Monday, July 10, 2006

the name game . . .

What's in a name?

Nu? Why don't we have one?

Actually, word on the street is that "the new West Ashley Minyan" (The New WAM!) is already taken.

And so, dear friends, perhaps it is time we settled on a name. Certainly, there are some indications out there that we need to come up with some new way of identifying our minyan.

Now, when you think about a name for someone or something, you have to try it out, to see how it fits, and how it sounds and looks. It's hard to know when a name will stick, and we have not yet found our mark. But, let's give it a go.

My first suggestion has a modern ring to it - maybe too modern. Maybe too far-out-there, in sixties-speak. Anyway here it is - the new "JAM" ( - as in the new JCC-Area Minyan.) Doesn't even need a slogan: it is a slogan!

Then there is this one, something a little more serious.

The new "JACOM". meaning the new JCC-Area Community Orthodox Minyan. This, to me, speaks of our essence in all respects. You could make it more interesting in written form, this way - The New J.COM (JCC-area Community Orthodox Minyan). What d'ya think? Huh?

Another consideration - What about the "Outback" Minyan?

It has the merit of being used with the catch-phrase - "where to get back in!" but I'm not sure there are any, or many, who feel like going with this. Let bygones be bygones and all that jazz.

Well, in the interest of kicking ideas around, this week's question of the week awaits you.

1) Which of these do you like - the new JAM, the new J.COM, the Outback?

2) Any other suggestions.

Either email your response to me at

Etzchayimforum@aol.com,

or respond online at EC forum FreeZone.

1 comment:

Rupert Hippo said...

I'm still promoting the suggestion that we call ourselves Moredhim beMalkhuth ("those who rebel against the kingdom"). It's half a joke, but we really are outright defying the board.

If we want something less outwardly confrontational, we could try something more like:

’Anshe ’Emeth ("people of truth")

’Anshe ’Emunah ("people of belief")

‘Aṯereth Kohanim ("crown of the priests", a tip of the hat to Randy and Robyn)

Ma‘aseh Rav ("great work" or "work of someone great", a tip of the hat to R. Sytner, who has supported this effort behind the scenes; brownie points for whoever figures out what else it's a reference to)

Shomere habBerith ("those who keep the covenant")


Aaron