Judaism goes from mother to son or daughter; so it would make perfectly sense to let the man adopt the womans name - instead of the other way round.

He is not saying it should be a law or halacha, but his suggestion is that it is better for the family. I agree that it is a binding force when all the family members, husband, wife, and children, carry the family name. There's nothing oppressive about this, contrary to what the angry feminists in these TB's would have you think. Many women today keep their maiden names for business or professional reasons, and use their married name (husband's) in social or family situations.

niece explained to me why she kept her father's last name. That upset her husband and still does, but Eugenia Sandoval has a business selling cosmetics that enables her to be home with her children more than a regular job would. Having her maiden name on the business card protects her family since it would be more difficult for people to find out where whe lives (Bass St. in Edinburg, Texas). Her husband Benito Ramos might not have turned his heart away from her briefly when she had to throw out his mistress when she came home from visiting relatives, if his ego had not been dented by her not taking her husband's name. But all is well, now. They moved to Texas so "the other woman" could be Ben's mother who knows how to build his ego while Eugenia is better at tearing him down.

of the comments. When a woman decides to keep her maiden name instead of changing it, against the wishes of her husband, creates a feeling of tension and rivalry in the home. Is that what marriage is supposed to be: a power struggle? Rather, women who wish to take part in the antiquated tradition of marriage should also take part in the antiquated tradition of assuming their husband's name. Otherwise, consider a domestic partnership. And buy a Christmas tree for your home while you are at it.

enough already!!!! all this talk of tolerance and equality and yet you cant stand it when a rabbi suggest somthing that you dont agree with. HE SUGGESTED IT AT A CONVENTION NOBODY IS WAS OR WILL BE FORCED TO DO ANYTHING AGAINST THEIR WILL the talkbacks should focus on the pros and cons of this suggestion. instead they spew anti charedi sentiment. apparently the rabbis arent even allowed to suggest what they think to be good ideas. HAHAHA your tolerance is intolerance for what you dont agree with. why dont YOU preach to ur own congregation of fools who prefer to hate rather then READ an entire paragraph

father's last name and the children take the grandfather's name as a general rule. Queen Elizabeth II remained a Windsor when she married and her children are Windsors, too. She got a law passed changing the Royal name to honor her husband Prince Philip, Mountbatten-Windsor, but I notice her children did not take that name. Prince Edward took the last name, Windsor, not Mountbatten-Windsor, for example.

I have never heard such a load of old rubbish. I kept my maiden name upon my marriage and have been married for 20 years. I cannot believe that an educated person and leading Jewish religious figure would make such comments in public.

For all of those suggesting that this represents the intolerant views of the religious establishment and have made comments indicating that they take this suggestion quite personally, note two things: 1- While I may not agree with him, his logic is not completely idiotic. We use the term "family unit" to indicate unity. Having a second last name is not exactly shouting unity of the family. 2- You criticize a man for making a mild suggestion that he believes in...who is the intolerant one here?!

"Why should a woman refer to her husband in hebrew as "Bah-li" (my owner) like saying who is the "bah la-kelev) (dog owner)" Set it straight, Simon, before you start giving advice: Ba'al = owner, husband Baali = my husband Baal haKelev = dog owner

the woman dropping her "maiden name" (who's a maiden anymore when they get married?) isa Protestant practice,which Jews, trying to fit in as normal, have adopted. In Spanish speaking country the woman keeps here "maiden" name and adds the words "de + husband's last name), where as their children will have the name Gabriel Garcia (the father's name) marques (the mother's name). The Greeks haave different endings to the last nmae depending on whether the person is a man or woman, as to the Russains--and the Chinese simply hadd "Tai Tai" after the so-called maiden name--to indicate that the lady is married, as opposed to "Maiden name" = xiao jie" ("Miss")--the silly chief rabbi (his poolitically sensiotive job shouldn't exist anyway) is simply showing his own cultural smallness . What name the woman will take after marriage should depend on an agreemnt between the parites. My wife didn't like my last name--it' s one of those fake "Jewish names" adopted in the 19th century under force--and translated into English.) so she kept her own. Other couples may dcide differently. If the man really objects to a woman keeping her own name--then maybe the woman should take note--his pettiness and bossiness will spill over into marriage--being alone is not as bad as being with a putz..

except for our patronyms. The concept of the family name, has come down to Western civilization from the Roman concept of naming the "gens", or clan / family. So, for instance in the case of Gaius Julius Caesar: Gaius was his "praenomen", or given name, Julius was his "nomen", or clan name, and Caesar was his "cognomen", or nickname ('Caesar' means 'hairy' in Latin). Jews traditionally did not have such naming conventions, and Judaism does not recognize clan names, only patronyms. For instance Rambam's official Hebrew name was "Moshe ben Maimon", Moses the son of Maimon. His son's name was "Avraham ben Rambam", and so on and so forth.

