Introducing sweetest man in Israel

He is used to people joking every time they hear his name, especially before Rosh Hashana. Meet Matok Dvash, Israel's 'Sweet Honey'. And no, he doesn't work in a beehive

Reuters | Published: 09.29.11, 16:32

He is already used to people smiling every time they discover his name, especially if it happens as the Jewish New Year approaches. Meet the man with the sweetest name in Israel: Matok Dvash (sweet honey in Hebrew).

Dvash, 47, lives in Ariel and works in data protection. In his four and a half decades on earth he has already heard every possible joke about his unusual name.

Ahead of Rosh Hashana, the holiday in which Jews dip an apple in honey, Dvash receives even more comments than usual. But he appears to be immune to the teasing and jokes about his name.

"I actually like my name," he says with a smile. "It's fun walking around with such a name. It makes people smile and always helps break the ice."

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How did he get such an unusual name? Thanks to the Interior Ministry. When he was born, his parents named him "Maatuk" after his Libyan grandfather. The Ministry clerks, who were unfamiliar with the name, accidentally changed it to "Matok".

"I had a windfall," Dvash laughs. "I receive reminders about my special name on a daily basis, and I have always liked it. It's easy to remember, and I've gotten used to people asking me if I dream about working in a beehive."

Dvash, a retired lieutenant-colonel, says his name caused problems during his military service. "There were times when I was stuck outside a base the whole night because the regimental policemen refused to let me in. they were convinced that 'Matok Dvash' was a codename for a military operation, and couldn't believe it was my real name."

And in case you wondered, the sweet name is not hereditary. Dvash's five children were given perfectly normal names.