The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews
Marc Eliany
©
ABEHSERA ABÉHSÉRA
ABEHSSERA
ABOUHATSÉRA (AbiHsera, AviHatsira, Hatsir, Hatsira)
among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.
AviHatsira is represented here by Moroccan and Algerian creators. The name is common among Jews in North Africa. It is associated with a long line of rabbis from the Tafilalet region in Morocco. The name consist of the prefix avi (or ab, abe, abou) which implies fatherhood or lineage and the root 'hatsira' = a carpet made of hay or other vegetal material. The family is believed to be of Palestinian/Syrian origin. The name is in all likelihood an ancient Hebrew name derived from the word 'hatsir' = hay. It appears here with the suffix 'a' which is typical to ancient Hebrew name. It appears in Israel in contemporary transformations such as 'hatsir' and 'hatsira.'
Prefixes attached
to the root name such as (aben, iben, abe, abi, abou, avi, am, ben, bin,
abou, a, aj, al, bel, ha, i, la, lel, me, m, o, wi, vi, ) denotes usually a
relation to a person, i.e., the father of or the son of X, a place, i.e.,
a person from X, an occupation, i.e., a person who practices a specific occupation,
a characteristic of a person, i.e., beautiful... The prefixes al, el are equivalent
to 'the' in English or the article 'le' in French. In the Moroccan Berbers tradition,
prefixes such as 'wi' 'vi' 'i' means usually a family relationship to X, the
equivalent of Abu in Arabic, i.e., 'the father of', 'son of' a man, a tribal
affiliation and so forth.In
the Hebrew tradition, the prefix ‘M ‘ is an abbreviation of
the word 'from.'
Suffixes such as 'a' characterize ancient Hebrew names, i.e., AviHatsir'a'
Suffixes
such as oulah, oulay, ilah, ily, el, eli are used in Hebrew and Arabic to associate
a name with God' blessing.
Suffixes such as 'illo' 'ano' 'ino'
Suffixws such as 'oun' 'on' 'yout' 'out' characterize adjectives in Hebrew,
for example: Hayoun, hayout...
ABEHSERA Charles (XXes.). Morocco (Meknès). Textile manufacturer
in France. Known for his Morgan trademark.
ABÉHSÉRA Aaron (XXes.).
Morocco (Erfoud). Descendent of a family of rabbis of great reputation (see
below). Politician, parliament member and minister in a Liberal government formed
by the Likud Party in Israel.
ABEHSSERA Chalom (?-1971). Algéria (Touat).
Rabbi of Colomb-Béchar. Author of Mélitss tov (The good preacher) and
Séfér youhassin (A geneology Registry).
ABOUHATSÉRA (Abihsera) Yah’acov Ben Masoud (1808?-1880).
Morocco (Tafilalet). Rabbi. Kabalist. Prolific author: Pitouhé hotam; Yorou
michpatékha léyah’acov; Chah’aré Aroukha among other publications.
Died and buried in Cairo on his way to Jerusalem. His tomb is subject to pilgrimage.
Click here for a detailed profile: Theological
Conceptions of Existence among Moroccan Jews Based on the Writings of Rabbi
Yaacov Avi Hatsira
ABOUHATSÉRA Abraham (1868-1948). Morocco (Meknès). Rabbi.
Member of the rabbinical court of Casablanca.
ABOUHATSÉRA David (1866-1920). Morocco (Tafilalet).
Rabbi. Kabalist. Assassinated in Morocco. Prolofic author Séfér sékhel tov
(The good sense guide); Pétah ohél (The gate of the Tent); Séfér Béréchit
ou Shemot (Genesis and Exodus). Director of a rabbinical seminary in Tafilalet.
ABOUHATSÉRA Israël (Baba Salé) (1890-1984).
Morocco. Rabbi. Kabalist.Founder of a Rabbinical seminary in Jérusalem and Nétivot
(Israel). His tomb became subject to pilgrimage.
References:
ABEHSSERA Chalom Séfér youhassin (Genealogy Registers).
Azoulay, Hayim Yossef Shem Hagdolim (the names of the great)
AZOULAY Haïm Yossef David (Hida) (1724-1807) Chém haguédolim va’ad lahakhamim (The names of the Great Council of Sages).
Levi, J et. al. 2000 Dictionnaire biographique du monde Juif Sepharade et Mediteranean, Editions Elysee, Montreal.
Toledano, J. 1983 La saga des familles, Les juifs du Maroc et leurs noms, Editions Stavit, Tel Aviv
Laredo A. 1978 Les noms des juifs au Maroc (Madrid, 1978)