabbalah, the Hebrew letters of a person’s name are the channels through which the soul connects with the body – much as the Ten Utterances which G-d used to create this world are the conduits through which the Divine energy flows to all of creation.

It is customary to add a name to one who is critically ill. The theory is that since the name is the channel through which positive Divine energy flows to the person, and there seem to be obstacles preventing this energy from reaching him, we add another name, thereby increasing the channels of the soul’s life-force. If one pipe is blocked, open another one... We actually find this very idea in the Torah: Abraham and Sarah were unable to have children—until their names were changed.

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Name Changes Work

Posted by: Erik, NJ on Jan 24, 2006

I am a text-book example of a miraculous name-change survival story. At birth, 18 years ago, I had aspirated meconium and was born with no hope for survival. On the Apgar test which scores children's expectancy to live, I recieved a two out of ten. I required the assistance of several machines to breath for me and pump my blood. The doctors begged my parents to discontinue life support, claiming that in the 1/1000 of a chance I would survive, I would be nothing but an empty shell for the rest of my brief life.

My father had been an avid reader of the power of names. Study of these ideas, along with prayer from the Rebbi, led him to change the spelling of my name, "Eric", to end with a final Chaf, "Erik", a character recognized by many to have great healing potential - to lift one from the grave even. A few days later, I had shown a complete revival. I was breathing and circulating on my own. Medicine could not explain this miracle, nor could the doctors, but mystic Judaism did

RELATED CATEGORIES

Life Cycle » Birth » Jewish names
Life Cycle » Circumcision » Jewish names
Miscellaneous » Health Issues » Halachah for the Ill

Torah

Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.

Kabbalah

Jewish mysticism. The word Kaballah means "reception," for we cannot physically perceive the Divine, we merely study the mystical truths which were transmitted to us by G-d Himself through His righteous servants.

Abraham

First Jew, and first of our three Patriarchs. Born into a pagan society in Mesepotamia in 1812 BCE, he discovered monethieism on his own. He was told by G-d to journey to the Land of Canaan where he and his wife Sarah would give birth to the Jewish People.

Sarah

First Jewess, first of the four Jewish Matriarchs, wife of Abraham--the first Jew. Lived in Mesopotamia, and then Canaan, in the 19th century BCE.

G-d

It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.