אברהם אבינו

14:49 Sep 29, 2010
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

Hebrew to English translations [PRO]
Certificates, Diplomas, Licenses, CVs / Divorce certificate
Hebrew term or phrase: אברהם אבינו
שם האב: אברהם אבינו
I know that it is:
Abraham (father of the Jewish people)

But I believe it refers to a person who converted and his/her father is not Jewish.
How you would translate for the certificate?
Ruth Rubina
United States
Local time: 07:56


Summary of answers provided
3 +1I believe you are right about a convert, but...
Colin Rowe
Summary of reference entries provided
previous discussion of this issue
Amir Gavriely
My opinion/marriage certificate
Sabine Akabayov, PhD

  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
I believe you are right about a convert, but...


Explanation:
Theoretically, the father could even have been Jewish (but, crucially, not the mother).

See following text:

When he discusses the tradition of naming converts “ben or bat Avraham Avinu,” the children of our forefather Abraham, rather than after their own parents, a wave of discomfort sweeps the table. “The mark of a convert never ends,” someone moans. Diament speaks not only of the symbolic rebirth of the convert but explains the historic context for the tradition, coming from a time when conversion usually meant a total break with the past, and suggesting it needn’t be taken literally. “I feel closer to my parents than ever,” says Elisha Salas, a Chilean with no known Jewish ancestry, as if to support Diament’s point. When Claudia Kottler, a Brazilian student, asks why she has to be “bat Avraham Avinu” when she has a Jewish father, Diament pronounces himself stumped.

http://www.saudades.org/Postscript_Efrat.htm

See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism

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Note added at 14 mins (2010-09-29 15:03:46 GMT)
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A convert chooses his or her own Hebrew first name upon conversion but is traditionally known as the son or daughter of Abraham and Sarah, the first patriarch and matriarch in the Torah, often with the additional qualifier of "Avinu" (our father) and "Imenu" (our mother). Hence, a convert named Akiva would be known, for ritual purposes in a synagogue, as "Akiva ben Avraham Avinu"; in cases where the mother's name is used, such as for the prayer for recovery from an illness, he would be known as "Akiva ben Sarah Imenu".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism

As for the translation, if for synagogue purposes:
"ben Avraham Avinu".

If for secular/civil use... Don't know, sorry!

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Note added at 19 mins (2010-09-29 15:08:31 GMT)
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See also:

While the convert's given name is the convert's own choice, Judaism requires an identification of parentage in all formal documents, legal proceedings, and religious functions such as being called to the Torah. As the convert is technically considered to be a newborn child, reference to the parent must be of the spiritual parentage adopted by entering into the Covenant of Abraham. There must be a formal designation of the conversion that is plainly evident. That is why the convert is called 'ben Avraham Avinu' (son of our father, Abraham), or 'bat Sarah Imenu' (daughter of our mother, Sarah). In a Jewish marriage contract or divorce, it is not sufficient to write 'child of Abraham'. What must be written is 'Abraham, our father' in order to avoid any possible ambiguity that might lead some to believe that the father was actually Jewish man named Abraham. Sometimes the word 'ha'ger' (the convert) is appended to the name.

http://www.ukdp.co.uk/name-change-religious-conversion/

The answer would thus appear to be:

"'Abraham, our father"

Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 12:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sabine Akabayov, PhD: with Abraham, our father
2 hrs
  -> Thanks! Got there in the end!
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Reference comments


1 hr peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: previous discussion of this issue

Reference information:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/hebrew_to_english/certificates_dip...

Amir Gavriely
Canada
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Colin Rowe: A discussion in which the current asker was one of the answerers!
42 mins
  -> I didn't notice that....
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2 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: My opinion/marriage certificate

Reference information:
I just wanted to voice my opinion on this issue as a convert myself. I also refer to some of the things said in the other KudoZ question.
The translation of my marriage certificate says "Jewish by conversion".

On of the answerers in the other thread says, there is no need to explain "Cohen/Levi/Israel" but there is a need to explain "Bat/Ben Avraham Avinu". I don't agree with that.
Anyone not Jewish would not necessarily understand the difference between Cohen/Levi and Israel as well. Any relevant person (Rabbis etc) understands the difference and it means to be the son or daughter of Avraham Avinu.
So there is no need to explain this term and simply translating it to son/daughter of Avraham, our father" should suffice.

Sabine Akabayov, PhD
Israel
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Colin Rowe
15 hrs
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