כתובות פז

An orphan, the son of a גנב, married an orphan, the daughter of a שיכור. A year later they had a son. The husband and wife got into a dispute. He wanted to name the baby after his father and she wanted to name him after her father. On the eve of the ברית, when the מוהל came to examine the baby, they each presented their position to him. The מוהל asked the father what his father’s name was. The father responded: מאיר. He then asked the mother what her father’s name was. To his surprise, she responded that it also was מאיר. “Well then, why argue?” the מוהל said. Either way, his name will be מאיר. The only question will be whether he’s named after your father or your father. Wait until he grows up and the answer will be apparent. If he becomes a גנב, he will be bearing the name of his paternal grandfather. If he becomes a שיכור, he will have been named after his maternal grandfather.”

06/10/2021