@myst4au wrote:

One tradition that remains remains common among Jews is to have a simple casket. You can easily add a level of authenticity by adding (when appropriate) that the decedent had always talked about wanting a simple casket. The simplest will not have any metal hardware at all, but that is only common these days among the very observant. But ornate caskets are unusual, and I have never attended a Jewish funeral which was open casket (so ornate interiors are not likely to be offered). It is not unusual for the ceremony to be at the graveside. Jewish funerals also take place quickly. The next day is common. Not on Saturdays. Not on Friday afternoons. And since September is coming, avoid the time period beginning a few days before Rosh Hashonah (September 13 - 15 in 2015) and ending with Yom Kippur (September 22-23 in 2015). Yes, people die then also, but it will just be simpler .

Coffins that meet Jewish law are actually more common than you think. It all depends on the type of cemetery. The Reform cemetery we buried my grandparents in was extremely strict. No metal of any kind. The dead could only be dressed in natural fibers. Many Jews these days are buried in interfaith cemeteries or community cemeteries. These won't have any of the restrictions of Jewish law. But almost all Jewish cemeteries I have worked with follow the no metal restriction at a minimum.

(I'm also an ordained interfaith minister in addition to being a practicing Jew and while I usually focus on weddings I do perform funerals.)

So, you've never known a Jewish Person? Just mix the first and last name of two. I think they are being polite so you don't do something like come up with a first name like Jesus or Muhammed or a last name like Ayoub...I wouldn't go so far as a clearly hasidic name because then you may be inviting questions of which you do not know the answer.... This is a mildly offensive post I'll take as you are going for humor due to the abundance of Jewish people you should know..from Paul Newman to Adam Sandler to Henry Kissinger ,etc...and no, I'm not Jewish.

@rasky wrote:

This is a mildly offensive post I'll take as you are going for humor due to the abundance of Jewish people you should know..from Paul Newman to Adam Sandler to Henry Kissinger ,etc...and no, I'm not Jewish.

I apologize if it is offensive in any way. It is a legitimate question. The guidelines themselves say that the name should sound "ethnically Jewish." (The MSCs requirement, not mine) Yes, I myself can think of many Jewish people whose names do not sound "ethnic," but they wouldn't meet the stated requirements now, would they?

I did not view this as offensive in any way. It appeared to me to be a completely legitimate question.

@meghan9262 wrote:

I apologize if it is offensive in any way. It is a legitimate question.

I too found nothing offensive in this thread. When I was married to a Jewish guy it was perfectly okay to crack anti-Semitic jokes in Jewish or mixed company. When I got divorced they suddenly became anti-Semitic. While I still have a wealth of ones that are pretty funny, I haven't cracked a one of them since my divorce. So I stand on the perhaps overly sensitive side and found the original question sincere, the responses respectful and relevant. I definitely appreciated myst4au's comments because I had forgotten the Levi/Cohen connection.

Seemed like a legitimate question to me. I constantly run into people with little knowledge of Jewish culture who ask questions with no offense intended. I would agree that you probably shouldn't crack anti-semitic jokes unless you are part of a jewish family, however.

I offer an anecdote that may help help to explain the varying (and confusing) levels of tradition upheld between families in my social circle. When a close friend's father recently passed, he told me that he and his brothers would be sitting shiva at the father's house for the week. I know that his brothers are much more conservative than he is, and so I contacted an orthodox friend about what to wear and bring for a visit with them. He told me to wear black and bring kosher comfort food. I showed up in a suit to find the entire family decked out in rock concert T-shirts (they were appropriately black and torn). Another friend showed up with a box a maple-bacon donuts and while I was trying to gently explain how they might not be the most appropriate food option, the more conservative of the brothers shoved one in mouth, then exclaimed, "Mmmm...the forbidden meat!" Lesson I took from this: When no offensive is intended, it's rarely received.

Steve So Cal you gave me a good laugh. When I lived in Palo Alto with my brother he found an Israeli Jewish family that was inviting someone without a family to attend the Passover Seder at their house.
I told my brother I was excited to finally go to a real Seder and see what it is like after all the Seders where everyone just cannot wait to get to the places where you drink wine and to the last page of the service by skipping many pages at a time. The Seder book used to follow the Seder is usually pretty thick and you are supposed to read through all of it at each Seder. I was shocked to find this family completely ignoring every rule and just spending about 5 minutes on the Seder and then on to the food after cracking a whole bunch of jokes along the way.
As for burials, my mom was buried a few years ago in a very Jewish cemetery but not an ultra religious one. There were no rules as to no metal on the coffins etc. I have been to many jewish funerals with people who follow the religion , go to services every week etc where they have had an open casket and fancy caskets as well. Those rules mentioned above are followed by the ultra religious and not your garden variety regular person who is a member of the Jewish faith. So unless this shop is asking for you to portray an ultra religious person I do not think you have to pretend your family is following all these rules. I am Jewish, I made a Jewish funeral for my mom recently with a Rabbi attending and doing the service and if asked questions about what a very religious person wants as a 100% Jewish person I would just answer that we are not ultra religious and do not know all those rules. If you are to portray and ultra religious person then you should stay away from this job.

