How Do Synagogues (And Churches) Get Their Names?

Several weeks ago, Emma Jean and Shelli asked me a question I had never been asked before. They were on their way to a doctor appointment and passed a synagogue near the doctor's office. That made them wonder...and then they asked me...

"How Do Synagogues Get Their Names?"

As I say, I had never been asked that and so did a little bit of research and then wrote them a note as a follow up. I thought I would share it here...

Dear Emma Jean and Shelli,

You asked me about the names of synagogues and how they are selected. From what I could find, synagogues are named according to what the congregation wants to call them, with a large variety of name choices. In many ways this follows the practice of namimg church congregations.

A. Many are named in Hebrew for some aspect of faith.

"Beth Shalom" is a good example of that. The name is unquestionably the "John Smith" of synagogue names. So many communities have this name. It means "House of Peace" in Hebrew (Beth=house; shalom=peace). There are Presbyterian churches that are named "Faith Presbyterian Church" or "Peace Presbyterian Church" or "Unity Presbyterian Church" or "Harmony Presbyterian Church" and so forth. It is the same idea.

B. Some of the synagogues are named for a person or persons.

The first synagogue in America is Touro Synagogue in Rhode Island. Touro Synagogue got its name from its benefactor, Abraham Touro, who was the son of Issac Touro (the first religious leader of the Jewish congregation in Newport). He left $ 10,000 in his will for the State of Rhode Island to use for the care of the synagogue and $ 5,000 for the care of the street (now known as Touro Street). It is in the legislative act accepting these funds that the building is first referred to as "Touro Synagogue".

The same is true with Christian congregations. For example, there is a Presbyterian Church in Flint Michigan called "The Bertha E R Strosacker Memorial Presbyterian Church". Guess who gave the money to build it!

C. Sometimes the actual location of the synagogue is part of its name. Sometimes the background of the people who worship there.

In the Bronx there were many synagogues. Names of specific geographic places were often included in those synagogue titles. For example, "Hungary", "Polish", "Bronx" are included, in some instances. European transliterations of names are included - Minsker (from the city of Minsk), Oestreicher (Austria) and Barabie (Bessarabia).

In addition, names of founders of synagogues are used. Rabbi Salanter, Rabbi Isak Leifer and Rabbi Borishansky are just a few of the names to be found. Here are some examples and their meanings (all of these were in the Bronx):

Anshei Oestreicher-Poilen=Men of Austria-Poland
Chevra Shomrei Shabath B'nai Israel=Society of Sabbath Observers, Sons of Israel
Beth Joseph Nusach Sfard=House of Joseph, Sephardic Ritual
K'hal Adath Yeshurun D'Bronx=Congregation of Israel of the Bronx
Chevra Mishnayoth=Society of Biblical Commentaries
Ahavath Achim=Brotherly Love
Temple Beth Elohim=Temple House of God
Chevra Bikur Cholim=Sick Benefit Society
Beth Hamidrash Hagadol V'tomchei Torah=Great House of Learning and Supporters of the Written Law
Linath Hatzedek Anshei Sfard=Visiting the Sick, People of the Sephardic Ritual
Agudath Achim D'Bronx=Fraternal Association of the Bronx
Talmud Torah Tifereth Israel=Parochial School Glory of Israel
Mesilath Yeshurun and Talmud Torah=Path of Israel and Parochial School
Adath Yeshurun=Congregation of Israel

Many of our Presbyterian Churches are named for where they are located or what they are made of:

Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brick Presbyterian Church, Old Stone Presbyterian Church, Limestone Presbyterian Church, Graystone Presbyterian Church, Shadyside Presbyterian Church, Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, Riverside Presbyterian Church and, yes, even Wekiva Presbyterian Church, so we understand about names based on location, or what they are made of.

Usually, in a community where there is a First Presbyterian Church it truly was the first congregation of that denominaion in that city or town. In some places the numbers go way up. There are a bunch of Eighth Presbyterian Churches in large cities in the USA. Philadelphia has a Tenth Presbyterian Church.

Presbyterian Churches often have colorful names.

There is a Greenwood, Greenville, Green Valley, Green Hill, Green Lake, Level Green, and Bowling Green Presbyterian Church.

You can find a Red Bank, Redstone, Red Clay Creek, Red House, Red River, Red Oak or a Red Bluff Presbyterian Church.

Blue Ridge, Blue Ash, Blue Grass and simply Blue Presbyterian Churches are out there.

Yellow Frame, Yellow Springs and Yellowstone Presbyterian Church.

There's an Orange Hill, Orange Park, Orange Beach and simply Orange Presbyterian Church, too.

There is even a Pink Hill Presbyterian Church...!!!

Hope this is helpful,

John