You should also be set straight. "Ba'ali" was also what slaves called their masters. Have you ever read an Orthodox Ketubah in the original? The wife is considered a chattel. I have translated more than one professionally for clients, and the phrasing is just that: the bride becomes a chattel (possession) after marriage. What kind of concept is that for the 21sr century? As for Mr. Brauner's claim, if a partner is not committed to the relationship, changing the name will not make one bit of difference. Why don't men have some kind of appelation that signified they're married? Or is it all right, in your opinion, for the man to cheat, but the woman is not allowed to? A committed couple do not cheat on each other, regardless of their names.

In general how does this issue arise in practice? Is it not normally Mr and Mrs XXXXXX (X being the surname of the husband). Has something happened that I am not aware of? Are married woman going about known as say Aviva bat so and so?

Don't bother reasoning with what our tradition calls "children raised in captivity". They have been indoctrinated to hate observance and haShem, in His mercy, thereby exempts them from it...

They give their opinions about every damn thing under the sun. How about telling their flocks to serve in the army and to go to work.

What nahrischkeit. It takes a lot more than a name to make a marriage. Personally, I think this rabbi is a shmuck, but then I've always thought that you have to have one to be one.

I notice the esteemed rabbi doesn't suggest that, in order to maintain the unity of the family, men might consider taking their wives' names.

It's unfortunate that people like them are so angry at the religion of their ancestors. Were it not for people clinging to Judaism for 2000 years, we Jews would have assimilated out of existence and there would be no State of Israel. These people should be ashamed of their attitude.

When you realize that usually a maiden's last name is that of her father, then what is gained? She is trading one man's last name for another man's last name. Maybe she should choose her own last name at bat-mitzvah? After all, David ben-Gurion didn't choose his final name until he was 26 years old.

Just for the record, I contend that word Ba'al is probably derived from Bah-Al - to come upon - which would thus mean mastery, whether owner or husband. But do not forget, that in Jewish Law the husband has serious obligations to his wife and must provide for her needs with clothing and shelter, as well as more intimate matters. Thus, he is not only her "master", but is also her servant in that he must cater to these requirements of hers. That some misunderstand that Judaism equates wives with inanimate chattel is either borne out of an immense ignorance as to how Jewish Law operates and honors women or intentional maliciousness.

If the appelation is not relevant, than why did the feminists insist that we drop Miss and Mrs. in favor of Ms? Seems like it does make a difference to some. Also, you have been duped into accepting Gentile thinking with regards to what you call "cheating". There is no such concept, term or phrase in Judaism. Cheating is a mistake, a misdemeanor, a flaw. Not nice, but not necessarily so serious. Certainly, with a sincere "I'm so sorry" all with be forgiven. Not so in Judaism. We don't know of such weak terms. We talk in terms of adultery.

So Baruch, I'm assuming that, in the spirit of anti-assimilation, your family name is Ben-Ploni?

Thanks for lesson in how to spell Hebrew words in English , but as usual you are diverting from the subject of the post. No doubt you are one of those that refers to your wife as your property, get a life !

Haaaa couldn't have put it better !

And he did not mandate, he suggested the decision be reconsidered . At one point in the article he was quoted "If this came out of unity it's one thing…" Didn't any of you rabbi/religion bashers read the whole article? Of course, that's not as much fun.

Rivkah as usual has such important stuff to say...what? Babble babble babble. Shge should change her name to Yenta.

As one who grew up in Australia this use of the Maiden name is totally an American one except of course for feminist's who totally insist on using there fathers family name and this really is the heart of the issue is a woman still under her fathers authority and hence uses his name or is she totally committed to her husband house. As to family history then only one generation finds this useful unless of couse you want to adopt the practice of all waman adopting the mothers mothers mothers line etc. The logic really is flawed and as the Rav said is not based in Jewish thought. For the record I grew up in a Italian Catholic Family. But now see things with a Jewish perspective.

If you consider cheating a "mistake" and nothing too serious.. boy..... I pity your freirit wife and your lowly religious spiritual standards

Rivkah, why do you give out your niece's name and address on the world wide web after stating that she's using her maident name to prevent people from finding out where she lives?