Seth is a Jewish ( Hebrew name ) It was the name of the brother that was born after Cain slew abel

@Crickettt wrote:

I was raised Jewish. Ginsburg (or most names ending in burg), names ending in bloom, stein, or witz. Those are all good bets. Judith is a good woman first name, as is Rachel. I have never met a Jewish woman named Carol. Allen and Michael and David are good men names. My father used to tell a tale of two brothers with the last name of Yanklewitz coming into this country, and the border agents told them it would be best to change their names. As a big joke, they gave one the name of Goldstein and one, Silverstein.

You never met a Jewish woman named Carol? Well, my name is Carol & I'm Jewish.

Hi Meghan9262,

Just Google "Jewish Surnames". I saw a person list Wikipedia. That is great for that. I have done numerous of these shops. I do not do them for the past months because I cannot find a location I have not done in my zone.

A person mentioned you cannot do them if you are not Jewish. This is not true. Although I used to say I am unfamiliar with the exact custom. My advice is to do a quick look up on Jewish funeral customs. An example is I stated once of using a pine coffin. That was too over the edge. If you simply stated you do not know the exact custom that usually is good. I do remember that the ritual washing/cleansing is important. The directions of the shop actually tell you what to say.

Another thing is that where I come from there are many Jews married to Catholics. I am not saying it to mix things up but I have had a Jewish friend named Laurie Epstein and a Jewish friend named Robyn Romano. Robyn follows Jewish customs (so does Laurie). You would not have to explain this. I am originally from New York so it may be different where you are.

Have a good weekend.

I married my late, beloved Jewish wife 23 years ago and became educated quite quickly to the various names that did or did not sound Jewish, and there are plenty of both. I also learned a bit of yiddish, as she grew up speaking yiddish in her non English speaking grandmother's house.
Amusingly enough, when we would go out to eat she was always speculating as to whether someone we saw was "in the tribe", or not and would consider whether a name was Jewish. I always laughed at her and she would indignantly declare that it was important because someone might be kin! Oh, how I miss her!
Good Jewish names: Ginsberg, Goldberg, Schwartz, Klein,Wolf, Fox, Weinstein, Stein et cetera. First names: Irving, Sigmund, Jacob, Joel, Benjamin and so forth.
Maybe this will help.

@BuffaloNY101 wrote:

Jebadiah died on his rumspringa

Poor Amish Jebadiah!

@meghan9262 wrote:

I have a few phone calls to make today in which the scenario requires me to ask about services for a Jewish loved one. I have to have a name for the loved one that is an "appropriate ethnic first and last." I have no trouble coming up with names in general (I have a great website for that), but ones that sound "ethnic" are tough, especially because I am not Jewish.

Anyone out there have any good suggestions? I could use a few first and last names of either gender.

Thanks!

[majorityrights.com] is a great website for Jewish surnames.

David Hinderstein

fyrekittyn and myst4au, I have a comment re the coffin. My brother-in-law buried his sister a little over a year ago. I was so surprised to see a plain, plain, very plain wood coffin. He made a big point of saying that his sister wanted that coffin and he followed her wishes. I don't remember seeing such a plain coffin before. I am going against tradition and will be cremated. I do not like funerals and do all I can to avoid them!!

If you really want to go Jewish on a name, try Shlomo for Samuel (Sam, Sammy). That is the name one of my nephews (the Orthodox one) named his first child. The second is Josef.

Efraim is a common man's name. Last names are easy...you've got many suggestions.Rosner, Epstein, Rosenblum. My ex named his very American son Gilad so just because the name is unusual does not mean they are Israeli. Search the internet for customs if you feel the need but most burials will take place within 24 hours unless it is Shabat or another holiday or the body has to be shipped.
There is plenty of information on the internet. And different customs for different groups. Orthodox, Conservative, Reform

Try these names: Jerome Shulman, Judith Kaplan, Steven Glickman.

I have so missed all of these wonderful names from my time working for a non-profit Jewish Charity in New York. As for the present, what a delight to see so many new or new-ish contributors. So glad to hear from you!

I always liked Mordecai.

Sarah Goldstein, Miriam Abrams, Deborah Hyam

Surnames? Steinman, Kahn, Horowitz, Goldstein, Solomon, Bergman.. lol.. names of my relatives, lol

@meghan9262 wrote:

I have a few phone calls to make today in which the scenario requires me to ask about services for a Jewish loved one. I have to have a name for the loved one that is an "appropriate ethnic first and last." I have no trouble coming up with names in general (I have a great website for that), but ones that sound "ethnic" are tough, especially because I am not Jewish.

Anyone out there have any good suggestions? I could use a few first and last names of either gender.

Thanks!

This is the reason I never took any of these shops.

If their name is Cohen or Cohn their ancestors were most likely members of the Co-hen tribe; and yes there are certain things they can and cannot do (like go to a cemetery, I believe). Shapiro, Schwartz, Weinstein are all good last names to use. David, Dan, Morris for guys. Marlene, Sandy, Carol, Karen for girls.