Rav Moshe has a series of surprising responses to questions about Jewish names, and the importance of holding onto this distinction. Rabbi Linzer explains that Rav Moshe chose a strict and rational halakhic perspective instead of giving weight to the Midrashic tradition of “lo shinu et shemam.”
To learn the teshuvot along with Rabbi Linzer, follow the links below:
Iggros Moshe EH 3-35 About using English names
Iggros Moshe OH 4-66 Naming after an English name or finding a Hebrew equivalent
Rabbi Dov Linzer is the President and Rosh HaYeshiva of YCT Rabbinical School. Having served as YCT’s Rosh HaYeshiva for over 20 years, Rabbi Linzer became its President in 2019 and assumed both the institutional and Torah-based leadership of YCT. In this dual capacity, Rabbi Linzer has set the vision for YCT as a Center of Torah and Torah Leadership, and, with an amazing team of colleagues and partners, oversees its growth, reach, and further development. An acclaimed Torah and halakha scholar, Rabbi Linzer has been a leading rabbinic voice in the Modern Orthodox community for over 25 years. He has published over 100 teshuvot (responsa) and scholarly Torah articles, and hosts a number of highly popular Torah podcasts. In his capacity as a mentor, Rabbi Linzer provides religious guidance to the yeshiva’s students and the over 150 YCT-ordained rabbis who are serving in the field. He answers hundreds of halakhic questions from YCT rabbis and broader community each year, which are available to the public on his blog, psak.yctorah.org.
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