Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Today my parents gave me my name, Batya Aliza Coleman. Below is what they read to my grandparents afterwards.
As the first child on both the Coleman and Sadownik sides of the family we feel that our child will need some inspiration from our families’ matriarchs. The two women we have named her for are each of great importance to us and our families and we only wish that they could be with us, in this world, rather than shlepping nachas from beyond. We know that they would have relished in the opportunity to hold their great grand daughter, care for her and watch her grow, and we hope that by invoking their memory, we also invoke the protection and inspiration they provide from above.
Our daughter’s first name, Batya, honors Erin’s paternal grandmother, Brunya (Brocha) Sadownik. My Nana began life in Poland and missed a chance to move to her beloved Israel due the beginning of World War II. After surviving the war in a slave labor camp, through the use of her intelligence and amazing courage, she, my Papa and my father immigrated to the US. Here, she became the backbone of not only her immediate family but to all those family and friends who came through her ever-open door. She was known throughout Canarsie for her amazing chicken soup and gefiltah fish and ability to have a “snack” on the table at a moments notice for anyone visiting. She would take anyone in, feeding many of my father and Uncle Herbie’s friends throughout the years. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. Every time we came to visit, she would be waiting by the door, arms opens and kisses flying. She was the reason the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is my favorite bridge, since it was the last bridge we crossed before getting to her house and receiving her amazing love (and stash of gum and candies hiding in the bread drawer!) We pray that our Batya Aliza will inherit the strength and courage of her great grandmother and will love unconditionally as her great grandmother did to all those she encountered.
Batya’s middle name, Aliza, honor’s Micah’s paternal grandmother, Alice Coleman. Bubbie was a strong woman and her demeanor and love overshadowed any physical pain she was in. Bubbie was always active in our lives and was a clear matriarch for us growing up. Whether downtown, or here in Pikesville, Shabbos dinners were with her and Pops and they were always something special to look forward to. Bubbie was also my first employer. Friday evenings at our house I used to earn pennies for providing her back scratches, but we both knew it wasn’t about the money; It was another way we could bond, spend a little time together, and both come out richer. Bubbie’s English and Yiddish names Alice and Elcha are derivatives of the Middle English and Old French word meaning monarch. This is a fitting name for her not because she acted like royalty, but because she treated us, and everyone she met as if they were royalty. We pray that our Batya Aliza carries on this tradition and respects others as my Bubbie did.
In addition to the inspiration we hope Batya gains from her namesakes, we have carefully chosen her name to reflect our prayers and thoughts for her. Batya, literally means the daughter of G-d, and we pray that as we raise her she grows as a daughter of Hashem following in His ways. Batya, was also the name of Pharoh’s daughter whose actions saved Moshe and allowed for the Exodus story to unfold. Although not given the headlines, it was Batya’s kindness that saved the future leader.
Aliza, in Hebrew, means joyous. For our daughter, this name is fitting for many reasons. Bat Techila Siman yafe L’banim. A daughter first is a great sign for future children and we all know that in the Coleman family, a family of boys for 2 generations, a daughter is cause for even more joy. In just the few short days that we have known our daughter the joy that she has brought us is immeasurable. It is not just about our joy however, with this name, we pray that our daughter lives a personally joyful life and is able to bring joy into the lives of everyone she meets as she grows and develops into a beautiful, brilliant, Jewish woman.
We hope that our Batya Aliza will draw upon the lessons from her great grandmothers as well as the biblical Batya to become a woman of faith and kindness, strength and courage, bringing joy and happiness to herself and all that she does.
