The meaning of names among Mediterranean Jews
Marc Eliany
©
among other possible variations depending on the country and language of the person.
Azoulay is represented here by Moroccan and Palestinian creators. The name is common among Jews in North Africa. It is associated with a variety of meanings: Izil = good in North African Berber, the good one; Tazoulaït = a tribe in Morocco; Azul = blue in Spanish (Azuelos), the one with blue eyes and most interestingly an abbreviation of 'isha zona vahalala lo yikhu' (they shall not wed a prostitute or engaged woman) which implies that Azoulay were priets in an ancient time.
The name may be an Arab/Spanish transformation of Oziel into AzOullah = God beloved. The name may be related to 'Az' = 'strong' or 'strength.' Aziza may be an Aramean transformation of the same name. The names: A'z, O'z, O'ziel are modern Hebrew version used in contemporary Israel.
Prefixes attached
to the root name such as (aben, iben, abi, 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 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...
AZOULAY
Guillaume (1949-.). Morocco (Mazagan). Painter in USA. Known for linear based
figuratif paintings of horses, Moroccan and Biblical scenes.
AZOULAY HASFARI Hana (XXes.). ’Israël. Actor and screen writer. Author of the
film Shehur (Magic, 1995).
AZOULAY
Katia (XXes.). Morocco (Essaouira). Author (with Elsa Rosilio and Régine Sibony)
of Essaouira, Mogador, parfums d’enfance (Mogador, a scent of our childhood).
AZOULAY André (1941-).
Morocco (Essaouira). Advisor to Moroccan kings Hassan II and Mohamed VI. Economist.
Journalist, Chief Editor of Maroc Presse. Co-founder of Identité et Dialogue
an organization of intellectuals geared to mediate between Arabs and Jews.
AZOULAY Arié-Georges (XXes.). Morocco (Fès). Educator. School director in Ashdod.
Administrator at Habonim (Youth and Pioneers department of the Jewish Agency).
Mayor of Ashdod, Israel.
AZOULAY David (1954-). Morocco. Educator. Politician. Israeli Parliament Member
representing the religious party Shas. Municipal counsellor in Acres.
AZOULAY Maxime (1917-1998). Morocco (Casablanca). Lawyer. Legal advisor to the
Moroccan High Court. Member of the Human Rights Council. Parliament member.
Recipient of the Royal 'Ordre du Trône'.
AZOULAY Salomon (1925-). Morocco (Safi). Businessman. Educator. Sionist activist.
Contributed to the development of the Youth Movement Charles Netter. Contributed
to the construction of synagogues in Portugal. Author of Écoute mon fils,
(Listen, My Son).
AZOULAY Abraham (1570?-1643). Morocco (Fès). Rabbi in
Hebron. Kabalist. Author of Kiryat Arba’ as well as Hésséd lé’Abraham
(Abraham's Memoires) and important source on geneology and life in Fes and the
Holy Land.
See a detailed report in: Comfort
in Cabbala and Zion - the Case of Rabbi Abraham Azoulay and his Contemporaries.
AZOULAY Abraham (Hakadoch) (?-1745). Morocco.
Rabbi of Marrakech. Author of Mikdach mélekh (The King's Sanctuary).
AZOULAY Chalom (1848-1922). Morocco (Sefrou). Rabbi. Poet. Author of many responsas.
AZOULAY Haïm Yossef David (Hida) (1724-1807). Palestine (Jérusalem). Rabbi.
Founder of a Jewish Seminary (yéchivah) in Livorno (Italy). A prolific writer.Author
of Chém haguédolim va’ad lahakhamim (The names of the Great Council of
Sages).
See a detailed report in: Comfort
in Cabbala and Zion - the Case of Rabbi Abraham Azoulay and his Contemporaries.
AZOULAY Itshak (XVIIes.). Palestine (Hébron). Son of
Abraham Azoulay. Rabbi. Kabalist. Author of Zéra’ Itshak (Isaac's Children).
AZOULAY Raphaël Isaïe (?-1830).Italy. Rabbi of Ancôna.
Author of Tiférét Moché (Moses Splendour).
References:
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)