Why did thousands of Israelis trade their family surnames for new Hebrew identities?

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For many, the Hebraization of surnames was a deliberate act of shedding the trauma of diaspora life. By adopting Hebrew names, immigrants sought to erase the remnants of historical oppression and forge a unified, authentic Israeli identity, transforming their family heritage into a symbol of national rebirth and cultural resilience.

The movement to Hebraize surnames, or Ivrut, gained significant momentum alongside the rise of Zionism in the 19th century. For the Yishuv, the pre-state Jewish community in Palestine, replacing foreign-sounding surnames with Hebrew ones was a core component of sh'lilat ha-golah, or the negation of the diaspora. This practice was driven by a desire to distance the new Israeli Jew from the stereotypical image of the oppressed, Yiddish-speaking shtetl dweller. The trend became widespread during the Second Aliyah, between 1904 and 1914, as individuals sought to return to an authentic Jewish identity.

Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the pressure to Hebraize intensified. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, who changed his own surname from Grün, actively encouraged citizens to adopt Hebrew names. In 1950, the state issued a binding order for officials and diplomats to adopt Hebrew surnames, supported by a dedicated committee. The Israel Defense Forces also promoted this practice, with many officers and soldiers changing their names to serve as role models. Techniques for this transformation were diverse: some translated their names directly, others chose names based on biblical figures, plants of the Land of Israel, or even the names of fallen family members.

However, the process was not without controversy. Opponents, such as educator Moses Calvary, argued that surnames were a vital part of Jewish history and that erasing them was a betrayal of the past. Figures like Chaim Weizmann maintained their diaspora names, and some individuals felt deep emotional attachments to their ancestral lineages. Today, the trend has moderated, and a counter-movement has emerged: some Israelis are now reverting to their original, non-Hebrew family names to reconnect with their unique ethnic roots and preserve their specific family traditions, reflecting a more nuanced view of identity in modern Israel.

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