A new Hebrew name, a new identity
http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/100908/njNewHebrewName.htmlNJJN Bureau Chief/Middlesex
by Debra Rubin
10/9/2008
Barbra Siperstein came to her Perth Amboy synagogue on Sept. 13 to
receive her new Hebrew name — and to celebrate her new identity as a
woman after completing sex reassignment surgery.
The former Barry Siperstein, a 65-year-old resident of Edison, legally
changed her name to Barbra last year to reflect her new status. Last
month's ceremony changed her Hebrew name from Eliezer Banish to Baila
Chaya.
It was Rabbi Melinda Zalma of Congregation Beth Mordecai in Perth
Amboy who suggested the naming ceremony, citing a 2003 Conservative
movement teshuva, or ruling, on the status of transsexuals.
