Why did Jews abandon Jewish names for local names? Jews in Russia are called Russian names, Jews in England are called English names. Even Benjamin Netanyahu isn't called a Jewish name.

 

Benjamin Netanyahu is a THOROUGHLY Jewish name.

Ben Yamin is Hebrew.

Netan yahu is Hebrew.

Son of the right hand

Gift of God.

Not unusual, since he was born in a Hebrew speaking country.

Otherwise, why be concerned that Jewish families living in, say, Germany, might give their children German names? Or families in England naming their children English names?

Doesn't EVERY minority group usually give their children “local” names? Often in addition to their own traditional names? Because that's what most Jewish families do.

In other words. You are wrong. Jewish names are not “abandoned”. Most Jews have a “secular name” which is something local, used for most public purposes, and also a Hebrew name, used in religious settings.

For instance, Zoltan was born in Romania. His Hebrew name was Shalom.

His aunt Laje Malka was Stefanie.

My friend Malka Shayna is also Melissa.

And Herb is Tsvi.

The Jewish names are not abandoned.

You just don't know them.